Topics

1

General discussion forum / DXLab + RRC-1258 + K3/100 - settings?

« on: 2017-04-19, 21:16:48 »

With RRCs in Mode 14 a K3/0-mini can control a K3 very well.  Likewise, DXlab will interface with the two Elecraft products flawlessly.  I would like to be able to eliminate my K3/0-mini and control the K3 with just a laptop running DXlab on Win7 and using an FTDI adapter.  I was told that all I had to do was change both RRC boxes to Mode 4.  In doing that I found the following undesirable results.  DXlab (with Commander) does not instruct the RRCs to turn on the K3.  The only way I can get the K3 turned on is by setting the Control RRC's Auto Connect option to Yes which should not be necessary.  Then, when I close DXLab the K3 stays on, which is the second undesirable result.  Other than those two major problems I find that DXLab and RRC alone will adequately control the K3.

I am looking for advice from anyone who might be using the RRC boxes and DXLab to remotely control a K3.  Do you use Mode 4 in both boxes?  Did you have to create a switch command to turn on the K3?  I do not find that 'PS1; sent by Commander will turn on the K3, although several other created commands work fine.  The only useful on/off I am able to achieve is with the K3/0-mini's power switch.  And I want to be able to eliminate the K3/0-mini.

2

General discussion forum / RRC voltage provided to TS-480 control head

« on: 2016-10-30, 18:50:44 »

The TS-480 control head obtains its operating voltage via its RJ-12 jack.  Therefore when used with RRC the RRC control box must provide it.  On Page 115 of the TS-480 service manual the voltage required for proper operation of the TS-480 head is shown to arrive on Pin 5 of J2.  Internally, this line is identified as 8M.  One of the first places 8M goes is Pin 1 of voltage regulator IC6.  The Kenwood service manual stipulates that voltage is to be 9.25v.

Instead of the RRC control box providing 9.25v +/- 5% or even 10%, the Microbit instruction manual shows the voltage supplied will be 8v.  On my control box I have verified the no-load voltage to be only 8v.  This is almost 15% less than Kenwood engineers stipulate for reliable turn-on and proper overall TS-480 operation.  My question is how can this be considered desirable and/or acceptable?  Art

3

General discussion forum / comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-17, 23:02:04 »

If screenshots of my control and radio status settings are viewable I'd appreciate any comments that may lead to making corrections that would enable a connection.  Some port info looks weird to me.  My boxes worked fine for almost 2 years and suddenly no connection.  Recently switched from a K3 to TS-480 but it worked fine after that until now.  Basic connection from TS-480 head to RRC Control COM2.  Control box on wifi with solid green led.  RRC Nano still connects to RRC Radio box back home just fine.  All I have done is change location (and ISP) of Control box.  73 de Art, K4FWJ

4

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Remote On/Off Antenna Connect/Disconnect for Lightning Protection

« on: 2015-07-21, 05:47:59 »

For anyone interested in such things this 40s video of a motorized antenna connect/disconnect has been uploaded for viewing.

5

General discussion forum / FIOS apparently blocking port 13001

« on: 2015-01-29, 03:45:55 »

K3/0-mini and Remoterig sold by Elecraft recommend using ports 13000, 13001, and 13002.  Recently, upon switching over to Tampa area Internet provider FIOS, I discovered remote RRC no longer had audio and would shut itself off after a few seconds.  Traced problem to the fact that Verizon is apparently blocking the recommended audio port, 13001.  Easy solution was to use port 13003 for audio.

6

General discussion forum / strange and aggravating problem involving CW speed

« on: 2015-01-20, 20:06:39 »

The system:  radio K3/100 w/P3 and RRC,  control K3/0-mini w/RRC, ancillary 2K-FA plus ERC/PstRotator controlled by Lantronix server.  Logging: DXLab.  All works extraordinarily well except for one thing.  When the radio RRC COM1 and COM2 ports are connected, respectively, to the PC's usb->serial converter and the P3's "PC RS232" port, the CW WPM field in WinWarbler fails to display CW speed as set by the K3.  The WinWarbler CW speed field remains blank.  If a CW speed is manually entered in WinWarbler's CW speed field it will instantly be accepted by the K3, both visually and at the key.  Described, therefore, is a one-way street where CW speed between WinWarbler and K3 only goes WinWarbler-->K3 when it should work both ways, WinWarbler<-->K3.  If the COM1 and COM2 cables are removed from the radio's RRC and connected together, CW speed is sent both ways as it should be.  What I have described doesn't bother me.  What, then, does bother me?  Strangely, without input from me the K3's speed will suddenly change to exactly 15 WPM.  I will adjust the speed to 25 WPM and sometime later, for no apparent reason the speed will be exactly 15 WPM.  That is what bothers me.  It can be slightly embarrassing.  The described problem only occurs when not operating by remote control.  However, I have no interest in leaving the radio's RRC disconnected in order to solve this relatively minor problem.  If someone can help me solve this I will be forever grateful.  73, Art