The AUX cable is necessary if you want the K3 to set the proper drive level to the KPA500 when you switch it to OPERATE and revert to 100 watts (or whatever other power you had set) when you switch the KPA500 back to STANDBY or turn it off. The RS-232 connection on the amp is used only for updates to the internal firmware and not to communicate with the K3.
If you don't use other features that are available on the K3's AUX connector, you could build up a cable yourself, but DO NOT use a computer VGA MONITOR cable as it's wired differently and won't work properly according to the KPA500 manual. I like the Y connection as I do use the AUX connection on the K3 for direct FSK and PTT input from my RTTY program. That way I can keep the K3 in FSK-D and run the CW paddles for a quick DX QSO if I don't want to start up MMTTY for a more detailed RTTY operation. If I do run MMTTY, I don't have to swap modes on the K3 since I'm already in FSK-D mode rather than AFSK (FSK-A). Jim - W0EB > Have most of been ordering the aux cable with the amp? I'm just > trying to see > if it's worth having. > > 73, John N1JM > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Aux-cable-for-KPA500- > tp7078405p7078405.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
