>Yes, and then you get to buy a bunch of parts for your KIO2<g>! > >DO NOT CONNECT RS-232 to your KIO2 without opening all unused (by RS-232) >pins. ONly Sig Ground, TX and RX go from computer to K2. All other lines on >the KIO2 are not RS-232 and can't tolerate the +- 15V the computer will >supply.
Do not worry. I am one of those old generation (!) people who do not move a finger without reading the manual first. >;-) Now, as for reading manuals, I have got an interesting case for all of you to comment on. Multimode's Documentation starts by saying the following for transmitting (receiving is via the sound output of the rig): "If you also want to transmit, you'll need to connect the audio output (speaker) jack of your Mac to your radio's microphone input jack. You may need to reduce the audio amplitude using a potentiometer, or attenuating audio cable. Many have sucessfully usd the RigBlaster, made by West Mountain Radio (http://www.westmountainradio.com/)." Then goes onto describe the procedure for PTT and CW: "For transmitting, you may want to be able to control your radio's PTT (Push To Talk) line. A PTT output is generated from the DTR output of the Mac's serial port. A CW key output is generated from the Transmit Data output." The diagram in the Documentation depicts a little circuit on the line from Mac's serial port to the CW Key control (and a smilar one to the PTT) such that: Mac Serial Port --> Diode (1N4148, etc.) --> 2.2k Resistor --> Transistor (2N2222, etc.) -->PTT The other leg of the Transistor goes to ground. On a diversion from this line, there is a diode (1N4001, etc) which then connects to the first leg of the transistor going to the PTT. [I hope I haven't described it too badly. The diagram is on p4. of MultiModeDocs.pdf. I tried to attach it to this message but the list does not accept attachments.] The documentation describes the way the circuit works as follows: "When the serial port output goes positive, it biases the transistor, so the collector can sink current. The 1N4148 diode protects the transistor when the serial port output is negative. The 1N4001 protects the transistor against flyback from a relay that might be lurking in the radio. A faster diode would probably offer additional protection. The connection on the Mac end would go to the DTR output line. If you'd like to use a similar circuit for CW key control, then it would go to the TxD+ line (or TxD- if you need to invert the logic of the output)." There is no problem as far as this description is concerned. All sounds logical. Looking at things from the K2 side, p. 95 of the manual says that I should have two diodes (one on each line from the dot and dash connections) on the cables going to the computer, when I connect it in parallel to a paddle. And it describes the reason as: "When you connect the keying device in this way, you can continue to use the paddle as usual. But if the external keying device is keyed, both the DOT and DASH lines will be pulled low simultaneously, via the diodes. The K2 firmware interprets this as direct external keying rather than as DOT and DASH triggers." This sounds quite logical, too. However, when you bring the two descriptions together on a single circuit an interesting case occurs. Now, I am not exactly a techie type person and learnt electronics just enough to pass the exam BUT AFAIK having diodes on both ends (i.e. on the computer side as well as the K2 side), each protecting their own respective device, there will not be any current flowing. Am I wrong? Or should I put the circuit together and test it anyway? Thanks for your help in advance. 73! BKA (TA2RX) ---------------------------------- Bekir Kemal Ataman ArchiMac BBS Sysop & Webmaster <http://www.archimac.org/> _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
