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In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine.
David A., KC0XT David Ahrendts [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] |
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I use either an Edgeport 8-port USB to serial adapter, or a Gearmo 4-port USB to serial adapter, or a KUSB or KXUSB depending on what I'm testing.
No USB hubs here, tho. 73 de Dick, K6KR > On Aug 24, 2015, at 18:57, David Ahrendts <[hidden email]> wrote: > > In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. > > David A., KC0XT > > > > David Ahrendts [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] |
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In reply to this post by David Ahrendts
Hmm .. I've not tried that. I'd be cautious trying
it. Really no need, after all. 73, Phil W7OX On 8/24/15 6:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote: > In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. > > David A., KC0XT ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by David Ahrendts
Hi to the group again
I have a USB hub with a USB to rs232 for my K3 and another for my KX3. I have never tried to run both at the same time but they have both been on the same hub for 2 years and they always work, Port 4 for one, Port 7 for the other and Port 5 for the WinKeyer USB which I know works at the same time as the KX3. Again hope I did not waste band width but thought my experiance would help. 73 Ken W0CZ w0cz at i29 dot net Sent from my iPad > On Aug 24, 2015, at 8:57 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email]> wrote: > > In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. > > David A., KC0XT > > > > David Ahrendts [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] |
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In reply to this post by Phil Wheeler-2
Yes, Phil, you’re probably right. Probably over-think here. But there are KAT500 parameters that can be more easily managed in real time with the KAT500 Utility, so I thought I’d give it a try. Dunno, in the bigger picture, might this be he precursor to the idea of software control or software monitoring of Elecraft devices? Maybe. My problem is when I connect five KUSBs they all have 10-or-12-digit names that I have to go through manually to find my device that I want to control (I know, I know, poor me!!!). AND they are power hogs. Mac OS X shuts ‘em down: too much power suck combined. So, you need a powered USB hub to connect a few.
> On Aug 24, 2015, at 7:11 PM, Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hmm .. I've not tried that. I'd be cautious trying it. Really no need, after all. > > 73, Phil W7OX > > On 8/24/15 6:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote: >> In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. >> >> David A., KC0XT > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] David Ahrendts [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] |
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Works just fine for me. I use a powered USB hub. A standard USB port can deliver a maximum of 500 mA for USB2 ports, or 750mA for USB ports. That should power a lot of USB-Serial ports, but as they say, your mileage may vary.
I use an FTDI four-port USB adapter (it’s a development device from Mouser). OS X nicely identifies each port as the serial number followed by A, B, C or D. I also use several single-port FTDI devices and note their id numbers so that I can associate them with what they are connected to. All work pretty well. They are connected as follows to my 2009-vintage Mac mini: The four-port device plugs directly into the mini, while the other ports plug into a 7-port powered USB hub. I need at least five to communicate with various Elecraft devices, and actually can run multiple device Utility programs simultaneously. We don’t recommend that folks do that, but it works for me. By the way, my worst-case test used a total of nine FTDI USB-Serial adapters with the mini. All worked quite well, used with several different applications running concurrently. So, it will work. 73! Jack, W6FB > On Aug 24, 2015, at 8:20 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Yes, Phil, you’re probably right. Probably over-think here. But there are KAT500 parameters that can be more easily managed in real time with the KAT500 Utility, so I thought I’d give it a try. Dunno, in the bigger picture, might this be he precursor to the idea of software control or software monitoring of Elecraft devices? Maybe. My problem is when I connect five KUSBs they all have 10-or-12-digit names that I have to go through manually to find my device that I want to control (I know, I know, poor me!!!). AND they are power hogs. Mac OS X shuts ‘em down: too much power suck combined. So, you need a powered USB hub to connect a few. > >> On Aug 24, 2015, at 7:11 PM, Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Hmm .. I've not tried that. I'd be cautious trying it. Really no need, after all. >> >> 73, Phil W7OX >> >> On 8/24/15 6:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote: >>> In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. >>> >>> David A., KC0XT >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] > > > > > David Ahrendts [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] |
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In reply to this post by David Ahrendts
No problem here with my Timewave Navigator which is a 6 port USB hub to
CAT, PTT, FSK, WinKeyer, Config, and an fully configured RS232 which connects to my KPA500. Cheaper USB hubs, Logitech etc. exhibit RF sensitivity but then all of my antennas are in the attic as I live in a CC&R subdivision. Jim, W4ATK On 8/24/2015 8:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote: > In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub semi-permanently so that when you need a connection you already have that hardware access? Realizing you cannot run two Utility programs simultaneously (at least I haven’t had success with that), what is your setup? I have attempted with a USB hub into a Mac Mini with marginal success. Please opine. > > David A., KC0XT > > > > David Ahrendts [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] |
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My friends, thank you for your many responses to this question. Clearly I’m not the only one thinking of multiple semi-permnanent KUSB connections to multiple Elecraft devices simultaneously. Lesson: all things are not equal when you select a USB powered hub.
Among the responses that I found most valuable was this one sent directly from N1HO, Bayard R. “Brandy” Coolidge — much thought has been put into his USB to Mac setup — sharing it here with everyone: I just upgraded my shack from an Acer Netbook (1.66 GHz 32-bit, 2GB memory) to an early 2015 Macbook Pro Retina 13" at 2.7GHz with 16GB memory (and 250GB of SSD). I had used a powered USB hub from an "office superstore" that ran at USB 2.0 speeds, and had Sabrent USB/serial cables (which explicitly use FTDI chips) running to the K3 command port, the KPC 3+ (which went to another rig for VHF packet use), the Trimble Thunderbolt GPSDO's NMEA port, plus the SignaLink USB's cable. When I upgraded to the Mac, I also shucked the old USB hub in favor of a Sabrent 4-port USB3 hub. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium under Parallels 10, and the Mac is running Yosemite with all the latest updates. (The Acer Netbook ran Windows 7 Starter). I've had this setup running for a couple of weeks now, and I'm extremely pleased. In fact, just yesterday I swapped out the SignaLink for an Asus Xonar U5 sound card, which Jim, K9YC recommended on the list - it works perfectly. Last night, I was able to take the rMBP, an old Alinco handheld, the KPC3+, the special cable to run from the Alinco to the KPC3+ and one of the USB cables with me to an ARES meeting. It all plugged in and played WITHOUT having to fuss with COM port designations, etc., etc. Came home, spent 5 minutes (maybe) reconnecting everything and all came up smiling. That said, I don't quite know what to tell you except that one thing that helped maintain some sanity with my old hardware configuration was to mark each and every cable and every USB hub port and never, ever plug them in "wrong". Otherwise, Windows would go off and assign a new COM port number to a given cable and I'd end up chasing my tail. I'm a retired UNIX software QC engineer, so my tolerance for that sort of baloney is minimal. One thing that bit me frequently, and took me months to finally nail down, was that for whatever reason, Windows would insist on spontaneously downloading, installing, and running a Ballpoint Pen device driver for the Thunderbolt, basically taking over for the mouse, resulting in all kinds of cursor movement and "clicks". I had to figure out how to outfox it, get into Device Manager and disable that driver. I later found a brief discussion on the Time-Nuts mailing list about it, and a few other guys had had the same problem and disabling under DM was apparently the only viable solution. (The Thunderbolt runs at 4800 baud). That said, I've been amazed that I was able to pull everything last night, go to the meeting with just the KPC3+ and then reassemble perfectly. Since you're going to be dealing with multiple K3s, and will probably want to run them both/all at 38400, you may go nuts trying to figure out which is which. Remember that the K3 Utility does display the serial number in the title bar, and you'll need to assign a different COM port for each rig, so I think some patient labelling and record keeping could help there. I rarely run the Utility anyway - only long enough to download and install firmware - so I don't (personally) see the need to run two copies simultaneously. However, you will need to figure out how/where to store the configuration files for each rig separately; I can't remember what the normal default file locations are offhand. But it should be possible to bring up the Utility and manually change its COM port so that it's talking to Rig B instead of Rig A. (Or there may be a configuration file for the Utility as well, so that it knows what COM port, etc. to use or it may be possible to invoke a specific COM port on the command line, in which case you could create two desktop shortcuts, one pointing to one rig's COM port, the other to the other - Lady Heather, the control program for the GPSDO does that, as do many other applications). BTW, under Parallels, you can force it to grab the various ports, including the external "sound card", away from OS X and assign them quasi-permanently to Windows, so that Windows will always be able to drive those devices. Again, I'm NOT a Windows expert, but I do hope that this provides some clues, and if you have further questions, please feel free to e-mail me, and I'll try to help. Very 73, Bayard R. "Brandy" Coolidge, N1HO David Ahrendts [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] |
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Just took delivery of the KUSB for the KPA500. Discovered I am up to speed on FW and saved the config. Left the KUSB connected. Did a 30W K3S tune up and EVERY RED LIGHT on the KPA500 came on. Awesome experience. Sorta like LA’s notorious 405 most nights! Checked everything. Did a quick 30W tune transmission again. KAT500 says 1:1.2 or less. W2, the same. RED LIGHT city again on the KPA500. Removed the cable and we return to sweet green all around.
So: ya don’t operate the KPA500 with the KUSB attached, right? David Ahrendts [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] |
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Interesting, Jack. K3S to KPA500 to KAT500 and a W2 to MA5B typically 1:1.2. Perfecto!
Connected the just received KUSB-KPA500 cable to the amp and to a USB port on my Apple Thunderbolt 27.5 display running with the MacMini. Downloaded KAT500 Utility and checked to see I have current firmware. I did. Saved the config. Left the cable in place. Did a low power (amp in stand-by/amp in stand-by) 20M tune just to check if the KAT500 needed to adjust. Every red light lit up on the amp. Did not dare engage high power. No red lights on the KAT500 or the W2. Removed the KUSB cable and all was back to normal. Has to be RF traveling back through the new cable to the KPA500. Let me duplicate the situation again taking great care to separate the KUSB cable from any coax, and I’ll report back. David A., KC0XT > On Aug 26, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I do. No problems here from development through current use, and I put it through worse conditions that just about anyone when testing. > It sound like you are having problems with RFI getting into the KUSB or rather the KUSB-KPA500 cable. Tell me more about how you have things > connected in your shack, being specific for the computer to KPA connection. > > Jack Brindle, W6FB > Elecraft Engineering > >> On Aug 26, 2015, at 1:09 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Just took delivery of the KUSB for the KPA500. Discovered I am up to speed on FW and saved the config. Left the KUSB connected. Did a 30W K3S tune up and EVERY RED LIGHT on the KPA500 came on. Awesome experience. Sorta like LA’s notorious 405 most nights! Checked everything. Did a quick 30W tune transmission again. KAT500 says 1:1.2 or less. W2, the same. RED LIGHT city again on the KPA500. Removed the cable and we return to sweet green all around. >> So: ya don’t operate the KPA500 with the KUSB attached, right? >> >> David Ahrendts [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] > David Ahrendts [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] |
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Welcome to the world of high power. You will find a lot of things in your shack may not be designed to handle the higher power you now can run.
For example, take a good look at the specs for your MA5B. It is rated at 350 watts key down for any length of time, further rated at 600 watts CW, with a low duty cycle. Make sure that all cables and connectors in the antenna path are rated for the higher power you now run. You might want to add a good RF Choke to the MA5B to eliminate problems with RF on the outside of the coax shield. K9YC has a very good tutorial for this. See: http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf <http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf> Take a good look at some of the other things in your shack that also might benefit from good choking. The USB cables will be included in this, especially the one from the computer to the KPA500. The problem you are seeing isn’t too hard to resolve, but it will take some patience and experimenting to take care of them. There are a lot of us on the reflector who have been through this who can help with suggestions. And realize that what you saw was not normal, but is actually not a problem in the amplifier or radio. It’s just a result of using them. Once you get them licked, things become a lot more fun! Jack, W6FB > On Aug 26, 2015, at 3:44 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Interesting, Jack. K3S to KPA500 to KAT500 and a W2 to MA5B typically 1:1.2. Perfecto! > Connected the just received KUSB-KPA500 cable to the amp and to a USB port on my Apple Thunderbolt 27.5 display running with the MacMini. > Downloaded KAT500 Utility and checked to see I have current firmware. I did. Saved the config. Left the cable in place. > Did a low power (amp in stand-by/amp in stand-by) 20M tune just to check if the KAT500 needed to adjust. Every red light lit up on the amp. Did not dare engage high power. No red lights on the KAT500 or the W2. > Removed the KUSB cable and all was back to normal. > Has to be RF traveling back through the new cable to the KPA500. Let me duplicate the situation again taking great care to separate the KUSB cable from any coax, and I’ll report back. > > David A., KC0XT > > > >> On Aug 26, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote: >> >> I do. No problems here from development through current use, and I put it through worse conditions that just about anyone when testing. >> It sound like you are having problems with RFI getting into the KUSB or rather the KUSB-KPA500 cable. Tell me more about how you have things >> connected in your shack, being specific for the computer to KPA connection. >> >> Jack Brindle, W6FB >> Elecraft Engineering >> >>> On Aug 26, 2015, at 1:09 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote: >>> >>> Just took delivery of the KUSB for the KPA500. Discovered I am up to speed on FW and saved the config. Left the KUSB connected. Did a 30W K3S tune up and EVERY RED LIGHT on the KPA500 came on. Awesome experience. Sorta like LA’s notorious 405 most nights! Checked everything. Did a quick 30W tune transmission again. KAT500 says 1:1.2 or less. W2, the same. RED LIGHT city again on the KPA500. Removed the cable and we return to sweet green all around. >>> So: ya don’t operate the KPA500 with the KUSB attached, right? >>> >>> David Ahrendts [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> >>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >> > > > > > David Ahrendts [hidden email] <mailto:[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] |
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In reply to this post by David Ahrendts
On Mon,8/24/2015 6:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote:
> In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects all KUSBs to a USB hub I've never considered doing this. Except when there's development for brand new products, Elecraft firmware typically updates once or twice a year. We're seeing a bit more than that now because of the new K3S and P3TXMon. At home, I use real hardware RS232 to control the two K3s looped through P3s in my SO2R station. That works with K3 Utility, P3 Utility, N1MM+, WSJT-X, and DXLab Commander. The only control lines to my KPA500 and KAT500s are PTT via the RCA connectors. Both the KPA500 and KAT500s are very good at RF-sensing to do their own band-switching. I use their USB connections only when I want to load new firmware, and I do it by simply moving a USB cable from one unit to another. I use the AUX bus only to feed band decoders for switching antennas and bandpass filters. For FD and CQP, I find myself using the USB cables because the computers don't have hardware serial ports. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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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The advantage of connecting the KPA500 to the K3[S] is that you can
select bands with one button. Useful for those of us who forget what band we wanted as we're stepping through them with the BAND UP/DOWN switch. Fred K6DGW --Northern California Contest Club --CU in the Cal QSO Party --3-4 Oct 2015 On 8/26/2015 4:54 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > On Mon,8/24/2015 6:57 PM, David Ahrendts wrote: >> In a multiple Elecraft device station, I’m curious if anyone connects >> all KUSBs to a USB hub > > I've never considered doing this. Except when there's development for > brand new products, Elecraft firmware typically updates once or twice > a year. We're seeing a bit more than that now because of the new K3S > and P3TXMon. > > At home, I use real hardware RS232 to control the two K3s looped > through P3s in my SO2R station. That works with K3 Utility, P3 > Utility, N1MM+, WSJT-X, and DXLab Commander. The only control lines to > my KPA500 and KAT500s are PTT via the RCA connectors. > > Both the KPA500 and KAT500s are very good at RF-sensing to do their > own band-switching. I use their USB connections only when I want to > load new firmware, and I do it by simply moving a USB cable from one > unit to another. I use the AUX bus only to feed band decoders for > switching antennas and bandpass filters. > > For FD and CQP, I find myself using the USB cables because the > computers don't have hardware serial ports. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.6125 / Virus Database: 4409/10516 - Release Date: > 08/26/15 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jack Brindle-2
Jack, reporting back, as promised:
I could not replicate my red light experience tonight. Carefully keeping the KUSAB-KPA500 cable well away from any coax, I connected as I did yesterday to the Apple display and Mac Mini. Did a TEN WATT xmit (KPA500 in stand-by). All green lights. Same for 20 watts. Engaged OPER at 25 watts. Produced 500 watts from the KPA500. Smooth as silk. I clearly laid the KUSB right smack on top of the power out coax. No other explanation. So, case closed. And in the words of the very wise moderator of this list, Eric Swartz, (he’s thinking of this right now), “let’s close this discussion on Multiple USB Connects.” Thanks much. Thread closed. David A., KC0XT > On Aug 26, 2015, at 4:32 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Welcome to the world of high power. You will find a lot of things in your shack may not be designed to handle the higher power you now can run. > For example, take a good look at the specs for your MA5B. It is rated at 350 watts key down for any length of time, further rated at 600 watts CW, > with a low duty cycle. Make sure that all cables and connectors in the antenna path are rated for the higher power you now run. You might want > to add a good RF Choke to the MA5B to eliminate problems with RF on the outside of the coax shield. K9YC has a very good tutorial for this. > See: http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf <http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf> > Take a good look at some of the other things in your shack that also might benefit from good choking. The USB cables will be included in this, > especially the one from the computer to the KPA500. > > The problem you are seeing isn’t too hard to resolve, but it will take some patience and experimenting to take care of them. There are a lot of us > on the reflector who have been through this who can help with suggestions. And realize that what you saw was not normal, but is actually not > a problem in the amplifier or radio. It’s just a result of using them. Once you get them licked, things become a lot more fun! > > Jack, W6FB > > >> On Aug 26, 2015, at 3:44 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote: >> >> Interesting, Jack. K3S to KPA500 to KAT500 and a W2 to MA5B typically 1:1.2. Perfecto! >> Connected the just received KUSB-KPA500 cable to the amp and to a USB port on my Apple Thunderbolt 27.5 display running with the MacMini. >> Downloaded KAT500 Utility and checked to see I have current firmware. I did. Saved the config. Left the cable in place. >> Did a low power (amp in stand-by/amp in stand-by) 20M tune just to check if the KAT500 needed to adjust. Every red light lit up on the amp. Did not dare engage high power. No red lights on the KAT500 or the W2. >> Removed the KUSB cable and all was back to normal. >> Has to be RF traveling back through the new cable to the KPA500. Let me duplicate the situation again taking great care to separate the KUSB cable from any coax, and I’ll report back. >> >> David A., KC0XT >> >> >> >>> On Aug 26, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote: >>> >>> I do. No problems here from development through current use, and I put it through worse conditions that just about anyone when testing. >>> It sound like you are having problems with RFI getting into the KUSB or rather the KUSB-KPA500 cable. Tell me more about how you have things >>> connected in your shack, being specific for the computer to KPA connection. >>> >>> Jack Brindle, W6FB >>> Elecraft Engineering >>> >>>> On Aug 26, 2015, at 1:09 PM, David Ahrendts <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Just took delivery of the KUSB for the KPA500. Discovered I am up to speed on FW and saved the config. Left the KUSB connected. Did a 30W K3S tune up and EVERY RED LIGHT on the KPA500 came on. Awesome experience. Sorta like LA’s notorious 405 most nights! Checked everything. Did a quick 30W tune transmission again. KAT500 says 1:1.2 or less. W2, the same. RED LIGHT city again on the KPA500. Removed the cable and we return to sweet green all around. >>>> So: ya don’t operate the KPA500 with the KUSB attached, right? >>>> >>>> David Ahrendts [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> >>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> >>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>> >> >> >> >> >> David Ahrendts [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >> >> >> >> > David Ahrendts [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] |
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In reply to this post by David Ahrendts
I'm ordering a K3S and, therefore, I'm selling my loaded K3/100:
*KAT3 auto tuner *KRX3 second receiver *KXV3A I/O board *KDVR3 voice recorder *KFL3A-400hz and KFL3A-1.8kz 8 pole filters in main receiver *The base unit filters in both receivers have also been upgraded to the KFLA-2.8 8 pole filters In exceptionally clean and 100% operating condition. Two months ago the rig was at the factory for repair of the KRX3, it was returned and the technician notes said that the rig checked out as meeting all specs. Unit was new in July 2013, Serial Number 7561. Asking $3200. Greatly prefer PayPal for payment. If interested, please contact me off list. 73, Carl N8VZ Sent from my iPhone ______________________________________________________________ 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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I left off two other accessories: general coverage RX board and TCXO. These were added more recently and I forgot to add them to the list.
Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 2, 2015, at 12:48 PM, Carl Jón Denbow <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I'm ordering a K3S and, therefore, I'm selling my loaded K3/100: > > *KAT3 auto tuner > *KRX3 second receiver > *KXV3A I/O board > *KDVR3 voice recorder > *KFL3A-400hz and KFL3A-1.8kz 8 pole filters in main receiver > *The base unit filters in both receivers have also been upgraded to the KFLA-2.8 8 pole filters > > In exceptionally clean and 100% operating condition. Two months ago the rig was at the factory for repair of the KRX3, it was returned and the technician notes said that the rig checked out as meeting all specs. Unit was new in July 2013, Serial Number 7561. Asking $3200. Greatly prefer PayPal for payment. > > If interested, please contact me off list. > > 73, > > Carl > N8VZ > > Sent from my iPhone > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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