KPA500 Remote

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KPA500 Remote

Dana Roode
Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote
station?  I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others
have used the pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands
to turn the Amp on and off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a
LP-Remote board from N8LP).

I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect
some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON
pin for the K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the
KPA500, etc.

So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA
to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.

  Dana, K6NR
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Re: KPA500 Remote

Dick Dievendorff
Dana:

There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232.  There's
an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC connector.  If
you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes initiated by the
amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed without requiring
transmission, and it includes the amp keying line and the ALC voltage.  This
connection also includes an AUXBUS connection that the KPA500 can use to
send fault indications to the K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its
output power based on its knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".

The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote control
program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's remote control
program.

When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker switch,
the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software command) turns
off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the microcontroller running.
The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that code
recognizes a software power on command.  The KPA500 Utility "Operate" page
uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on.

If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first press
the front panel power button to turn the amp off.  Then you can remove all
power by switching the back panel rocker switch or interrupt the KPA500's AC
supply.  It's a good idea to let the amplifier close down in a controlled
way (press its front panel power button, physically or via a remote control
program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into EEPROM and
also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you don't do this,
you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500 Utility's Fault Table
display) showing uncontrolled power off events.

Nice callsign, Dana!

73 de Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote

Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote station?
I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the pins
in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp on and
off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a LP-Remote
board from N8LP).

I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect some
lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON pin for the
K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc.

So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA to
the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.

  Dana, K6NR
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Re: KPA500 Remote

Dana Roode
Hi Dick, thanks for the information.  What is the RS232 (XCVR)
connection on the KPA500 for? Its why I am some misperceptions about
connecting the K3 to the KPA.

At this point I see I can control the KPA via its RS232 port but for
some reason I am inclined to use the control pins on the KPA AUX plug,
which seems to be the other way to go.

  Dana


On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Dana:
>
> There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232.  There's
> an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC connector.  If
> you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes initiated by the
> amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed without requiring
> transmission, and it includes the amp keying line and the ALC voltage.  This
> connection also includes an AUXBUS connection that the KPA500 can use to
> send fault indications to the K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its
> output power based on its knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".
>
> The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote control
> program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's remote control
> program.
>
> When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker switch,
> the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software command) turns
> off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the microcontroller running.
> The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that code
> recognizes a software power on command.  The KPA500 Utility "Operate" page
> uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on.
>
> If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first press
> the front panel power button to turn the amp off.  Then you can remove all
> power by switching the back panel rocker switch or interrupt the KPA500's AC
> supply.  It's a good idea to let the amplifier close down in a controlled
> way (press its front panel power button, physically or via a remote control
> program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into EEPROM and
> also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you don't do this,
> you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500 Utility's Fault Table
> display) showing uncontrolled power off events.
>
> Nice callsign, Dana!
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode
> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>
> Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote station?
> I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the pins
> in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp on and
> off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
> There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
> condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a LP-Remote
> board from N8LP).
>
> I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect some
> lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON pin for the
> K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc.
>
> So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA to
> the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.
>
>  Dana, K6NR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
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Re: KPA500 Remote

Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2
In reply to this post by Dana Roode
I'm operating my KPA500 remotely using the KPA Utility, and a direct
COM port connection. I'm actually "manually" switching bands, changing
from standby to operate, etc, through the KPA Utility too, for the
moment.

A note of caution; the RS232 port on my KPA500 has locked up 3 times
now (requiring power cycle on 110V input to reset). The first time, I
had to make an emergency drive in a freak spring storm to fix it.
Whilst there, I moved the 110V supply to a remote-controllable power
switch, so I can power-cycle remotely. That has saved me on subsequent
occurrences. I need to get around to reporting this to Elecraft
support. At least two of the cases were attributable to unintended
high-SWR events.

The KPA Utility's metering is of limited value, IMO, at the moment -
the numbers jump around a lot between poll events when transmitting CW
(at least). I'm using an LP-100A meter and its "Virtual Control Panel"
for power/SWR metering (peak mode), which works well.

73,

    ~iain / N6ML




On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 12:15 PM, Dana Roode <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote
> station?  I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others
> have used the pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands
> to turn the Amp on and off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
> There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
> condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a
> LP-Remote board from N8LP).
>
> I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect
> some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON
> pin for the K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the
> KPA500, etc.
>
> So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA
> to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.
>
>  Dana, K6NR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
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Re: KPA500 Remote

Dick Dievendorff
In reply to this post by Dana Roode
The KPA500 XCVR connector is used primarily to support Kenwood rigs that
communicate their frequency via a serial port.

If you want to control the amplifier remotely, you'll probably need to
connect its PC-side serial port to some remote control program.  The KPA
Utility (as one example) shows you the amplifier's output power, SWR, PA
voltage, PA current, temperature, monitors for faults, displays the current
fault, has a button to clear the current fault, changes bands, switches
between standby and operate, and turns the amplifier on and off.  You can't
do many of these things from the ACC connector.  You can do some of them by
remote control of the K3 (like change bands).   You can pulse an ACC pin to
simulate pressing the front panel power button. You can change the amp's
band by controlling the transceiver remotely and transmitting. You can
observe that some fault has occurred, but you can't read the fault code
through ACC.  There's no pin on ACC to switch the amp between operate and
standby, or clear a fault.

Dick, K6KR




-----Original Message-----
From: Dana Roode [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 1:09 PM
To: Dick Dievendorff
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote

Hi Dick, thanks for the information.  What is the RS232 (XCVR) connection on
the KPA500 for? Its why I am some misperceptions about connecting the K3 to
the KPA.

At this point I see I can control the KPA via its RS232 port but for some
reason I am inclined to use the control pins on the KPA AUX plug, which
seems to be the other way to go.

  Dana


On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Dana:
>
> There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232.  
> There's an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC
> connector.  If you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes
> initiated by the amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed
> without requiring transmission, and it includes the amp keying line
> and the ALC voltage.  This connection also includes an AUXBUS
> connection that the KPA500 can use to send fault indications to the
> K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its output power based on its
knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".
>
> The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote
> control program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's
> remote control program.
>
> When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker
> switch, the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software
> command) turns off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the
microcontroller running.

> The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that
> code recognizes a software power on command.  The KPA500 Utility
> "Operate" page uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on.
>
> If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first
> press the front panel power button to turn the amp off.  Then you can
> remove all power by switching the back panel rocker switch or
> interrupt the KPA500's AC supply.  It's a good idea to let the
> amplifier close down in a controlled way (press its front panel power
> button, physically or via a remote control
> program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into
> EEPROM and also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you
> don't do this, you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500
> Utility's Fault Table
> display) showing uncontrolled power off events.
>
> Nice callsign, Dana!
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode
> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>
> Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote
station?

> I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the
> pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp
> on and off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
> There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
> condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a
> LP-Remote board from N8LP).
>
> I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect
> some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON
> pin for the
> K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc.
>
> So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA
> to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.
>
>  Dana, K6NR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

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Re: KPA500 Remote

Dana Roode
Dick,

Thanks - I went back and read the manual and I see it clearly explains
what the RS232-XCVR jack is for.  Sorry, I missed that.

Ok on the advantages of the RS232 port, I will hook that up.  I run my
remote station with an 8 port terminal server, and have one port left
(I control the rig, 3 rotators, LP-Remote, LP-100 watt meter, and
Winkeyer).  I have control over the power to the amp to shut it off if
I need a hard reset (via LP-Remote and a relay-power jack).  I can't
use the standard Elecraft K3-KPA500 cable as I need to bring out pins
from the K3: ON and FSK are the ones I remember.  So, I will build a
cable and bring out the various pins I may use on either side of the
connection.

  dana


On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The KPA500 XCVR connector is used primarily to support Kenwood rigs that
> communicate their frequency via a serial port.
>
> If you want to control the amplifier remotely, you'll probably need to
> connect its PC-side serial port to some remote control program.  The KPA
> Utility (as one example) shows you the amplifier's output power, SWR, PA
> voltage, PA current, temperature, monitors for faults, displays the current
> fault, has a button to clear the current fault, changes bands, switches
> between standby and operate, and turns the amplifier on and off.  You can't
> do many of these things from the ACC connector.  You can do some of them by
> remote control of the K3 (like change bands).   You can pulse an ACC pin to
> simulate pressing the front panel power button. You can change the amp's
> band by controlling the transceiver remotely and transmitting. You can
> observe that some fault has occurred, but you can't read the fault code
> through ACC.  There's no pin on ACC to switch the amp between operate and
> standby, or clear a fault.
>
> Dick, K6KR
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dana Roode [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 1:09 PM
> To: Dick Dievendorff
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>
> Hi Dick, thanks for the information.  What is the RS232 (XCVR) connection on
> the KPA500 for? Its why I am some misperceptions about connecting the K3 to
> the KPA.
>
> At this point I see I can control the KPA via its RS232 port but for some
> reason I am inclined to use the control pins on the KPA AUX plug, which
> seems to be the other way to go.
>
>  Dana
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>> Dana:
>>
>> There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232.
>> There's an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC
>> connector.  If you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes
>> initiated by the amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed
>> without requiring transmission, and it includes the amp keying line
>> and the ALC voltage.  This connection also includes an AUXBUS
>> connection that the KPA500 can use to send fault indications to the
>> K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its output power based on its
> knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".
>>
>> The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote
>> control program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's
>> remote control program.
>>
>> When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker
>> switch, the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software
>> command) turns off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the
> microcontroller running.
>> The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that
>> code recognizes a software power on command.  The KPA500 Utility
>> "Operate" page uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on.
>>
>> If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first
>> press the front panel power button to turn the amp off.  Then you can
>> remove all power by switching the back panel rocker switch or
>> interrupt the KPA500's AC supply.  It's a good idea to let the
>> amplifier close down in a controlled way (press its front panel power
>> button, physically or via a remote control
>> program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into
>> EEPROM and also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you
>> don't do this, you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500
>> Utility's Fault Table
>> display) showing uncontrolled power off events.
>>
>> Nice callsign, Dana!
>>
>> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode
>> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM
>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>>
>> Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote
> station?
>> I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the
>> pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp
>> on and off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
>> There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
>> condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a
>> LP-Remote board from N8LP).
>>
>> I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect
>> some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON
>> pin for the
>> K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc.
>>
>> So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA
>> to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.
>>
>>  Dana, K6NR
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
>> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>
>
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Re: KPA500 Remote

Dick Dievendorff
The K3 aux cable kit includes a Y.



Dick

On Jul 24, 2011, at 13:49, Dana Roode <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Dick,
>
> Thanks - I went back and read the manual and I see it clearly explains
> what the RS232-XCVR jack is for.  Sorry, I missed that.
>
> Ok on the advantages of the RS232 port, I will hook that up.  I run my
> remote station with an 8 port terminal server, and have one port left
> (I control the rig, 3 rotators, LP-Remote, LP-100 watt meter, and
> Winkeyer).  I have control over the power to the amp to shut it off if
> I need a hard reset (via LP-Remote and a relay-power jack).  I can't
> use the standard Elecraft K3-KPA500 cable as I need to bring out pins
> from the K3: ON and FSK are the ones I remember.  So, I will build a
> cable and bring out the various pins I may use on either side of the
> connection.
>
>  dana
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> The KPA500 XCVR connector is used primarily to support Kenwood rigs that
>> communicate their frequency via a serial port.
>>
>> If you want to control the amplifier remotely, you'll probably need to
>> connect its PC-side serial port to some remote control program.  The KPA
>> Utility (as one example) shows you the amplifier's output power, SWR, PA
>> voltage, PA current, temperature, monitors for faults, displays the current
>> fault, has a button to clear the current fault, changes bands, switches
>> between standby and operate, and turns the amplifier on and off.  You can't
>> do many of these things from the ACC connector.  You can do some of them by
>> remote control of the K3 (like change bands).   You can pulse an ACC pin to
>> simulate pressing the front panel power button. You can change the amp's
>> band by controlling the transceiver remotely and transmitting. You can
>> observe that some fault has occurred, but you can't read the fault code
>> through ACC.  There's no pin on ACC to switch the amp between operate and
>> standby, or clear a fault.
>>
>> Dick, K6KR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dana Roode [mailto:[hidden email]]
>> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 1:09 PM
>> To: Dick Dievendorff
>> Cc: [hidden email]
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>>
>> Hi Dick, thanks for the information.  What is the RS232 (XCVR) connection on
>> the KPA500 for? Its why I am some misperceptions about connecting the K3 to
>> the KPA.
>>
>> At this point I see I can control the KPA via its RS232 port but for some
>> reason I am inclined to use the control pins on the KPA AUX plug, which
>> seems to be the other way to go.
>>
>>  Dana
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>> Dana:
>>>
>>> There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232.
>>> There's an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC
>>> connector.  If you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes
>>> initiated by the amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed
>>> without requiring transmission, and it includes the amp keying line
>>> and the ALC voltage.  This connection also includes an AUXBUS
>>> connection that the KPA500 can use to send fault indications to the
>>> K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its output power based on its
>> knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".
>>>
>>> The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote
>>> control program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's
>>> remote control program.
>>>
>>> When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker
>>> switch, the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software
>>> command) turns off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the
>> microcontroller running.
>>> The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that
>>> code recognizes a software power on command.  The KPA500 Utility
>>> "Operate" page uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on.
>>>
>>> If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first
>>> press the front panel power button to turn the amp off.  Then you can
>>> remove all power by switching the back panel rocker switch or
>>> interrupt the KPA500's AC supply.  It's a good idea to let the
>>> amplifier close down in a controlled way (press its front panel power
>>> button, physically or via a remote control
>>> program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into
>>> EEPROM and also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you
>>> don't do this, you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500
>>> Utility's Fault Table
>>> display) showing uncontrolled power off events.
>>>
>>> Nice callsign, Dana!
>>>
>>> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: [hidden email]
>>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM
>>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>>> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote
>>>
>>> Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote
>> station?
>>> I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the
>>> pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp
>>> on and off, etc.  It appears both may be options.
>>> There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault
>>> condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a
>>> LP-Remote board from N8LP).
>>>
>>> I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect
>>> some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON
>>> pin for the
>>> K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc.
>>>
>>> So, what are others doing?  I see there are options to connect the KPA
>>> to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me.
>>>
>>>  Dana, K6NR
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>>
>>
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