[OT] K9YC's Control Cable: Part Two

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[OT] K9YC's Control Cable: Part Two

Brian - N5BCN
Hi All,

I've taken Jim Brown and Don's advise and constructed a K2 to PC control cable using Shielded Cat 6 ethernet cable.  The shield is tied to the DB9 shell on both ends of the cable, signal returns using the "striped wire" of each pair tied to pin 5.

The cable appears to be a success: RFI problems are much improved!

Now I'd like to construct similar control cables for other gear in the shack:
1) The cable from the K2 to a remoted KPA100
2) The cable from the W1 to the PC
3) Cable from a SignaLink to the PC and K2
4) etc

Many of the above cables do not seem to have a "return" line and/or do not use Pin 5.  Assuming I'm still tying the shield to the DB9 shell, where should I tie the "striped wires" of each pair to?

73

Brian N5BCN
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Re: [OT] K9YC's Control Cable: Part Two

Don Wilhelm-4
Brian,

Tie the signal returns (ground) for for the K2 to other Elecraft gear to
pin 1.
Note that pin 5 is only the signal return (ground) in the RS-232 (PC)
portion of the cable (K2 and PC ends)

For the W1 to PC cable, the signal return is pin 5, just as in the K2 to
PC case.

I have not looked at the SignaLink schematics (they are not convenient
and on-line), so you are on your own there.  I thought the SignaLink to
PC connection was USB in any case.  Certainly the audio cables can be
made from twisted pair - it does not have to be shielded in most cases,
the twist does most of the extraneous signal rejection.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 9/19/2011 5:12 PM, Brian - N5BCN wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I've taken Jim Brown and Don's advise and constructed a K2 to PC control
> cable using Shielded Cat 6 ethernet cable.  The shield is tied to the DB9
> shell on both ends of the cable, signal returns using the "striped wire" of
> each pair tied to pin 5.
>
> The cable appears to be a success: RFI problems are much improved!
>
> Now I'd like to construct similar control cables for other gear in the
> shack:
> 1) The cable from the K2 to a remoted KPA100
> 2) The cable from the W1 to the PC
> 3) Cable from a SignaLink to the PC and K2
> 4) etc
>
> Many of the above cables do not seem to have a "return" line and/or do not
> use Pin 5.  Assuming I'm still tying the shield to the DB9 shell, where
> should I tie the "striped wires" of each pair to?
>
>
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