Its been a bit since I’ve owned an LDG tuner, but, to my recollection, the interface was similar to what Icom uses on their AH-4. The LDG tuner was pretty much a drop in replacement for the Icom, with a very simple cable. And, there were, at one point, a couple sites online for “universal” interfaces to use with an AH-4 - here’s one:
https://www.hamoperator.com/Hamoperator/AH-4_Universal_Interface.html http://www.hamoperator.com/Hamoperator/AH-4_Universal_Interface_files/ah4-manual-5.pdf Near the end of that PDF is a description of how the interface works, including what signals are needed to do the tuning. Again, to my recollection, the LDG tuner’s I’ve owned also have an auto-tune mode, where, if they see a mis-match while you’re transmitting, will automatically go through their cycle to find a better match. The LDG group previously mentioned has Manuals available online as zip files. Apologies if this is a bit vague, I sold my LDG, and just use the built in tuner on my K3 these days. I will say I think it would be nice if there was an easy drop in product or method for using a non Elecraft external or an at-the-antenna tuner with the Elecraft, such as the LDG or Icom’s, but I’ll leave that to the savvy entrepreneurs to bring to market. 73, N8YSZ. -- Dan Brown > On Sep 14, 2022, at 04:06, Dave B via Elecraft <[email protected]> > wrote: > Morning... > > Sounds like a job for an Arduino or PIC Micro, to interface between radio and > ATU, and possibly with additional indicators/buttons etc... > > ATU on one side (two I/O lines from the sound of things, with maybe some > voltage level changing) and radio CAT interface on the other on a serial port > (or whatever a K2/K3 or ??? needs.) > > That is the sort of project where you may find someone else has already done > something similar for other needs, so part way there, that you can adapt and > build on. (Google is your friend of course.) > > Best of all, the needed development software is freely available (for zero > cost) and the hardware is low cost too. Plus... LOTS of tutorials on-line > to point you in the right direction... > > From the below, it sounds like the needed event sequencing is already known > too, that helps enormously. > > A nice winter project... > > 73. > > Dave G8kBV > > > > On 13/09/2022 20:03, [email protected] wrote: >> On 04/09/2022 09:37,[email protected] wrote: >>> I looked up the Owner's Manual for the Z100A and it does not have >>> a "Molex" connector on the tuner. The radio interface cable is a >>> miniDIN6. The manual also does not list a cable for K3 (or any >>> Elecraft transceiver) - only the "IC106" cable for connecting power. >> The DIN connector has 4 active pins it seems - plus and minus power, a >> signal that should trigger the transceiver if you press the tune button >> to trigger the radio to make RF, and a signal that indicates the tuning >> process is complete. >> >> None of the indication signals directly interface with the K3. >> >> As others already said, I don't think the K3 has an interface for either >> of these signals. The procedure would then be: >> 1. reduce output power on K3 >> 2. press TUNE on K2 to start generating RF >> 3. Press TUNE on tuner to make it start a tune cycle >> 4. Tuner will indicate completion of cycle >> 5. Press TUNE to stop K2 generating power. >> 6. Restore RF power setting. >> >> There is no integration between the K3 and the Z100A unfortunately. >> >> LDG makes many tuner models, some actually talk to the radio to do part >> of the above process automatically. >> >> My suggestion is to join the LDG group at >> https://groups.io/g/ldgelectronics >> >> 73, Geert Jan PE1HZG > > -- > Created on and sent from a Unix like PC running and using free and open > source software: > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
