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KX3 with KX3 Companion application

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Aubrey Mason

KX3 with KX3 Companion application

As someone who just bought a KX3 - I am ignorant of how they connect to other devices...

I recently purchased a KX3 Companion app for my tablet to use as a waterfall display and I'm having difficulty finding cables to connect the two together.

Has anyone else used the KX3 Companion app with the KX3 and how did you connect them?

Aubrey Mason
WA6DMI
San Antonio
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Aubrey Mason

Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

________________________________
From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application

That part is understood... I have read all the materials from Elecraft and the publisher of KX3 Companion....
And I've called Elecraft Customer Support.

That said;
Receiver spectrum data is on the Rec IQ jack and I've been told by someone that they think the KX3 ACC1 should be connected to the USB of the display device using the KX3 serial cable with a USB adapter to fit the USB port of the display device, then the Rec IQ of the KX3 connected to the microphone input of the display device to complete the connections for a Spectrum display...

I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.

Aubrey Mason
WA6DMI
San Antonio

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:00 PM
To: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application

From the website for KX3 Companion:

"It connects to your KX3 by using the USB Serial cable that comes with the radio. You’ll also need an inexpensive OTG Cable adapter to connect the serial USB to your mobile device. You can find them for a very few dollars. No other cables are needed!”

https://kx3companion.com

I don’t know any other details. I don’t use that app and I don’t have any Android devices.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Jan 8, 2020, at 12:36 PM, Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> As someone who just bought a KX3 - I am ignorant of how they connect to other devices...
>
> I recently purchased a KX3 Companion app for my tablet to use as a waterfall display and I'm having difficulty finding cables to connect the two together.
>
> Has anyone else used the KX3 Companion app with the KX3 and how did you connect them?
>
>
> Aubrey Mason
> WA6DMI
> San Antonio
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Don Wilhelm

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

Aubrey,

Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to OFF
(the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:

>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
> To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>
> I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
> None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
>

Barry LaZar

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

In reply to this post by Aubrey Mason

Aubrey
I've done a lot of things with KX3. But first, you need to tell me
what companion app you are using. The best that I've used so far is
Win4K3 with com0com. Win4K3 acts as the center of integration for what
you are going to do on your computer, Com0com is the port replicator
that creates all of the virtual ports you will use to connect almost
everything.

There are two cables you will need, one is the cable for the I&Q
output and the other is the serial cable that plugs into the radio. You
will use the I&Q data to drive a good sound card for spectrum display
and to drive apps like CW Skimmer; Skimmer will use one of those virtual
ports.

The first thing you will need to know is what "real" port the radio is
using. You tell Win4K3 what that is. You will need to create virtual
port pairs using com0com, and I would create a naming scheme for them
like starting at com10. And next decide which side of the pairs you will
use for Win4K3 and which side goes to the app that you need to control.
I use even numbers for Win4K3 and odd number for the app. It's all
pretty straight forward once you see it. And, the serial cable plugs
into ACC1. Lastly. write down what you've set up for reference; it will
save you in the future.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Aubrey Mason" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: 1/8/2020 4:28:56 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

>
>
>________________________________
>From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
>To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>
>That part is understood... I have read all the materials from Elecraft and the publisher of KX3 Companion....
>And I've called Elecraft Customer Support.
>
>That said;
>Receiver spectrum data is on the Rec IQ jack and I've been told by someone that they think the KX3 ACC1 should be connected to the USB of the display device using the KX3 serial cable with a USB adapter to fit the USB port of the display device, then the Rec IQ of the KX3 connected to the microphone input of the display device to complete the connections for a Spectrum display...
>
>I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
>None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
>
>
>Aubrey Mason
>WA6DMI
>San Antonio
>
>________________________________
>From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:00 PM
>To: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>
>From the website for KX3 Companion:
>
>"It connects to your KX3 by using the USB Serial cable that comes with the radio. You’ll also need an inexpensive OTG Cable adapter to connect the serial USB to your mobile device. You can find them for a very few dollars. No other cables are needed!”
>
>https://kx3companion.com
>
>I don’t know any other details. I don’t use that app and I don’t have any Android devices.
>
>wunder
>K6WRU
>Walter Underwood
>CM87wj
>http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>
>> On Jan 8, 2020, at 12:36 PM, Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> As someone who just bought a KX3 - I am ignorant of how they connect to other devices...
>>
>> I recently purchased a KX3 Companion app for my tablet to use as a waterfall display and I'm having difficulty finding cables to connect the two together.
>>
>> Has anyone else used the KX3 Companion app with the KX3 and how did you connect them?
>>
>>
>> Aubrey Mason
>> WA6DMI
>> San Antonio
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>Message delivered to [hidden email]
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>Message delivered to [hidden email]

Barry LaZar

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Aubrey,
A point that I missed, make sure your mic input is actually stereo
and not mono, many are. It must be stereo.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "Aubrey Mason" <[hidden email]>; "Elecraft Reflector"
<[hidden email]>
Sent: 1/8/2020 4:51:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

>Aubrey,
>
>Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to OFF (the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>
>On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:
>>
>>
>>________________________________
>>From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
>>Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
>>To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>>
>>I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
>>None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
>>
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>Message delivered to [hidden email]

Don Wilhelm

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

In addition to requiring a stereo input (Mic or Line In), an internal
soundcard may not have sufficient bandwidth for a panadapter
application, and an external soundcard may be needed.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/8/2020 5:01 PM, Barry wrote:

> Aubrey,
> A point that I missed, make sure your mic input is actually stereo
> and not mono, many are. It must be stereo.
>
> 73,
> Barry
> K3NDM
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Aubrey Mason" <[hidden email]>; "Elecraft Reflector"
> <[hidden email]>
> Sent: 1/8/2020 4:51:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>
>> Aubrey,
>>
>> Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to
>> OFF (the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
>>> To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>>>
>>> I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
>>> None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio
>>> cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>

Nr4c

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Are computer mic inputs still mostly MONO while the LineIn inputs are usually STEREO?

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Jan 8, 2020, at 4:56 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Aubrey,
>
> Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to OFF (the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:
>> ________________________________
>> From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
>> To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>> I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
>> None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Don Wilhelm

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

Bill,

It depends on the computer and the external soundcard - so the answer is
'maybe'.
In general, if there is only one input, and it is configured for MIC, it
will be mono. If configured for LINE, it will be stereo.

So it depends on the soundcard settings. If there are separate MIC and
LINE inputs, check your computer specs. There is no one answer other
than "it all depends".

My college professor's advice back in 1966 was "Technician/Engineer,
know your equipment and its capabilities as well as its limitations" -
that still applies today. One cannot speak in generalities about any
equipment type unless the specifics are known - study the specifications
for the proper answers to your specific equipment.

Based on that information, the one answer to your question is "maybe".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/8/2020 8:19 PM, Nr4c wrote:

> Are computer mic inputs still mostly MONO while the LineIn inputs are usually STEREO?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
>> On Jan 8, 2020, at 4:56 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Aubrey,
>>
>> Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to OFF (the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>> On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
>>> To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
>>> I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
>>> None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Dave Fugleberg

Re: Fw: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

The original question was not about a PC at all - it was about an Android
app called KX3 Companion running on an Android tablet.

The application website states in one place that the USB cable that comes
with the KX3, plus an OTG cable, are all that is needed. However, later in
states that a new feature has been added to display the audio spectrum and
waterfall, and this requires one extra cable (from audio outpu of the KX3
to the audio input jack of the Android device).

Aubrey, you didn't say whether you got the CAT control functions of the
app working or not. I'd advise you to make sure that's working before
dealing with the waterfall/spectrum display.

It's important with Android apps like this that you have a true "OTG"
cable, AND that your Android device includes OTG support (not all do).

The OTG cable lets you plug USB devices (like thumb drives, keyboards,
etc.) into an Android device. Some cables have the proper connectors but
are not wired to support OTG, so make sure you have the right cable.

You must also verify that your tablet supports OTG in the first place. Look
for an app called USB OTG Checker - this will tell you whether your tablet
supports OTG. If so, any OTG cable should work, and you should be able to
control the KX3 with the app.

Once that works, you can connect the audio output from the KX3 to the
tablet's microphone input and see if the spectrum display works. Depending
on your tablet, you may need some kind of adapter to split out the
microphone input (some tablets and phones combine the mic input with the
headphone jack).

Near as I can tell, this is strictly a audio spectrum scope and does not
take advantage of the quadrature (I/Q) output of the KX3. The author does
state that you can use one channel of the I/Q output as your audio feed if
you like, or you can take it from the Phones jack.

On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 8:57 PM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bill,
>
> It depends on the computer and the external soundcard - so the answer is
> 'maybe'.
> In general, if there is only one input, and it is configured for MIC, it
> will be mono. If configured for LINE, it will be stereo.
>
> So it depends on the soundcard settings. If there are separate MIC and
> LINE inputs, check your computer specs. There is no one answer other
> than "it all depends".
>
> My college professor's advice back in 1966 was "Technician/Engineer,
> know your equipment and its capabilities as well as its limitations" -
> that still applies today. One cannot speak in generalities about any
> equipment type unless the specifics are known - study the specifications
> for the proper answers to your specific equipment.
>
> Based on that information, the one answer to your question is "maybe".
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 1/8/2020 8:19 PM, Nr4c wrote:
> > Are computer mic inputs still mostly MONO while the LineIn inputs are
> usually STEREO?
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > ...nr4c. bill
> >
> >
> >> On Jan 8, 2020, at 4:56 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >>
> >> Aubrey,
> >>
> >> Did you enter the menu and set the RX IQ parameter to ON? If set to
> OFF (the default) there will be nothing out of the RX IQ jack.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Don W3FPR
> >>
> >>> On 1/8/2020 4:28 PM, Aubrey Mason wrote:
> >>> ________________________________
> >>> From: Aubrey Mason <[hidden email]>
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 3:27 PM
> >>> To: Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
> >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 with KX3 Companion application
> >>> I need to know the specifics from someone who has already done it..
> >>> None of the written materials say what needs to be done and an audio
> cable between Rec IQ and the mic input of the tablet does nothing.
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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
> >> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

g7ltq

Re: KX3 with KX3 Companion application

In reply to this post by Aubrey Mason

Aubrey,
I think you are referring to the KX3 Companion for Android by Andrea IU4APC.

I have tried this for lightweight operations. It woks by sending out commands to KX3 in ASCII over serial.
Android<>OTG Adaptor<>Serial to USB<>KX3.

If you want the waterfall to work - which us optional - I use the KX3 headphone output into the 3.5mm audio jack on my Tablet. This worked OK on my old Nexus 9. Some tablets don’t recognise the microphone input . The Android Headset Tester is a good bit of Freeware which you can use to check the microphone is recognised. Some tablets need an extra low resistance ( 1k3 ) to recognise a microphone is plugged in.

PSK31 and Morse are sent as ASCII and the KX3 does the translating to the signals to modulate the SSB.
I&Q aren’t needed.

I don’t use PSK31 any more but have moved to JS8Call and FT8 and hope we might get an internal KX3 or Android implementation.

John N
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