Gerald, You can operate data modes with only 2 cables - 3.5mm stereo audio cables. One between the K3 line in and the computer headphone jack - the other between the computer mic jack and the K3 line out. If your computer allows switching between mic in and line in levels, set it to line in and you are all set to go as long as you use the K3 VOX.
If you cannot set the mic jack to line in, you will likely need two resistors to put an attenuator in the cable between K3 line out and the computer mic in - use 100k in series and 10k across the cable conductors - the 10k goes on the mic in side of the 100k resistor. If you want to use PTT instead of VOX, you will need a USB to serial adapter (use one with the FTDI chipset) between the computer and the RS-232 connector on the K3. Set your application to use either RTS or DTR for PTT and set the K3 CONFIG: PTT - KEY menu entry to match your application selection. One caution - using the serial port signals for PTT and keying may cause the K3 to go into transmit when the computer boots - the computer does testing and initialization of those signal lines during the boot process. Not a problem, but just something to be aware of. 73, Don W3FPR On 3/2/2012 3:23 AM, KC6CNN wrote: > I called Elecraft today to get information about ordering my new K3. > I spoke with Dale, Very informative and so willing to help. > One question I asked him and he gave me the answer to was on RTTY, PDK31, > and CW I thought that I could hook up a cable between my laptop and K3 and > be able to operate those modes. > Maybe I miss understood but from what I got was that I needed that cable, > DB9 to USB or usb converter and that I needed to connect the in and out from > the back of the radio to my sound card. I checked my laptop and don't have a > sound card port on the outside of it. > I do have a 3.5 mm head phone jack and a 3.5mm mic jack on the front. > So my confussion is do I need to hook up the 3.5mm jacks or will it run with > just the one cable from laptop to radio. I hoping that, because I don't know > where to buy the other cables, and with my current conditions, I can't make > them. > > Anyone know the run down on this? > > Thank you in advance. > Gerald - KC6CNN > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Confussion-Help-Please-tp7335735p7335735.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 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
