Update: Bottom line is that the sniffer approach works.
Details: 1. Ideally, the sniffer should *not* be attached to the radio (Kenwood) RS-232 line, but to the secondary RS-232 line (Configured by DXLabs software). It appears that KPA500 only responds to commands from DXLabs and not the radio (I suspect this is because polling is being used by DXLabs and not the Kenwood Auto Info command) - yes, I did try a pin 2/3 swap on the sniffer tap point. This also has implications when the KPA500 is turned on after frequency changes because it will know the current frequency (not fatal since it can RF Sense switch anyway). 2. The KPA500 seems to "look for" radio RS-232 data about every 5 seconds because that is the lag from the Kenwood changing frequency to the KPA changing bands. A bit too long for me but tolerable. Next Steps: 1. Move the sniffer to the KAT500 RS-232 line where DXLabs will send data via the Secondary COM Port (K3 native format) to the KAT500 when clicking on a spot or moving the Kenwood VFO. Alas, I have the USB cable for the KAT500, so I need to get the RS-232 cable. 73, Cliff K3LL/6 -----Original Message----- From: Cliff Frescura [mailto:c...@cfcorp.com] Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 2:10 PM To: 'Jack Brindle' Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] [KAT500] PC Data to Amp Control? Thanks Jack and others that replied off list. I'm going to go with the y cable sniffer approach. Since I don't use the amp all the time, I'd rather not have to power it up just so the KAT500 can receive commands from the Kenwood. 73, Cliff K3ll -----Original Message----- From: Jack Brindle [mailto:jackbrin...@me.com] Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 12:55 PM To: Cliff Frescura Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KAT500] PC Data to Amp Control? Or connect the Kenwood’s serial port to the KPA500’s Radio port, then set the RADIO = SERIAL in the KPA. Follow the directions in the KPA manual. This is exactly what that serial port is designed to do. Make sure you use the RADIO port, not the PC port for this. If you connect the serial port from the TS-940 to a computer, just make a Y cable to allow the KPA to see the data going from the Radio to the computer. And make sure the TX line is not connected to the KPA. Also note that the KPA will not interpret the data destined for the KAT500. It is specifically look for transceiver data on the Radio port, or KPA-specific commands on the PC port. - Jack, W6FB > On Oct 9, 2015, at 11:54 AM, Cliff Frescura <c...@cfcorp.com> wrote: > > Thanks Dick, > > Looks like I could either have the KPA500 sniff the RS-232 line into > the > KAT500 (use RXD pin only at the KPA500), or implement BAND0-3 and make > it minimally emulate a K3S into the KPA500. > > 73, > > Cliff K3LL > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dick Dievendorff [mailto:d...@elecraft.com] > Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 10:55 AM > To: Cliff Frescura > Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KAT500] PC Data to Amp Control? > > The KAT500 can read, but not pull down the 4 band change lines. > > Dick, K6KR > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Oct 8, 2015, at 21:07, Cliff Frescura <c...@cfcorp.com> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> >> >> If I change bands on the KAT500 via the PC Data port, it appears that >> the new band data is not sent to the Amp Control connector. Is this >> expected behavior? (hoping no). >> >> >> >> For reference, my setup is: >> >> >> >> Kenwood TS-940 >> >> DXLabs Logging program >> >> KAT500 >> >> KPA500 >> >> >> >> The 940 is connected to the computer and controlled by DXLabs. >> DXLabs is configured to send commands to the KAT500 (follow the 940). >> This all works fine. I'm now trying to have the KPA500 follow the >> KAT500 via the Amp Control connector on the KAT500 (with E850463 cable). >> >> >> >> 73, >> >> >> >> Cliff K3LL >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 Message delivered to >> d...@elecraft.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 Message delivered to > jackbrin...@me.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
