You don't need to put the KPA500 into STANDBY via software. Just open the KEY line to the KPA500 while the antenna is tuning, like the SteppIR tuning relay interrupt option does, then close it when tuning is complete. These connections can also be made with either the S-BOX or Y-BOX using the 15-pin connector and the RCA connectors + a stereo cable.
73, Bob, N6TV On Mon, Jul 30, 2018, 1:14 PM Mark Goldberg <marklgoldb...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks. > > There is no automated screwdriver controller. I would make one that drives > the motor and sends serial commands to the KPA500 to go to standby, to the > KX3 to go into tune mode and respond back with the SWR and then I would > adjust the screwdriver antenna and re-enable the amp. All the controllers I > know of have a separate directional coupler, something extra to put in the > line, and don't account for putting the amp in standby for tuning. > Basically looking to fully automate with what is already included in the > Elecraft equipment, under software control. I have build several special > purpose Arduino projects to do similar things. > > There is no tuner except the screwdriver antenna. > > Yes, I know I can buy things to hook together to do what I want, but I am > now retired, with lots of time, a brain to keep occupied and not as much > money! > > 73, > > Mark > W7MLG > > > On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 1:03 PM, Jack Brindle <jackbrin...@me.com> wrote: > >> Just a quick reminder (for Bob), the KPA500 does not listen to Auxbus >> traffic at all. Trying to send it Auxbus traffic thus would be fruitless. >> >> Bob’s comment about connecting the KX3 and KPA500 using the serial >> connection is a very good one. In fact when I was developing the KPA500's >> communications code, I used a K3 for testing. As he alludes, sharing this >> data from the KX3 with the KAT500 should provide the information you need. >> You can do this with one of his S-Boxes, or a simple Y cable should do the >> trick, with the transmit data coming from the KAT500 disconnected so that >> only one device drives the line. The KPA500 can then poll as required, or >> you can have the KX3 auto-send data as Bob describes. >> >> The KPA500 responds to IF; FA: and FB; messages - it polls for all three >> when RADIO = SERIAL and SER POLL = ON. Thus the FA; response going back to >> the KAT500 should be just what you want. If the screwdriver controller also >> understands FA response (or FB; or IF; for that matter) then you should be >> in good shape. >> >> The proposal to use a small computer (Raspberry PI, etc) will certainly >> work, it just needs a little careful coding. >> >> I would stay away from the Auxbus stuff, though. Unless you really want >> to tear your hair out and join the Bruce Willis crowd… >> >> 73! >> Jack, W6FB >> >> >> > On Jul 30, 2018, at 11:52 AM, Bob Wilson, N6TV <n...@arrl.net> wrote: >> > >> > If you set MENU:AUTOINF to ANT CTRL, no PC is needed to poll the radio; >> the >> > KX3 can distribute the frequency data to both the KPA500 XCVR port and >> to >> > the antenna controller as "FA ... ;" messages, so you don't need to try >> to >> > make the AUXBUS work. It may work, but in the KX3 documentation, the >> ACC2 >> > PIN GPIO as AUXBUS is only documented for communication with Elecraft's >> > transverters, not the KPA500. >> > >> > Trying to drive the screwdriver controller with AUXBUS data will require >> > reverse engineering the AUXBUS protocol, which is not recommended (not >> > published, subject to change). >> > >> > My main point is that the KPA500 can automatically follow the KX3's >> > frequency without having to use the AUXBUS. You just set RADIO to >> SERIAL, >> > RS 232 X to the KX3 baud rate, and connect the KPA500's RS232 XCVR port >> > (the MALE DE-9 connector, rarely used) to the KX3. The S-BOX can do >> that >> > for you using a standard serial cable plugged into the back and an RCA >> > stereo cable plugged into the front, plus it can share the KX3 frequency >> > with other serial devices and KEY CW.). >> > >> > 73, >> > Bob, N6TV >> > >> > On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 11:29 AM, Mark Goldberg < >> marklgoldb...@gmail.com> >> > wrote: >> > >> >> I was trying to find out if the Auxbus works between the KX3 and >> KPA500. >> >> That would be ACC2 IO = TRN CTRL and connect ACC2 tip to the KPA500 >> Auxbus. >> >> The ACC2 Ring is already connected to the KPA500 PTT in and works fine. >> >> >> >> There is no PC in the picture. My home station is completely PC >> controlled, >> >> but I am looking to simplify things for the mobile and have things as >> >> integrated as possible so there is no manual work to do. I also want to >> >> tune the screwdriver antenna using the KX3 as the SWR sensor. So, I >> think >> >> only a custom solution will give me all that. Just to make it a little >> more >> >> complicated, I use an Android tablet for vehicle monitoring with an >> ODB2 >> >> Dongle. I may also use that touchscreen to control the Ham Radio stuff, >> >> probably via a wifi or bluetooth interface to the ham radio >> controller, an >> >> Arduino or similar. I do have an extra ESP32 lying around. >> >> >> >> 73, >> >> >> >> Mark >> >> W7MLG >> >> >> >> On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 11:05 AM, Brian Waterworth < >> >> brian.waterwo...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >>> It does. I have used this setup for two field days. Pay attention >> to >> >>> the menu setup of acc2 and ptt on the kx3 if memory serves me >> correctly. >> >>> From my notes on field day setup: >> >>> >> >>> If using an Elecraft kpa500, setup the kx3 so that the "pa key" is >> >>> grounded during ptt. That means lo=ptt on the kx3 menus (ACC2 IO). >> >>> >> >>> I figured this out by looking at the kpa500 manual. I was borrowing >> a >> >>> fellow hams kpa500 so I can’t help more with testing as I don’t own >> one. >> >>> >> >>> P.s. I must have missed your original post because I did not see the >> >> post >> >>> you indicated you sent to the list. Sometimes I get a bit delete >> happy >> >> :-) >> >>> >> >>> Regards >> >>> Brian >> >>> VE3IBW >> >>> >> >>> On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 10:11 AM Mark Goldberg < >> marklgoldb...@gmail.com> >> >>> wrote: >> >>> >> >>>> I have asked if this will work, but did not get any answers. I >> suppose I >> >>>> could wire it up and see if it does. >> >>>> >> >>>> 73, >> >>>> >> >>>> Mark >> >>>> W7MLG >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 6:21 AM, ANDY DURBIN <a.dur...@msn.com> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> KX3 has the option to output aux bus on ACC2 "TRN CTRL (output; >> >>>> XV-series >> >>>>> transverter control using Elecraft auxBus prototcol)". Why wouldn't >> >> you >> >>>>> connect this directly to the aux bus input pin of the KPA500. Isn't >> >>>> that >> >>>>> what it is for? >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Not discouraging Arduino projects though as I am going something >> >> similar >> >>>>> to integrate my TS-590 with KPA500 and KAT500. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> 73 >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Andy k3wyc >> >>>>> ______________________________________________________________ >> >>>>> Elecraft mailing list >> >>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> >>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> >>>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >>>>> >> >>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> >>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >>>>> Message delivered to marklgoldb...@gmail.com >> >>>>> >> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >> >>>> Elecraft mailing list >> >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> >>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >>>> >> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >>>> Message delivered to brian.waterwo...@gmail.com >> >>>> >> >>> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> >> Elecraft mailing list >> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >> Message delivered to n...@arrl.net >> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ >> > Elecraft mailing list >> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> > >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > Message delivered to jackbrin...@me.com >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
