[Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
Elecraft is taking a l_o_n_g time to repair the USB port on my K4d, so I bought a used K3 (non-s) as a backup rig. It works fine, and interfaces correctly with my KPA500 and KAT500. (The KAT is already configured for all frequency steps on all bands, and I can hear the KAT relays click when I change bands.) But the KAT Utility doesn't connect to the KAT. I'm using the same Computer interface cable plugged into the same USB port on the PC. Windows Device manager says it's working. With a K4, does the KAT communicate with the PC via the K4's USB connection, which he K3 doesn't have? What am I missing? 73, Mike N4CF __ 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
[Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
"The KAT serial port is MONO, not STEREO, as I (not so quickly) discovered" The plug has to connect data in, data out, and ground. That requires 3 contacts which cannot be done with a mono plug! The KAT500 PC DATA port uses a STEREO plug. Andy, k3wyc __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
The KAT500 does not use the same cable as the K3 or K4 or, for that matter, the KPA500. It needs a cable with stereo mini-phone connector. Elecraft has a USB cable that plugs into the KAT500 and works quite well. 73, Jack, W6FB > On Mar 10, 2024, at 12:33 PM, Mike Dodd wrote: > > Elecraft is taking a l_o_n_g time to repair the USB port on my K4d, so I > bought a used K3 (non-s) as a backup rig. It works fine, and interfaces > correctly with my KPA500 and KAT500. (The KAT is already configured for all > frequency steps on all bands, and I can hear the KAT relays click when I > change bands.) > > But the KAT Utility doesn't connect to the KAT. > > I'm using the same Computer interface cable plugged into the same USB port on > the PC. Windows Device manager says it's working. > > With a K4, does the KAT communicate with the PC via the K4's USB connection, > which he K3 doesn't have? > > What am I missing? > > 73, Mike N4CF > __ > 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
There is a 3.5mm stereo jack on the back of the KAT500 labeled 'PC Data'. You need an Elecraft KXUSB cable, which is the same USB to serial cable used on the KX2, to talk to the KAT500 from your PC. Unlink the KUSB, which has a USB A connector on one end, and a 9-pin serial connector on the other, the KXUSB has a USB A connector on one end, and a 3.5mm stereo plug on the other, so there are only 3 connections - GND, RX, and TX. Hope that helps, -- Dave, N8SBE On 2024-03-10 13:33, Mike Dodd wrote: Elecraft is taking a l_o_n_g time to repair the USB port on my K4d, so I bought a used K3 (non-s) as a backup rig. It works fine, and interfaces correctly with my KPA500 and KAT500. (The KAT is already configured for all frequency steps on all bands, and I can hear the KAT relays click when I change bands.) But the KAT Utility doesn't connect to the KAT. I'm using the same Computer interface cable plugged into the same USB port on the PC. Windows Device manager says it's working. With a K4, does the KAT communicate with the PC via the K4's USB connection, which he K3 doesn't have? What am I missing? 73, Mike N4CF __ 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 n8...@densbe.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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
On 3/11/2024 12:58 PM, Dave New, N8SBE wrote: There is a 3.5mm stereo jack on the back of the KAT500 labeled 'PC Data'. You need an Elecraft KXUSB cable, which is the same USB to serial cable used on the KX2, to talk to the KAT500 from your PC. Right. That's what I've been using since I bought the KAT500. The utility program does not connect to the KAT at any speed on COM3, which is what Windows assigns when I plug the KXUSB into the PC. 73, Mike N4CF __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
I had purchased a used KAT500 from someone that it turns out had bought it from a 'super station', but had never tried to update the firmware or use the KAT500 utility to talk to the KAT500. After I got it home, I tried to check the firmware level, only to find out that I could see the prompt from the KAT500, but I couldn't talk to it. It turned out that the FET in the input side of the PC DATA jack was blown, likely from static charge at the 'super station' and they had sold the KAT500 to my intermediate owner without telling him it had a blown PC DATA port. I asked Elecraft support for the part number for the FET, ordered a few from Mouser, and replaced it (it's an SMD device, so not for the faint of heart) and that cured the communication issue. Of course, your mileage may vary. 73, -- Dave, N8SBE __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
On 3/11/2024 8:36 PM, Dave New, N8SBE wrote: It turned out that the FET in the input side of the PC DATA jack was blown, likely from static charge at the 'super station' Thanks, Dave. I'll look into that, and ask Elecraft about it. 73, Mike N4CF __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
My KXUSB cable suddenly went QRT a few months ago necessitating getting a replacement. I initially thought the chip on the board had blown up, but it was OK. I verified that everything was still good by throwing together a temporary fix with a USB to 9 pin serial cable and a matching 9 pin to *MONO* cable. The KAT serial port is MONO, not STEREO, as I (not so quickly) discovered, prompting the time distracting blown chip theory/investigation mentioned above. tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA On Mar 11, 2024, at 7:11 PM, Mike Dodd wrote: On 3/11/2024 12:58 PM, Dave New, N8SBE wrote: > There is a 3.5mm stereo jack on the back of the KAT500 labeled 'PC Data'. > You need an Elecraft KXUSB cable, which is the same USB to serial cable used > on the KX2, to talk to the KAT500 from your PC. Right. That's what I've been using since I bought the KAT500. The utility program does not connect to the KAT at any speed on COM3, which is what Windows assigns when I plug the KXUSB into the PC. 73, Mike N4CF __ 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 k5jr.li...@gmail.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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
On 3/11/2024 10:40 PM, Mike / K5JR wrote: The KAT serial port is MONO, not STEREO, as I (not so quickly) discovered Good to know. I'll try that myself. in face, I have an RS232-logic-level adapter I made for an Icom 746. So I'll just plug in a USB-RS232 cable, and plug the DB9 into my little box. I'll bw surprised if it works because the KAT500 has been using the same USB-stereo plug cable since I bought it. That cable still has the original tag I taped onto the cable. Nothing has changed. 73, mike N4CF __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
Two things I've noted with my KAT500 PC comms that you might want to quickly check: 1. More than once I've forgotten to stop the "KAT500 Remote" app before running the KAT500 Utility app. Since the Remote app is using the com port, it has to be stopped first. 2. That plug in the rear of the KAT500 can get partially unplugged with one more "click" needed to seat it fully and make it work. If that is the case, neither the Remote or Utility apps will be working. These have both caught me a few times, hope it is one of them since they are a quick fix. 73 de Chuck, WS1L chandler...@gmail.com On Mon, Mar 11, 2024 at 10:56 PM Mike Dodd wrote: > On 3/11/2024 10:40 PM, Mike / K5JR wrote: > > The KAT serial port is MONO, not STEREO, as I (not so quickly) > > discovered > > Good to know. I'll try that myself. in face, I have an RS232-logic-level > adapter I made for an Icom 746. So I'll just plug in a USB-RS232 cable, > and plug the DB9 into my little box. > > I'll bw surprised if it works because the KAT500 has been using the same > USB-stereo plug cable since I bought it. That cable still has the > original tag I taped onto the cable. Nothing has changed. > > 73, mike N4CF > > > __ > 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 chandler...@gmail.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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 no PC comms
Indeed, Andy is correct. The Elecraft serial is STEREO and the Icom is MONO. I reversed them in my mind and didn’t verify which was which before posting. The main point behind this was to highlight that the two were not interchangeable. tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA On Mar 12, 2024, at 12:55 PM, Andy Durbin wrote: "The KAT serial port is MONO, not STEREO, as I (not so quickly) discovered" The plug has to connect data in, data out, and ground. That requires 3 contacts which cannot be done with a mono plug! The KAT500 PC DATA port uses a STEREO plug. Andy, k3wyc __ 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 k5jr.li...@gmail.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
