Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3
Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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
[Elecraft] WANTED: Elecraft K3 Options (KAT3 Tuner, 2nd RX etc)
Hello! I am looking for some options for my K3. KAT3 Tuner, KDVR3 Digital Voice Recorder, KTCXO3-1 TCXO, KXV3A RX Ant., IF Out and Xverter Interface (last Version), KFL3A-2.8K 2.8 kHz, 8-pole filter, KFL3A-400 400 Hz, narrow 8-pole filter, KFL3A-250 250 Hz, narrow 8-pole filter etc.. Thanks 73s Alex NH7VW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/WANTED-Elecraft-K3-Options-KAT3-Tuner-2nd-RX-etc-tp5083460p5083460.html Sent from the [K3] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf It is a USB/RS232 converter built into the same form factor as a PCB mounting DB9 connector as used in the Elecraft KIO3 module. This has the advantage that the existing DB9 connector on the KIO3 could be carefully desoldered and replaced with the new FTDI connector. This would provide a neat way of providing a rear panel USB (mini B type) connector on the rear panel of the K3. From looking at the specification sheet the DB9-USB-F would be a drop in replacement for the existing DB9-F on the KIO3 without any track cutting etc. A neat solution. Personally, I am happy with the K3 RS232 connection and external USB/RS232 cable but I can see the attraction for some of a built in USB interface. I have always found the FTDI device drivers to be stable and work well with the K3 Utility under both Windows XP and Windows 7. If anyone does try it, I'd be interested in how they find this USB conversion. Note that this will NOT work with the K2 KIO2 as it is not a standard RS232 DB9 connector. Usual disclaimers apply - I have no connection with FTDI and have not tried the device myself. 73 Allan GM4ZUK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
This looks extremely cool. However, it doesn't appear that Mouser or Digi-Key in the US are carrying it yet, so getting one-off quantities might be problematic until the retail distribution chain catches up. Obviously a possibility here for Elecraft to offer the KIO3 in either version (RS-232 or USB connector) as an ordering option, if they've a mind to... Thanks, Allan. Bill W5WVO New Mexico -- From: Allan G Duncan allan.dun...@allanduncan.co.uk Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 4:56 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3 I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf It is a USB/RS232 converter built into the same form factor as a PCB mounting DB9 connector as used in the Elecraft KIO3 module. This has the advantage that the existing DB9 connector on the KIO3 could be carefully desoldered and replaced with the new FTDI connector. This would provide a neat way of providing a rear panel USB (mini B type) connector on the rear panel of the K3. From looking at the specification sheet the DB9-USB-F would be a drop in replacement for the existing DB9-F on the KIO3 without any track cutting etc. A neat solution. Personally, I am happy with the K3 RS232 connection and external USB/RS232 cable but I can see the attraction for some of a built in USB interface. I have always found the FTDI device drivers to be stable and work well with the K3 Utility under both Windows XP and Windows 7. If anyone does try it, I'd be interested in how they find this USB conversion. Note that this will NOT work with the K2 KIO2 as it is not a standard RS232 DB9 connector. Usual disclaimers apply - I have no connection with FTDI and have not tried the device myself. 73 Allan GM4ZUK __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Handie Mic IC Problem
Larry, See if this is it. The K3 uses the same connections as Kenwood. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rg4wpw/date.html#kenwood 73, Mike NF4L K6PJ wrote: I have used the HEIL Proset with the IC microphone since I buught my K3 with excellent results. I decided I wanted a desk Mike so I thought the HEIL Handie Mic IC should give me similar results. So I bought a Handi Mic IC and CC1K cable. I get no audio into the K3 with this combination. Is anyone using this combination with the K3? Should it work? Does anyone know the wiring of the 4 pin connector on the Handi Mic IC? I cannot find it on the Heil web site. 73 Thank You Larry K6PJ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
On Fri, 21 May 2010 11:56:44 +0100, you wrote: If anyone does try it, I'd be interested in how they find this USB conversion. Note that this will NOT work with the K2 KIO2 as it is not a standard RS232 DB9 connector. And if you do it on your K3, it will not work with the P3. -- OV1A Jens Drive the way you wish your children would. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Obviously a possibility here for Elecraft to offer the KIO3 in either version (RS-232 or USB connector) as an ordering option, if they've a mind to... There are a few issues here: 1) Does the internal RS232 charge pump have harmonics in any Amateur bands? Are they audible? In the KIO3 we took great pains to not use a charge pump based RS232 level shifter since this circuitry is extremely close to the KXV3(A) which may carry the Rx Antenna path. Instead, we created a clean oscillator at audio and derived the necessary negative bias voltages from it. The RS232 interface is also right next to the KRX3 SubReceiver antenna input. One must be very careful about noise management here -- or go to use of castings and lots of internal shields like some radios use. 2) For an internal USB interface, we'd like to see Rx Audio (stereo) and Tx audio, along with FSK, in a way that requires no special drivers for most computers running most current or recent OSes. This reduces cabling requirements. Conceptually, think of a microHAM device (or Navigator, RigExpert Plus, ...) internal to the radio. 3) For the present configuration, you need a cable between the K3's RS232 port and the computer. Changing to an internal USB-RS232 adapter does not reduce or simplify cabling requirements, and in fact reduces the flexibility of the radio's interface! 4) Some products, like the P3, interpose themselves into the RS232 control path in a daisy-chain fashion. If the RS232 is changed to USB on the K3, the interposing device either needs to become a USB host (perhaps USB-OTG is sufficient) or an intelligent bridge device. This is far more complex and potentially much more costly than the present solution. Again, the RS232 interface appears to be the better choice at present. Enjoy! 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Those making a mod of that nature to a K2 (or any other radio) take on a new responsibility. If anyone makes such a change and subsequently sells their K3, I would hope that the sale would include a CD with the latest drivers for any OS that could possibly be used with the K3. Plain RS-232 does not need drivers - USB does, and those drivers are OS dependent and OS level dependent. When you are working out in the field with your laptop and your USB K3, internet access to download new drivers may not be available. 73, Don W3FPR Allan G Duncan wrote: I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Firmware Rev. 3.97: new DSP NB algorithm, improved TX INHibit, accurate S-meter w/AGC off, etc.
Don't know if my PM got through, but to make it official - the CW-to-data bug with the internal keyer is still in this beta. I didn't see anything in the release notes about it, tho, so I figured it's still on the ToDo list 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Beta-Firmware-Rev-3-57-Synchronous-AM-Detection-AM-S-misc-improvements-tp3983997p5084193.html Sent from the [K3] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
I agree with Don. Of the available choices for a computer interface in this instance, RS-232 is probably still the best one. Or to put it more realistically, it's the least miserable. Especially when dealing with truly garbagey OS software like Windows... Oops, was that my outside voice talking? Fortunately, the Prolific chipset seems to work pretty good and I have heard good reports on the FTDI adapters as well. But IMO Elecraft is doing the right thing by staying out of the mess with USB for now 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Built-in-USB-interface-for-K3-tp5083750p5084230.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Handie Mic IC Problem
Actually, this sounds like a question that should be answered by Heilsound. You may have a non-working microphone or you my have an adapter that will not work with the K3. Both the ProSet-iC and the HandiMic-iC should need bias if I recall correctly. The K3 provides bias on the AF pin, and that Kenwood cable may include a blocking capacitor (which would render the K3 bias ineffective) and depend on the voltage at Kenwood pin 5 to power the element (the K3 has voltage on pin 6). What I am saying is that only Heil can provide the right answer - they do not publicize the schematics for their adapters and cables. Unfortunately, HeilSound in the past has stated that Elecraft is the SAME as Kenwood, but actually it is not the same - it is compatible but that does not make them equal. The difference is in the use of pins 5 and 6 on the mic connector. Elecraft uses pin 6 for 8 volts, Kenwood uses pin 5 for 8 volts. Bottom line - any mic (or adapter cable) that depends on the Kenwood pin 5 voltage will not work with the Elecraft pinout. As one for instance, the Kenwood MC-85 microphone will not work with the K3 for this very reason. 73, Don W3FPR Mike wrote: Larry, See if this is it. The K3 uses the same connections as Kenwood. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rg4wpw/date.html#kenwood 73, Mike NF4L K6PJ wrote: I have used the HEIL Proset with the IC microphone since I buught my K3 with excellent results. I decided I wanted a desk Mike so I thought the HEIL Handie Mic IC should give me similar results. So I bought a Handi Mic IC and CC1K cable. I get no audio into the K3 with this combination. Is anyone using this combination with the K3? Should it work? Does anyone know the wiring of the 4 pin connector on the Handi Mic IC? I cannot find it on the Heil web site. 73 Thank You Larry K6PJ __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 keypad Ascessory
These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Val v...@vip.bg To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:55 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3 Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Lyle and Don both make excellent points regarding this USB Conversion. IMHO their posts should be ignored at your peril. I completely agree with Don's comments regarding the driverless nature of plain RS232. I myself was not considering this mod myself, as I stated in my original post. I have an RS232/USB cable I purchased while in the USA last year from Fry's for $15 which works faultlessly (FTDI chipset). It also has jackscrews on the serial end which engage with the posts on the K3. As an owner of the SPE Expert 1K-FA (which I use with the K3), I need the K3 RS232 port to band switch the amplifier automatically. Band data (on the DB15HD port) is not sufficient as the Expert needs to know exact frequency for ATU control. The RS232 connection required by the P3 is a point I had not considered - it's interesting the P3 does not use the Elecraft proprietary AUXBUS for control unlike the KRC2 and XV transverters. Perhaps they are considering a P3 version that could interface to non-Elecraft transceivers with IF outputs and RS232 ports? Maybe the KPA500 is similar? 73 Allan GM4ZUK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
But, how is this any different then using an external RS232 to USB converter cable or whatever. My own desire is to get rid of the funky antiquated RS232 protocol that is troubled by line speed issues, signaling lines that aren't needed and so on. USB offers so much more but you lose that when you have to filter it out by converting to an RS232 device no matter where you put it. 73, phil, K7PEH On May 21, 2010, at 3:56 AM, Allan G Duncan wrote: I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf It is a USB/RS232 converter built into the same form factor as a PCB mounting DB9 connector as used in the Elecraft KIO3 module. This has the advantage that the existing DB9 connector on the KIO3 could be carefully desoldered and replaced with the new FTDI connector. This would provide a neat way of providing a rear panel USB (mini B type) connector on the rear panel of the K3. From looking at the specification sheet the DB9-USB-F would be a drop in replacement for the existing DB9-F on the KIO3 without any track cutting etc. A neat solution. Personally, I am happy with the K3 RS232 connection and external USB/RS232 cable but I can see the attraction for some of a built in USB interface. I have always found the FTDI device drivers to be stable and work well with the K3 Utility under both Windows XP and Windows 7. If anyone does try it, I'd be interested in how they find this USB conversion. Note that this will NOT work with the K2 KIO2 as it is not a standard RS232 DB9 connector. Usual disclaimers apply - I have no connection with FTDI and have not tried the device myself. 73 Allan GM4ZUK __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
As we move forward with OS versions, Don touches on a difference, that RS232 does not need a driver. Let it also be understood, that Microsoft does NOT, repeat, DOES NOT supply USB device drivers, BY DESIGN. A virtual RS232 port that appears in the hardware listing and surfaces in a real RS232 on the other side of some converter is a USER device. This was a flexibility wanted by the industry to sell new gadgets, code stuff when the they (not Microsoft) wanted to, and not have to bother with waiting for Microsoft to integrate it. As a courtesy Microsoft distributes certified drivers via their updates. But MS does not support them. The responsibility for keeping USB device drivers functioning in spite of operating system changes, resides with the programmers of user software and USB devices. Whether one agrees with that division is up for debate, but whether that's the way it is now, for good or bad, is a fact. What is also apparent, is that the makers and programmers of such devices are all for the new sales, but not so interested in maintenance once the big bux have been raked in. Are you surprised? Once a USB port device is implanted in a K3, Elecraft becomes slave to all the OS issues, many still unresolved, especially with W7 64 bit, and will be responsible for keeping up with all the OS changes affecting USB to RS232. The popular ham programs are still expecting RS232, whether real or virtual. My question is why on earth would anyone want to stick their foot into that bear trap, and then spend the next decade dragging that chain around. USB is law of the jungle, with order just barely being maintained. Drivers will get tested for the big bux, high volume stuff, and ignored for everything else, unless there is someone like Microham, who depends on them, who will bite, bitch, annoy, bash and continuously robo-call a chip maker until they come up with a fix for something in a driver that's screwing them to the wall. That's really a swamp. You sure you really want to go with devices embedded in the K3? At least USB/RS232 converter cords have larger separate audiences, whose larger volume will get some testing. AND if they finally refuse to upgrade, you can toss it and go get someone else's version and try again. How do you do that if the device is embedded in the K3? Just gonna trust that there's still a programmer assigned long term in some chip company to deal with keeping up with the OS, trust that they're gonna stay in business. Wanna pay for the keep up with Microsoft cost embedded in anything you buy from Elecraft? Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? Careful what you wish for. 73, Guy On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 9:09 AM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Those making a mod of that nature to a K2 (or any other radio) take on a new responsibility. If anyone makes such a change and subsequently sells their K3, I would hope that the sale would include a CD with the latest drivers for any OS that could possibly be used with the K3. Plain RS-232 does not need drivers - USB does, and those drivers are OS dependent and OS level dependent. When you are working out in the field with your laptop and your USB K3, internet access to download new drivers may not be available. 73, Don W3FPR Allan G Duncan wrote: I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. On May 21, 2010, at 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: As we move forward with OS versions, Don touches on a difference, that RS232 does not need a driver. Let it also be understood, that Microsoft does NOT, repeat, DOES NOT supply USB device drivers, BY DESIGN. A virtual RS232 port that appears in the hardware listing and surfaces in a real RS232 on the other side of some converter is a USER device. This was a flexibility wanted by the industry to sell new gadgets, code stuff when the they (not Microsoft) wanted to, and not have to bother with waiting for Microsoft to integrate it. As a courtesy Microsoft distributes certified drivers via their updates. But MS does not support them. The responsibility for keeping USB device drivers functioning in spite of operating system changes, resides with the programmers of user software and USB devices. Whether one agrees with that division is up for debate, but whether that's the way it is now, for good or bad, is a fact. What is also apparent, is that the makers and programmers of such devices are all for the new sales, but not so interested in maintenance once the big bux have been raked in. Are you surprised? Once a USB port device is implanted in a K3, Elecraft becomes slave to all the OS issues, many still unresolved, especially with W7 64 bit, and will be responsible for keeping up with all the OS changes affecting USB to RS232. The popular ham programs are still expecting RS232, whether real or virtual. My question is why on earth would anyone want to stick their foot into that bear trap, and then spend the next decade dragging that chain around. USB is law of the jungle, with order just barely being maintained. Drivers will get tested for the big bux, high volume stuff, and ignored for everything else, unless there is someone like Microham, who depends on them, who will bite, bitch, annoy, bash and continuously robo-call a chip maker until they come up with a fix for something in a driver that's screwing them to the wall. That's really a swamp. You sure you really want to go with devices embedded in the K3? At least USB/RS232 converter cords have larger separate audiences, whose larger volume will get some testing. AND if they finally refuse to upgrade, you can toss it and go get someone else's version and try again. How do you do that if the device is embedded in the K3? Just gonna trust that there's still a programmer assigned long term in some chip company to deal with keeping up with the OS, trust that they're gonna stay in business. Wanna pay for the keep up with Microsoft cost embedded in anything you buy from Elecraft? Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? Careful what you wish for. 73, Guy On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 9:09 AM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Those making a mod of that nature to a K2 (or any other radio) take on a new responsibility. If anyone makes such a change and subsequently sells their K3, I would hope that the sale would include a CD with the latest drivers for any OS that could possibly be used with the K3. Plain RS-232 does not need drivers - USB does, and those drivers are OS dependent and OS level dependent. When you are working out in the field with your laptop and your USB K3, internet access to download new drivers may not be available. 73, Don W3FPR Allan G Duncan wrote: I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Fw: K3 Macro button pad
- Original Message - From: Jim Miller KG0KP jimmil...@stl-online.net To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Val v...@vip.bg Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 8:36 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 keypad Ascessory These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Val v...@vip.bg To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:55 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3 Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Well, just as a single example, for bench scales which are connected to a data processing device, see http://www.scalesgalore.com/pindustry.htm For those scales which have remoting as standard or an option, *some* of them have optional USB, but ALL remotables have RS232. RS232 very much alive in general industry. 73, Guy. On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:05 AM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. On May 21, 2010, at 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: As we move forward with OS versions, Don touches on a difference, that RS232 does not need a driver. Let it also be understood, that Microsoft does NOT, repeat, DOES NOT supply USB device drivers, BY DESIGN. A virtual RS232 port that appears in the hardware listing and surfaces in a real RS232 on the other side of some converter is a USER device. This was a flexibility wanted by the industry to sell new gadgets, code stuff when the they (not Microsoft) wanted to, and not have to bother with waiting for Microsoft to integrate it. As a courtesy Microsoft distributes certified drivers via their updates. But MS does not support them. The responsibility for keeping USB device drivers functioning in spite of operating system changes, resides with the programmers of user software and USB devices. Whether one agrees with that division is up for debate, but whether that's the way it is now, for good or bad, is a fact. What is also apparent, is that the makers and programmers of such devices are all for the new sales, but not so interested in maintenance once the big bux have been raked in. Are you surprised? Once a USB port device is implanted in a K3, Elecraft becomes slave to all the OS issues, many still unresolved, especially with W7 64 bit, and will be responsible for keeping up with all the OS changes affecting USB to RS232. The popular ham programs are still expecting RS232, whether real or virtual. My question is why on earth would anyone want to stick their foot into that bear trap, and then spend the next decade dragging that chain around. USB is law of the jungle, with order just barely being maintained. Drivers will get tested for the big bux, high volume stuff, and ignored for everything else, unless there is someone like Microham, who depends on them, who will bite, bitch, annoy, bash and continuously robo-call a chip maker until they come up with a fix for something in a driver that's screwing them to the wall. That's really a swamp. You sure you really want to go with devices embedded in the K3? At least USB/RS232 converter cords have larger separate audiences, whose larger volume will get some testing. AND if they finally refuse to upgrade, you can toss it and go get someone else's version and try again. How do you do that if the device is embedded in the K3? Just gonna trust that there's still a programmer assigned long term in some chip company to deal with keeping up with the OS, trust that they're gonna stay in business. Wanna pay for the keep up with Microsoft cost embedded in anything you buy from Elecraft? Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? Careful what you wish for. 73, Guy On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 9:09 AM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Those making a mod of that nature to a K2 (or any other radio) take on a new responsibility. If anyone makes such a change and subsequently sells their K3, I would hope that the sale would include a CD with the latest drivers for any OS that could possibly be used with the K3. Plain RS-232 does not need drivers - USB does, and those drivers are OS dependent and OS level dependent. When you are working out in the field with your laptop and your USB K3, internet access to download new drivers may not be available. 73, Don W3FPR Allan G Duncan wrote: I don't wish to re-ignite the RS232 vs USB connectivity debates which have regularly appeared on the reflector but some K3 owners may be interested in this product recently launched by FTDI. http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Macro button pad
Yes Jim, If we have 21 programmable keys, we cold make 11 band keys, 5 mode keys and 5 other macros. But I think not everybody needs all bands and modes. That's why a narrower box with two columns of 7 keys = 14 key could be produced too. 73 Val LZ1VB These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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
[Elecraft] Possible USB 2.0 mod
I was sitting down to breakfast when I looked at my email. Seems like the questions and the answers occurred together. For all you folks looking for a USB connection look here: http://www.elektor.com/news/usb-2-0-module-to-replace-db9-rs232-connector-on.1361885.lynkx?utm_source=UKutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=news Or a shorter address to the same place: http://dbaseserver.mistermail.nl/t/838415/5034024/197744/0/ This article describes a drop in replacement to the DB9 RS-232 connection created by a local company (Hillsboro, Oregon). Maybe this will solve the dilema. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
With the exception of ham radio, I seriously doubt that I could find and buy a device that needs RS232. I understand that there might be a device that supports RS232 for some old equipment needs. Or, even devices, as the cited example that for some reason continues to use RS232. And, I can understand some of those reasons from technical perspective but I don't think this is relevant to the issue with ham radio or to all the other devices that we (in this ham radio community) belong to. In my opinion, the only argument for ham radio having RS232 is because there are still old computers out there that do not support USB and the ham radio community is playing to that crowd. Personally, I think this is a mistake because you don't see other kinds of devices making that sacrifice. And, by devices that I might buy, let me categorize them a bit. They fall into classes such as: audio devices such as speakers or microphones, card interfaces such as smart cards, memory sticks, biometric readers, and even my Fluke DVM, or various communication devices such as a modem or a speakerphone, or how about keyboards, joysticks, drawing tablets, other mass storage such as hard drives, CD drives, digital camera interfaces, and media players, or then there are printers of all various kinds, and digital camcorders, webcams, so on and so forth. This is all quite the industry and they are all USB and I doubt that I could buy a device of the kinds I mention here and have it not be implicitly USB (new that is, since I agree old stuff exists that uses RS232). The cited example (below) is nice but I have no need to buy a scale and plug it into my computer. However, if I did, I bet that I would find one that is USB. About device drivers -- by the way, on my Mac computer, I don't think I would need a device driver for any of the devices that I mention above. I have not tried them all but I do know that the exposed USB I/O interface supports them so that you can write ordinary non-kernel applications that interface to them without the need of a custom driver (which I call a program that runs in kernel mode and must be installed separately from the application). 73, phil, K7PEH On May 21, 2010, at 7:16 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Well, just as a single example, for bench scales which are connected to a data processing device, see http://www.scalesgalore.com/pindustry.htm For those scales which have remoting as standard or an option, *some* of them have optional USB, but ALL remotables have RS232. RS232 very much alive in general industry. 73, Guy. On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:05 AM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. On May 21, 2010, at 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: As we move forward with OS versions, Don touches on a difference, that RS232 does not need a driver. Let it also be understood, that Microsoft does NOT, repeat, DOES NOT supply USB device drivers, BY DESIGN. A virtual RS232 port that appears in the hardware listing and surfaces in a real RS232 on the other side of some converter is a USER device. This was a flexibility wanted by the industry to sell new gadgets, code stuff when the they (not Microsoft) wanted to, and not have to bother with waiting for Microsoft to integrate it. As a courtesy Microsoft distributes certified drivers via their updates. But MS does not support them. The responsibility for keeping USB device drivers functioning in spite of operating system changes, resides with the programmers of user software and USB devices. Whether one agrees with that division is up for debate, but whether that's the way it is now, for good or bad, is a fact. What is also apparent, is that the makers and programmers of such devices are all for the new sales, but not so interested in maintenance once the big bux have been raked in. Are you surprised? Once a USB port device is implanted in a K3, Elecraft becomes slave to all the OS issues, many still unresolved, especially with W7 64 bit, and will be responsible for keeping up with all the OS changes affecting USB to RS232. The popular ham programs are still expecting RS232, whether real or virtual. My question is why on earth would anyone want to stick their foot into that bear trap, and then spend the next decade dragging that chain around. USB is law of the jungle, with order just barely being maintained. Drivers
Re: [Elecraft] Possible USB 2.0 mod
Too bad the datasheet won't load (here, at least). matt W6NIA On Fri, 21 May 2010 10:32:48 -0400 (EDT), you wrote: I was sitting down to breakfast when I looked at my email. Seems like the questions and the answers occurred together. For all you folks looking for a USB connection look here: http://www.elektor.com/news/usb-2-0-module-to-replace-db9-rs232-connector-on.1361885.lynkx?utm_source=UKutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=news Or a shorter address to the same place: http://dbaseserver.mistermail.nl/t/838415/5034024/197744/0/ This article describes a drop in replacement to the DB9 RS-232 connection created by a local company (Hillsboro, Oregon). Maybe this will solve the dilema. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Possible USB 2.0 mod
However, this link works: http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_DB9-USB-RS232.pdf matt W6NIA On Fri, 21 May 2010 07:44:14 -0700, you wrote: Too bad the datasheet won't load (here, at least). matt W6NIA On Fri, 21 May 2010 10:32:48 -0400 (EDT), you wrote: I was sitting down to breakfast when I looked at my email. Seems like the questions and the answers occurred together. For all you folks looking for a USB connection look here: http://www.elektor.com/news/usb-2-0-module-to-replace-db9-rs232-connector-on.1361885.lynkx?utm_source=UKutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=news Or a shorter address to the same place: http://dbaseserver.mistermail.nl/t/838415/5034024/197744/0/ This article describes a drop in replacement to the DB9 RS-232 connection created by a local company (Hillsboro, Oregon). Maybe this will solve the dilema. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Fw: Possible USB 2.0 mod for K3
A better link is at the company site. http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/DB9-USB.htm The documents are in a .pdf on this page. Kevin. -Forwarded Message- From: Kevin Rock kevinr...@earthlink.net Sent: May 21, 2010 10:32 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Possible USB 2.0 mod I was sitting down to breakfast when I looked at my email. Seems like the questions and the answers occurred together. For all you folks looking for a USB connection look here: http://www.elektor.com/news/usb-2-0-module-to-replace-db9-rs232-connector-on.1361885.lynkx?utm_source=UKutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=news Or a shorter address to the same place: http://dbaseserver.mistermail.nl/t/838415/5034024/197744/0/ This article describes a drop in replacement to the DB9 RS-232 connection created by a local company (Hillsboro, Oregon). Maybe this will solve the dilema. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Allan Duncan-3 wrote: Perhaps they are considering a P3 version that could interface to non-Elecraft transceivers with IF outputs and RS232 ports? Maybe the KPA500 is similar? I know the P3 can be used with non-Elecraft rigs and would be surprised if the KPA500 were not designed with the same goal. It only makes sense that Elecraft would greatly expand their potential market by designing for use with other rigs. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Built-in-USB-interface-for-K3-tp5084342p5084668.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
You list items where the processing is PC-based, and the devices blend with consumer applicaitons. Beyond that are industrial devices with embedded robotics in applications where software absolutely cannot be changed based on anything other than that company's own internal needs, the world of IBM and Unix mainframes, of devices that are expected to have decades-long investment lives, and such things as exposing one's company to externally imposed OS device protocol changes requiring matching internal coding and debugging to stay working, is a career-ending mistake. This is an environment where the OS is required to support 20 year old code without imposed changes, and the equivalent of CTL-ALT-DELETE to fix an unrepaired problem in the OS can take a factory off-line for an hour or more resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions, in loss per hour. This is not the world of the mass consumer/Microsoft paradigm where is old always bad because they want to sell you something new. This is the world where you will find x86 processors running on specialty motherboards, and STILL running OS/2. You're entitled to your preferences, for sure, but I hope that I don't have your preferences imposed on me :). 73, Guy. On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:43 AM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: With the exception of ham radio, I seriously doubt that I could find and buy a device that needs RS232. I understand that there might be a device that supports RS232 for some old equipment needs. Or, even devices, as the cited example that for some reason continues to use RS232. And, I can understand some of those reasons from technical perspective but I don't think this is relevant to the issue with ham radio or to all the other devices that we (in this ham radio community) belong to. In my opinion, the only argument for ham radio having RS232 is because there are still old computers out there that do not support USB and the ham radio community is playing to that crowd. Personally, I think this is a mistake because you don't see other kinds of devices making that sacrifice. And, by devices that I might buy, let me categorize them a bit. They fall into classes such as: audio devices such as speakers or microphones, card interfaces such as smart cards, memory sticks, biometric readers, and even my Fluke DVM, or various communication devices such as a modem or a speakerphone, or how about keyboards, joysticks, drawing tablets, other mass storage such as hard drives, CD drives, digital camera interfaces, and media players, or then there are printers of all various kinds, and digital camcorders, webcams, so on and so forth. This is all quite the industry and they are all USB and I doubt that I could buy a device of the kinds I mention here and have it not be implicitly USB (new that is, since I agree old stuff exists that uses RS232). The cited example (below) is nice but I have no need to buy a scale and plug it into my computer. However, if I did, I bet that I would find one that is USB. About device drivers -- by the way, on my Mac computer, I don't think I would need a device driver for any of the devices that I mention above. I have not tried them all but I do know that the exposed USB I/O interface supports them so that you can write ordinary non-kernel applications that interface to them without the need of a custom driver (which I call a program that runs in kernel mode and must be installed separately from the application). 73, phil, K7PEH On May 21, 2010, at 7:16 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Well, just as a single example, for bench scales which are connected to a data processing device, see http://www.scalesgalore.com/pindustry.htm For those scales which have remoting as standard or an option, *some* of them have optional USB, but ALL remotables have RS232. RS232 very much alive in general industry. 73, Guy. On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:05 AM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. On May 21, 2010, at 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: As we move forward with OS versions, Don touches on a difference, that RS232 does not need a driver. Let it also be understood, that Microsoft does NOT, repeat, DOES NOT supply USB device drivers, BY DESIGN. A virtual RS232 port that appears in the hardware listing and surfaces in a real RS232 on the other side of some converter
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Phil, I would place all the devices you mentioned into the category of consumer devices, and that is not the same as industry devices. How many point of sale terminals do you see in stores that are using a USB connection? Most (if not all) use RS-232. The connectors may be either 9 pin or 25 pin - they may or may not be consumer PC compatible - the 25 pin RS-232 implements a secondary port as well as the primary, and is used by many industrial devices. Yes, those are not consumer devices, they are things that are used in the retail sales arena. If you are in a manufacturing area, look at the communications interface between devices that are being used there - they are mostly all RS-232 or some other interface that is termed archaic and outdated by some of the posts on this reflector. RS-232 and others standard interfaces are definitely not dead, and are being used in these environments because it is reliable and it works, and is not dependent on the whims and desires of the OS updates. These environments also must run long distances with these communication signals, and neither USB nor Firewire are capable of those distances - RS-232 is. Do not be fooled by the makers of laptop computers who are trying to squeeze as much function as possible into a small space, and desktop computers in the consumer market seem to be ignoring the need for RS-232 as well. Such is life in the consumer market, but I do not want to consider my K3 as a typical consumer device that I throw away and purchase a new one when it does not work. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Hystad wrote: With the exception of ham radio, I seriously doubt that I could find and buy a device that needs RS232. I understand that there might be a device that supports RS232 for some old equipment needs. Or, even devices, as the cited example that for some reason continues to use RS232. And, I can understand some of those reasons from technical perspective but I don't think this is relevant to the issue with ham radio or to all the other devices that we (in this ham radio community) belong to. In my opinion, the only argument for ham radio having RS232 is because there are still old computers out there that do not support USB and the ham radio community is playing to that crowd. Personally, I think this is a mistake because you don't see other kinds of devices making that sacrifice. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
On Fri, 2010-05-21 at 07:43 -0700, Phil Hystad wrote: With the exception of ham radio, I seriously doubt that I could find and buy a device that needs RS232. I understand that there might be a device that supports RS232 for some old equipment needs. Or, even devices, as the cited example that for some reason continues to use RS232. Cisco, 3Com and Juniper Routers and switches still all use an RS232 based console port and very handy it is at times too. It's used as the NMEA bus for pretty much all marine electronics where here the big advantage is that you can easily have multiple devices listening to GPS data on the same common bus In the ham shack the same trick is used to control steppir antennas, drive band controllers etc I have yet to meet an X86 based server that does not have at least one on board RS232 port and you can buy USB to rs232 converters for a couple of Euro on Ebay RS-232 is still be best choice for low speed serial communications for many applications -- 73 Brendan EI6IZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Macro button pad
Can't wait to get my P3. Wish I knew where I am on the list. 73, de Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Val v...@vip.bg To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 9:21 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Macro button pad Yes Jim, If we have 21 programmable keys, we cold make 11 band keys, 5 mode keys and 5 other macros. But I think not everybody needs all bands and modes. That's why a narrower box with two columns of 7 keys = 14 key could be produced too. 73 Val LZ1VB These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Handie Mic IC Problem
Don Thanks for the response. Yes, I found it very frustrating that Heil does not document their wiring. yes for the Proset -IC the Bias is turned on. I tried E-mail to Heil but got no answer. Your idea on a blocking cap could explain what I am seeing. I think I might ring out the adapter to see if it is using the bias in pin 5. Larry K6PJ On Fri, 21 May 2010 09:34:37 -0400 Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Actually, this sounds like a question that should be answered by Heilsound. You may have a non-working microphone or you my have an adapter that will not work with the K3. Both the ProSet-iC and the HandiMic-iC should need bias if I recall correctly. The K3 provides bias on the AF pin, and that Kenwood cable may include a blocking capacitor (which would render the K3 bias ineffective) and depend on the voltage at Kenwood pin 5 to power the element (the K3 has voltage on pin 6). What I am saying is that only Heil can provide the right answer - they do not publicize the schematics for their adapters and cables. Unfortunately, HeilSound in the past has stated that Elecraft is the SAME as Kenwood, but actually it is not the same - it is compatible but that does not make them equal. The difference is in the use of pins 5 and 6 on the mic connector. Elecraft uses pin 6 for 8 volts, Kenwood uses pin 5 for 8 volts. Bottom line - any mic (or adapter cable) that depends on the Kenwood pin 5 voltage will not work with the Elecraft pinout. As one for instance, the Kenwood MC-85 microphone will not work with the K3 for this very reason. 73, Don W3FPR Mike wrote: Larry, See if this is it. The K3 uses the same connections as Kenwood. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rg4wpw/date.html#kenwood 73, Mike NF4L K6PJ wrote: I have used the HEIL Proset with the IC microphone since I buught my K3 with excellent results. I decided I wanted a desk Mike so I thought the HEIL Handie Mic IC should give me similar results. So I bought a Handi Mic IC and CC1K cable. I get no audio into the K3 with this combination. Is anyone using this combination with the K3? Should it work? Does anyone know the wiring of the 4 pin connector on the Handi Mic IC? I cannot find it on the Heil web site. 73 Thank You Larry K6PJ __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Memory key pad
Gentlemen, The macro key pad sounds useful but a simple box replicating the five/seven button memory switches would be useful for contesting and general operating I love the built in DVK and Morse memory. Whatever happens the memory switches should be so located as to be easy to find in the heat of a contest. I believe this may be on the to do list so it may yet happen. Meanwhile I do not wish this to be taken as a complaint as I can hardly believe what the Elecraft people are doing for us in upgrading the K3 and just hope it lasts. Thank you for such a fine radio. 73 EI2CN __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. That is absolutely untrue as I have learned recently ... Like Microsoft, although Apple will recognize a USB device in System Profiler, it does not supply the drivers necessary for the operating system to talk to those devices (e.g USBSerial). It is the responsibility of the device manufacturer to supply the appropriate operating system driver and install it (or provide instructions for the user to install it manually). In an overwhelming number of devices, USB is nothing other than an alternative to the 8250 equivalent UART. USB simply embeds the UART in the accessory device and extends the CPU peripheral bus to the device. It is a way for the computer manufacturer to move COSTS to the peripheral maker. Except for very few devices, the communication between the UART and device is a simple serial data stream - no different than if the UART had remained in the computer and the data transported as RS-232 signal levels. The ONLY advantage to USB is the ability to support higher data rates - up to 3 megabits per second - for mass storage and data intensive devices like digital cameras and other A/V devices. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 5/21/2010 10:05 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Handie Mic IC Problem
I use both the Hand mic and the Heil headset and boom mic from Elecraft, There is no noticable difference between the mic's, no settings need to be changed in the menu's. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Heil-Handie-Mic-IC-Problem-tp5082292p5084909.html Sent from the [K3] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Memory key pad other functions
why would not a macro kbd such as below work ??? putting any of the k3 commands into the macros on the keyboard http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkstick.php $ 99 bill /3 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
This issue has been bounced around a lot and perhaps it is now overdone. I do want to say that in my consumer experience the serial port has always been a beast to work with. You constantly have to watch port settings and the OS seems to change things all the time, causing the device to fail to work properly. By contrast, every USB device I have used has worked correctly right out of the box, and the OS seems able to find the device and correctly allocate it. Plus the bandwidth on USB is considerably wider, allowing for much faster data transfer as well as the opportunity to power the device directly from the USB connection. The only problem I have seen is when a new OS comes out and updated drivers are not available. The other problem with staying with serial ports is that most computers sold today do not have them. This has been a significant problem for me in a number of practical field uses. I have tried many USB to serial adapters and have had wildly inconsistent results, and even where they work they have been inconsistent and sometimes mess up the port settings. All that being said, I now have a USB-Serial adapter that appears to work properly and I am prepared to move on. If HAM radio can find a way, as most other equipment manufacturers have done, to use USB interfaces reliably, then I will be happy. IF they don't choose to go that way I can use the adapter. This is after all HAM radio and we are supposed to have to tinker with the equipment. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 9:01 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3 And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. That is absolutely untrue as I have learned recently ... Like Microsoft, although Apple will recognize a USB device in System Profiler, it does not supply the drivers necessary for the operating system to talk to those devices (e.g USBSerial). It is the responsibility of the device manufacturer to supply the appropriate operating system driver and install it (or provide instructions for the user to install it manually). In an overwhelming number of devices, USB is nothing other than an alternative to the 8250 equivalent UART. USB simply embeds the UART in the accessory device and extends the CPU peripheral bus to the device. It is a way for the computer manufacturer to move COSTS to the peripheral maker. Except for very few devices, the communication between the UART and device is a simple serial data stream - no different than if the UART had remained in the computer and the data transported as RS-232 signal levels. The ONLY advantage to USB is the ability to support higher data rates - up to 3 megabits per second - for mass storage and data intensive devices like digital cameras and other A/V devices. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 5/21/2010 10:05 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: Industrial devices are still, and remain, invested in RS232. Maybe there's a reason? This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? And, I know that I have lived in the Apple Mac world for a long time but I am finding it hard to understand why USB requires custom device drivers on Windows. I know that I do not need that on my Mac computer. The only time I have ever needed to install a custom driver for USB is because of the ham radio RS232 interface needs. __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
PHIL HYSTAD SAID: This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? Uh - oh. Here we go again ... Phil, if you look in the archive of a few weeks back you will find the whole issue hashed out at great length. I had the same reaction as yours at the outset of the last go-round, but have been educated,enlightened. Bottom line: RS -232 GOOD: one mustn't be biased against it just because it's 40 years old, unix[tm] is also 40 years old and yet is still the standard of excellence. Both are Golden Oldies. USB: BAD [in the context of data communication with complex devices, e.g. radios]. See Guy's post. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Yes, and Yes. :-) 73, Eric WA6HHQ Elecraft --- On 5/21/2010 8:01 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote: Allan Duncan-3 wrote: Perhaps they are considering a P3 version that could interface to non-Elecraft transceivers with IF outputs and RS232 ports? Maybe the KPA500 is similar? I know the P3 can be used with non-Elecraft rigs and would be surprised if the KPA500 were not designed with the same goal. It only makes sense that Elecraft would greatly expand their potential market by designing for use with other rigs. 73, Bill __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3 [END of Thread]
Guys - Let's END this thread now. :-) 73, Eric List Moderator On 5/21/2010 9:44 AM, eric manning wrote: PHIL HYSTAD SAID: This is a very surprising statement. The only RS232 interfaces I see lingering around are from the ham radio community. So, do you mean the ham radio industry? Uh - oh. Here we go again ... Phil, if you look in the archive of a few weeks back you will find the whole issue hashed out at great length. I had the same reaction as yours at the outset of the last go-round, but have been educated,enlightened. Bottom line: RS -232 GOOD: one mustn't be biased against it just because it's 40 years old, unix[tm] is also 40 years old and yet is still the standard of excellence. Both are Golden Oldies. USB: BAD [in the context of data communication with complex devices, e.g. radios]. See Guy's post. __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 - 60 Meters
It seems one of the frequencies on 60 Meters may be changing. Can that be handled via a typical firmware update? 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Memory key pad
This is probably all redundant on macros through the Utility. I haven't (don't tell anybody) used the macros yet so am not familiar with their use during battle. Do I have to have the Utility up and visible all the time or does it just install the macro on your selected key and then you use that key? 73, de Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Doug Turnbull turnb...@net1.ie To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 10:44 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Memory key pad Gentlemen, The macro key pad sounds useful but a simple box replicating the five/seven button memory switches would be useful for contesting and general operating I love the built in DVK and Morse memory. Whatever happens the memory switches should be so located as to be easy to find in the heat of a contest. I believe this may be on the to do list so it may yet happen. Meanwhile I do not wish this to be taken as a complaint as I can hardly believe what the Elecraft people are doing for us in upgrading the K3 and just hope it lasts. Thank you for such a fine radio. 73 EI2CN __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Memory key pad
hf4me wrote: Do I have to have the Utility up and visible all the time or does it just install the macro on your selected key and then you use that key? Either or both. I assign my 2 most frequently used macros (massive split pileup and return to diversity) to PF1 and PF2, but you can assign others to other keys or use the Utility as well. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Memory-key-pad-tp5084867p5085472.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - 60 Meters
Dick, No need for a firmware change - the K3 can tune anywhere within the 60 meter band. You may have set up Channel Hopping on 60 meters for your K3 - see page 40 in the manual. Just change the frequency for the Channel Hopping memory that you used in your K3. 73, Don W3FPR Edward Dickinson, III wrote: It seems one of the frequencies on 60 Meters may be changing. Can that be handled via a typical firmware update? __ 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
[Elecraft] OT: K3 Utility beta
Apologies for taking up bandwidth but I'd like to let Dick Dievendorff know that comcast has bounced every single message (10+) I sent him on Tuesday from my orange.fr account about the K3 Utility beta. 'Returned to sender' messages from orange.fr only arrived this afternoon. 73, Pete Connors, F5VNB/G4PLZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
All: The same device has been available from Saelig for almost 9 months now: http://www.saelig.com/USBO/USSP002.htm Lu Romero W4LT K3 #3192 Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 05:29:01 -0600 From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO w5...@cybermesa.net To: Allan G Duncan allan.dun...@allanduncan.co.uk, elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 5e94a2ca6d8b450c811878fa815d2...@billhp9250 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original This looks extremely cool. However, it doesn't appear that Mouser or Digi-Key in the US are carrying it yet, so getting one-off quantities might be problematic until the retail distribution chain catches up. Obviously a possibility here for Elecraft to offer the KIO3 in either version (RS-232 or USB connector) as an ordering option, if they've a mind to... Thanks, Allan. Bill W5WVO New Mexico __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Macro button pad
All: Would 33 buttons be enough? http://www.genovation.com/681.htm Or maybe 24? http://www.genovation.com/684.htm We use these in a museum to play back videos from a RS232 controlled server, and they are very rugged and easy to program. You program them using the supplied software in english, then when you press a button, the serial command stream is sent out to the 232 port that makes functions happen. Once you program the key macros, you dont need a computer, as it has built in non battery flash RAM inside. Since we now have a macro language for external control of the K3 via the RS232 port, you could program functions as macros into this thing, label the button with the function and have at it. I have a PS2 version of the model 684 that I use with N1MMLogger that I have programmed multiple keyboard key presses (like for setting split and other functions) that works perfectly. Ive had it for almost two years now and it works just fine. I have also used it on a microHAM microKEYER2 in place of a standard PS2 keyboard to send CW message memories standalone, that works fine too. Of course, YMMV, but if it can share the RS232 port with something else (I haven not tried it), or if you just want to send macros and have nothing connected to the 232 port, this might solve your problems. Just a thought. I have found a lot of relatively inexpensive widgets to make our museum work well. This is just one of them. Some translate into Ham apps, some dont. Lu Romero W4LT K3 #3192 Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 09:11:36 -0500 From: Jim Miller KG0KP jimmil...@stl-online.net Subject: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Macro button pad To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4ecbdb3db472466194ae1082b00c2...@hmjm500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original - Original Message - From: Jim Miller KG0KP jimmil...@stl-online.net To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net ; Val v...@vip.bg Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 8:36 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 keypad Ascessory These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Val v...@vip.bg To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:55 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3 Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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
[Elecraft] Fwd: Re: TV and computer interferencies - K3's fault ?
Pardon me if this is OT, but it really has to be said often to enable us to get maximum joy out of using our Elecraft transceivers in today's world of consumer electronics (does that make it on topic?). yesterday evening I was calling on 17m when a lady warned me that I was doing interferencies on her TV and computer. I've been dealing with ham RFI (or more accurately, unwanted signal interception) issues both as a generator and as a resolver for about 50 years now, 30 of them with the FCC, and the most important thing that I would add in large letters is: DO NOT WORK ON OR OFFER TO WORK ON YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EQUIPMENT Failure to follow this advice would embroil the operator into a lifelong obligation to be the unpaid repair person for every glitch and bad-design result in the neighbor's equipment, and a vector for every complaint, real or imaginary, whether the operator was on the air or not. I advise my ham clients that they have three obligations: * Make absolutely sure that their equipment and operations are in full compliance with FCC standards and their license authorization. * Offer to be available at reasonable times to make a reasonable amount of on-the-air transmission tests for the affected neighbor and/or their repair technician to determine the effectiveness of any remedial actions that the neighbor and/or their repair technician make. * Be a gentleman or lady (as applicable) in dealing with the neighbor because nothing will be solved otherwise. If the neighbor doesn't reciprocate, do not fight fire with fire. It makes things worse. Gone are the days when we could solve most things with supplying high-pass filters and vacuum tube adapters with disc caps from grid to ground for audio stages. -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 ARRL Volunteer Counsel (and a lot more things) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: Re: TV and computer interferencies - K3's fault ?
Hello all, tks for all answers. Pardon me if this is OT, but it really has to be said often to enable us to get maximum joy out of using our Elecraft transceivers in today's world of consumer electronics (does that make it on topic?). I have already talked with our FCC and my neighbors should complain to services, they will come here and check for everything. Of course if cause of interferencies is my neighbors TV-set and computer they will pay services :) yesterday evening I was calling on 17m when a lady warned me that I was doing interferencies on her TV and computer. I've been dealing with ham RFI (or more accurately, unwanted signal interception) issues both as a generator and as a resolver for about 50 years now, 30 of them with the FCC, and the most important thing that I would add in large letters is: DO NOT WORK ON OR OFFER TO WORK ON YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EQUIPMENT Failure to follow this advice would embroil the operator into a lifelong obligation to be the unpaid repair person for every glitch and bad-design result in the neighbor's equipment, and a vector for every complaint, real or imaginary, whether the operator was on the air or not. I advise my ham clients that they have three obligations: * Make absolutely sure that their equipment and operations are in full compliance with FCC standards and their license authorization. * Offer to be available at reasonable times to make a reasonable amount of on-the-air transmission tests for the affected neighbor and/or their repair technician to determine the effectiveness of any remedial actions that the neighbor and/or their repair technician make. * Be a gentleman or lady (as applicable) in dealing with the neighbor because nothing will be solved otherwise. If the neighbor doesn't reciprocate, do not fight fire with fire. It makes things worse. In the past I had a very curious story about tv interferencies, when I worked in shifts I remenber to arrive home, after a night shift, when a guy approched and asked me: are u ham ? I said yes and he replayed that last night his tv-set received a lot of TVI, I answered him that I was in shift, so no possible to be me, anyway he said that fault was mine and a complain was going to our FCC. 2 days later I was checking his tv-set installation and was all a mess, a coax not connected to building antenna cable, bad connection between coax and tv-set etc etc etc, at that time I fixed and warned about bad conditions. 2 days later I met guy and he said me that I was full of reason but even that way he was about to complain :) :) :) :) . I never had problems with our FCC cause of neighbors :) :) . Gone are the days when we could solve most things with supplying high-pass filters and vacuum tube adapters with disc caps from grid to ground for audio stages. People nowadays are very complicated and difficult to talk. -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 ARRL Volunteer Counsel (and a lot more things) Best 73 and nice weekend. CT1DRB David Quental __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Macro button pad
Yes, more than enough, but my suggestion was for boxes, made as a part of the transceiver - the same buttons, the same paint and the same size - either the width, or the height. Easily secured to the front 2-D fasteners. They will make the front panel a little bit higher, or wider for those, who need this. 73 Val LZ1VB Would 33 buttons be enough? Or maybe 24? We use these in a museum to play back videos from a RS232 controlled server, and they are very rugged and easy to program. You program them using the supplied software in english, then when you press a button, the serial command stream is sent out to the 232 port that makes functions happen. Once you program the key macros, you dont need a computer, as it has built in non battery flash RAM inside. Since we now have a macro language for external control of the K3 via the RS232 port, you could program functions as macros into this thing, label the button with the function and have at it. I have a PS2 version of the model 684 that I use with N1MMLogger that I have programmed multiple keyboard key presses (like for setting split and other functions) that works perfectly. Ive had it for almost two years now and it works just fine. I have also used it on a microHAM microKEYER2 in place of a standard PS2 keyboard to send CW message memories standalone, that works fine too. Of course, YMMV, but if it can share the RS232 port with something else (I haven not tried it), or if you just want to send macros and have nothing connected to the 232 port, this might solve your problems. Just a thought. I have found a lot of relatively inexpensive widgets to make our museum work well. This is just one of them. Some translate into Ham apps, some dont. Lu Romero W4LT K3 #3192 These 21 - dedicated macro keys ?? 73,d e Jim KG0KP Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could image. And the software could bring out there all needed information, alongwith analog S-meter. Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an easy solution. Imagine a thiny box 1/2 x 1/2 x 10.7, the same style and paint as K3 - there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be mounted on the top and secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such an accesory. Or similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys. 73 Val LZ1VB After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be for an armchair version of K3. There would be an analog S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band buttons, mode buttons. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: Re: TV and computer interferencies - K3's fault ?
David Quental wrote: People nowadays are very complicated and difficult to talk. :-( At least that's not just a characteristic of USA people! :-) 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Fwd-Re-TV-and-computer-interferencies-K3-s-fault-tp5085946p5086186.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
I apologize in advance, but the smartest guys I know are here. I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple of pieces of aluminum, but is there a right way to accomplish this? -- Vic __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Hi Vic ... My first inclination would be to go to the Ohmite website and look at the datasheet for the resistors and search for any application notes. One or both of these sources should address, at least in relative terms, how much heat is typically removed via conduction through the leads vs. from the body of the resistor. At these power levels, thermal considerations must have been part of the mechanical package design of the device. If you are lucky, you will find something like a graph of thermal resistance through the leads vs. PCB trace area, airflow or some other variable under your control. Good luck! ... Craig AC0DS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Another thought, Vic ... If the approach I suggested earlier results in a large, cumbersome or expensive packaging job for you, the easiest thing may be to redesign the attenuator using a larger number of lower wattage resistors. This would distribute the heat better and could result in a smaller final package with a lot less effort on your part. 73 Craig AC0DS __ 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
[Elecraft] FT5000 review in Radcom
It seems as if Peter Hart, having pushed the K3 into second place after the Perseus SDR (in his Radcom review a month ago) for close-in strong signal performance (I was very surprised not to see that mentioned in this forum), has now pushed it one further place down, following his review of the new FT5000 in this month's Radcom. In his league table, the K3 is now in 3rd place. Peter is very complimentary about the FT5000's close-in (best he's ever measured) receive performance, but closer reading of the article reveals criticism in other areas of the new radio's performance, for example the frequency disparity between its dual receivers, and the resulting effect on diversity reception. The review is not entirely positive. One has to be real about this. The likely price of the FT5000 will, I suspect, be several times that of the K3. It won't run off 12V, and it certainly would not fit on my operating desk! I also would not be prepared to spend that kind of money. I would also wager that 99.9% of users would notice no real world difference in receive performance between it and the K3, or indeed one or two other other top end radios. It is, however, very pretty...! Horses for courses 73 Stephen G4SJP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Here's the Ohmite resistor guide web page: http://www.ohmite.com/resguide.html 73, Dave KQ3T Craig D. Smith wrote: Hi Vic ... My first inclination would be to go to the Ohmite website and look at the datasheet for the resistors and search for any application notes. One or both of these sources should address, at least in relative terms, how much heat is typically removed via conduction through the leads vs. from the body of the resistor. At these power levels, thermal considerations must have been part of the mechanical package design of the device. If you are lucky, you will find something like a graph of thermal resistance through the leads vs. PCB trace area, airflow or some other variable under your control. Good luck! ... Craig AC0DS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3
Phil Hystad-3 wrote: USB offers so much more but you lose that when you have to filter it out by converting to an RS232 device no matter where you put it. Yes, but someone needs to write special drivers to take advantage of that extra functionality. Not a trivial task, and it is multiplied by the number of operating systems you need to support. I'll wager that K3s will hold their value better than IC7600s in 10 - 15 years time because the chances are the Icom drivers won't work in whatever OS people use then, while K3s will still be able to use plain old serial. Come to that, how many IC7600 owners who use Linux or MacOS are able to access that extra USB functionality today? - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Built-in-USB-interface-for-K3-tp5084342p5086522.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple ... lets see ... a 10x15x3mm Ohmite thick film rated at 20 watts ... with a little web research you get: http://www.ohmite.com/catalog/pdf/tah.pdf According to that data sheet, Mounting: Requires the use of a snap-on style heat sink. A thermal compound should be properly applied. Mark AD5SS On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 3:27 PM, Vic Rosenthal v...@rakefet.com wrote: I apologize in advance, but the smartest guys I know are here. I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple of pieces of aluminum, but is there a right way to accomplish this? -- Vic __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. FYI - Both Ohmite and Caddock make versions of these resistors that have screw holes for mounting. The lower power parts (15-20 watts) are pretty good thru 2-meters. However, the higher power versions (especially the 100-watt versions) can start to look bad at 50 MHz due to the large package capacitance-to-ground. Phil - AD5X __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Phil, Is this recent data? Has something changed? I have had plots of the Caddock 50 ohm 100 watt resistors taken to 250 MHz and the return loss indicated that they made very good attenuators and dummy loads at that frequency - assuming they were mounted with zero length leads directly to a BNC or SO-239 connector. My data is 2 years old. BTW - the facts I have quoted are good only for the 50 ohm Caddock resistors - I have found that other values were as stated non-inductive, but they certainly were capacitive. A capacitive dummy load is just as bad as an inductive load. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Debbie Salas wrote: I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. FYI - Both Ohmite and Caddock make versions of these resistors that have screw holes for mounting. The lower power parts (15-20 watts) are pretty good thru 2-meters. However, the higher power versions (especially the 100-watt versions) can start to look bad at 50 MHz due to the large package capacitance-to-ground. Phil - AD5X __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] N2CQ QRP Contest Calendar: May 21 - Jyne 21, 2010
~ N2CQ QRP CONTEST CALENDAR May 21 - June 21, 2010 ~ EU PSK DX Contest ... Low Power (10W) Category May 22, 1200z to May 23, 1200z Rules: http://www.eu.srars.org/ ~ All America Contest (CW) ... QRP Category May 22, 1500z to May 23, 2359z Rules: http://www.powerline.com.br/cwjf/Regulamento_Ing.pdf ~ Baltic Contest (CW/SSB) (80 Meters) May 22, 2100z to May 23, 0200z Rules: http://www.lrsf.lt/bcontest/english/rules_html.htm ~ SKCC Sprint (Straight Key CW) ... QRP Awards May 26, z to 0200z Rules: http://www.skccgroup.com/sprint/sks/ ~ CQWW WPX Contest (CW) ... QRP Category May 29, z to May 30, 2359z Rules: http://www.cqwpx.com/ ~ QRP ARCI Hoot Owl Sprint (CW) ... QRP Contest! May 30, 2000 to 2400 LOCAL TIME Rules: http://www.qrparci.org ~ Michigan QRP Memorial Day Sprint (CW) ... QRP Contest! May 31, 2300z to June 1, 0300z Rules: http://www.qsl.net/miqrpclub/contest.html ~ !Digital Pentathlon (PSK) 50W Max June 5, 1800z to 2200z Rules: http://mixw.net/misc/DigiFest/ ~ Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW) *** QRP Contest *** June 5, 0600z to 0800z Rules: http://qrp.ru/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticleartid=7page=1 ~ IARU Region 1 Fieldday (CW) ... QRP Category June 5, 1500z to June 7, 1459z Rules: http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/iarur1fd.htm ~ Alabama QSO Party (Ph/CW) ... QRP Category June 5, 1600z to June 6, 0400z Rules: http://www.alabamaqsoparty.org/2010/2010Rules.pdf ~ Adventure Radio Spartan Sprint (CW) ... QRP Event! June 8 , 0100z to 0300z (First Monday 9 PM EDT) Info: http://adventure-radio.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page ~ NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint (CW) *** QRP Contest *** EDT: June 8, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM UTC: June 9, 0030Z to 0230Z Rules: http://home.windstream.net/yoel/contests.html ~ CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW) ... QRP Category June 9, 1100z to 1200z and June 9, 1900z to 2000z and June 10, 0300z to 0400z Rules: http://www.cwops.org/onair.html ~ Long Distance RTTY Contest June 12, 0800z to 1559z June 13, z to 0759z June 13, 1500z to 2359z Rules: http://drcg.de/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=124Itemid=84 ~ GACW WWSA CW DX Contest (CW) ... QRP Category June 12, 1500z to June 13, 1500z Rules: http://gacw.no-ip.org/contest.html ~ ARRL June VHF QSO Party June 12, 1800z to June 14, 0300z Rules: http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf-qso-party ~ BARTG 75 Baud RTTY Sprint June 12, 2000z to 2359z Rules: http://www.bartg.org.uk/documents/Contests/sprint75/BARTG%20Sprint%2075%20Rules%202010.pdf ~ SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (Straight Key CW) ... QRP Category June 13, z to 2359z Rules: http://www.skccgroup.com/sprint/wes/ ~ West Virginia QSO Party (SSB/CW)... QRP Category June 19, 1600z to June 20, 0200z Rules: http://www.qsl.net/wvsarc/ ~ AGCW VHF/UHF CW Contest ... QRP Category June 19, 1600z to 1900z (144 Mhz) June 19, 1900z to 2100z (432 Mhz) Rules: http://www.agcw.org/en/?Contests:VHF-UHF_Contest ~ !Feld Hell Club Sprint (Feld Hell) ... QRP Category Jun 19, 2000z to 2200z Rules: http://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home ~ RUN FOR THE BACON (CW) *** QRP CONTEST *** EDT: June 20, 9 PM to 11 PM UTC: June 21, 0100z 0300z Rules: http://www.fpqrp.com/ ~ Thanks to SM3CER, WA7BNM, N0AX(ARRL), VA3JFF G4GXL (QRPARCI) N2APB (AmQRP), WB3AAL (EPAQRP) and others for assistance in compiling this calendar. If you wish to subscribe to the Calendar, send an e-mail to n...@arrl.net Please forward the contest info you sponsor to n...@arrl.net and we will post it and give it more publicity. Anyone may use this N2CQ QRP Contest Calendar
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
If they are mounted against a ground-plane (which is often the case for heat-sinking), I've found that the 100-watt resistors are not too good above 50 MHz. The 30 watt resistors are better, but the 15 watt resistors are best thru 2-meters. I built a series of 50 ohm terminations where the resistors were bolted to a brass plate, and the brass plate was attached to a N-connector. The resistor leads were about 0.2 long (one pin attached to the connector center pin, the other soldered to ground). Measured with an AIM4170 up to 180 MHz. Phil - AD5X - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Phil Debbie Salas dpsa...@tx.rr.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 5:50 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors Phil, Is this recent data? Has something changed? I have had plots of the Caddock 50 ohm 100 watt resistors taken to 250 MHz and the return loss indicated that they made very good attenuators and dummy loads at that frequency - assuming they were mounted with zero length leads directly to a BNC or SO-239 connector. My data is 2 years old. BTW - the facts I have quoted are good only for the 50 ohm Caddock resistors - I have found that other values were as stated non-inductive, but they certainly were capacitive. A capacitive dummy load is just as bad as an inductive load. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Debbie Salas wrote: I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. FYI - Both Ohmite and Caddock make versions of these resistors that have screw holes for mounting. The lower power parts (15-20 watts) are pretty good thru 2-meters. However, the higher power versions (especially the 100-watt versions) can start to look bad at 50 MHz due to the large package capacitance-to-ground. Phil - AD5X __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Phil, Thanks for that information. Mine are mounted to a heat-sink culled from a CPU cooler, and the connector is mounted to a piece of aluminum angle also affixed to the heat sink. This assembly is standalone and does not connect to any other ground plane. Although the heat sink may constitute a small ground plane, the fact that it is isolated may account for the difference in the measurement results. BTW, I have found Caddock to be more consistent than Ohmite. Caddock advertizes their 50 ohm thick film 1% resistors as non-reactive, and the last time I looked, Ohmite did not make that statement. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Debbie Salas wrote: If they are mounted against a ground-plane (which is often the case for heat-sinking), I've found that the 100-watt resistors are not too good above 50 MHz. The 30 watt resistors are better, but the 15 watt resistors are best thru 2-meters. I built a series of 50 ohm terminations where the resistors were bolted to a brass plate, and the brass plate was attached to a N-connector. The resistor leads were about 0.2 long (one pin attached to the connector center pin, the other soldered to ground). Measured with an AIM4170 up to 180 MHz. Phil - AD5X __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Vic, I would suggest that you do not clamp each resistor between a couple of pieces of aluminum, because some types of uncapsulated thick film power resistors are quite fragile. They may not appear to break if stressed, but there is the risk of creating a hairline fracture across the resistor element. For the two power attenuators that I use in my Rx IMD test setup before the combiner (precision attenuators not required in this part) I used 20 watt thick film power resistors in TO-220 packages, with their individual heatsinks sitting upright, well separated from any grounded metalwork. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Vic Rosenthal wrote on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:27 PM: I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple of pieces of aluminum, but is there a right way to accomplish this? -- Vic __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
I've used those resistors here and they are fine up to at least 30 MHz sandwiched. They will not crack if he uses common sense on materials. The heatsink should be rigid and very flat, and the clamping metal preloaded with some sort of tensioning or spring washers. A couple split ring washers in series at opposite ends (one under head, one under nut) tightened to just collapsing would be good. If someone is really worried about it they could put fish paper or a layer of thin Teflon between the holding plate and the resistor, so long as the tension washer stack can keep pressure steady. There are always Belleville washers which are best, but simple spring washers (split ring) would work in a non-critical system like this. The only time anyone would get into trouble is if they use improper hardware, like stainless screws and a rigid or very high pressure lock washer like a star or internal tooth type. There will be very little difference in performance with a heatsink floating in air, or with the resistor attached to a heatsink that is massive and grounded. Whatever is mechanically best will work OK. Anyone without good mechanical sense needs to stay away from clamping things. 73 Tom - Original Message - From: Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy gm4...@btinternet.com To: Vic Rosenthal v...@rakefet.com Cc: Elecraft Discussion List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 8:21 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors Vic, I would suggest that you do not clamp each resistor between a couple of pieces of aluminum, because some types of uncapsulated thick film power resistors are quite fragile. They may not appear to break if stressed, but there is the risk of creating a hairline fracture across the resistor element. For the two power attenuators that I use in my Rx IMD test setup before the combiner (precision attenuators not required in this part) I used 20 watt thick film power resistors in TO-220 packages, with their individual heatsinks sitting upright, well separated from any grounded metalwork. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Vic Rosenthal wrote on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:27 PM: I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple of pieces of aluminum, but is there a right way to accomplish this? -- Vic __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] FT5000 review in Radcom
Stephen Prior wrote: closer reading of the article reveals criticism in other areas of the new radio's performance, for example the frequency disparity between its dual receivers, and the resulting effect on diversity reception. That's very interesting. I predicted this before units were delivered because the two FT5000 RXs are not identical. I knew because Orion suffers the same problem, and the FT5000 is essentially a clone of Orion. I asked on the FT5000 lists whether anyone had noticed beating between the RXs in diversity but no users have reported it. I suppose it takes trained ears like Peter's to notice such things. Will be interesting to read the full review. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/FT5000-review-in-Radcom-tp5086445p5086969.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Parts for sale
Hi All, I have the following K2 bits for sale. I bought these as part of a built K2, but am upgrading to 100w and won't be needing these. Top Cover, with built in KAT2 (Internal ATU), KIO2 (RS-232 Serial Interface) and KBT2-X (Internal battery Kit, not including battery). All items checked and working FB From my calculations this is nearly $320 US worth of accessories, plus a spare top cover and speaker. I would like to sell these for $200US plus $20post airmail to anywhere in the world. Cost will only be $10 post to a buyer in VK, although I suppose chances of this are slim! Note, I am only selling the above parts and not any additional bits that solder onto the K2 itself! The K2 also has a built in K60XV Transverter board, which I have no need for and get annoyed at having to scroll through the 60m band when I change bands. I have not checked this (although the 60m band as mentioned is enabled). I will sell this for $40US plus $5 shipping worldwide. Obviously if you buy items, you will save on postage. Note I am only selling the board itself, you will need to find your own connectors etc. All payments via PayPal, unless you are in VK, and we can talk!! PLEASE E-MAIL OFF LIST. Cheers David, VK2NU __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Handie Mic IC Problem
I did some measurements and I think the HandMic IC that I have may be defective. The IC element in my Proset measures 2.35 kohms. The IC element in my new Handi mic measures 29 kohms. Larry -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Heil-Handie-Mic-IC-Problem-tp5082292p5087230.html Sent from the [K3] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
