ELECRAFT K3-Remote INCLUDING THE K3/0-MINI AND K3/0 CONTROL HEADS OWNER’S MANUAL Revision D, April 3, 2014 Copyright © 2014, Elecraft, Inc.
Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 4 Terms Used in the Manual ........................................................................................................................ 4 In the Box .................................................................................................................................................
Customer Service and Support ............................................................................................................... 23 Appendix A – Cable Sets ........................................................................................................................ 24 RRMINICBL Cable Set .................................................................................................................................... 24 RRMTCBL Cable Set ..............................................
Introduction On behalf of our entire design team, we’d like to thank you for choosing the Elecraft K3 Remote system. The Elecraft K3 Remote system provides a highly flexible means for controlling a transceiver in the next room or across the country. Either the K3/0-Mini or the original K3/0 control head can operate a remote transceiver:. Also, a regular K3 may be used as a control head when operated in terminal mode.
In the Box What is included in your shipment depends upon the configuration and options that you selected when ordering. This may include: K3/0-Mini Control Head Figure 1. K3/0-Mini Control Head. Remote Rig Equipment RRIGSET: RemoteRig RRC-1258MKII SET including both remote site and control site units. Figure 2. RemoteRig RRC-1258 MKII Set. RRIGCON: Control site RemoteRig RRC-1258MKII ONLY for controlling a remote station.
Setup and Operation The following instructions cover both the K3/0-Mini and the original K3/0 Control Head. Only the K3/0-Mini is equipped with a USB port for connection to a computer. Setting up the K3/0-Mini to Work with a Personal Computer In addition to working with the RemoteRig units, the K3/0-Mini has a built in USB interface for easy connection to your personal computer or, for an ultra-portable for remote operation, a Windows 8.1 tablet.
If Windows fails to automatically install the FTDI drivers, you may download and manually install the Virtual Com Port (VCP) drivers provided from FTDI’s website as follows: Unplug the K3/0-MiniUSB cable from your personal computer if it is presently connected. Download the Driver setup file from FTDI website (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm). Run the driver setup wizard and wait for the setup process to complete. Reboot your personal computer.
Setting up Your RemoteRig RRC-1258 MKII System The K3/0, K3/0-Mini or a K3 in terminal mode may be used at the control site to operate your K3 at a remote site using the RemoteRig RRC-1258 MKII units. One RemoteRig RRC-1258 MKII unit is at the control site connected to the K3/0, K3/0-Mini or K3 and the other RemoteRig RRC-1258 MKII unit is connected to the K3 transceiver at the remote site.
Some text will appear in the window with a blinking cursor at the end. Type ipconfig /all then hit Enter. A stream of data will appear on the window. One of the first groups of data will be titled something like “LAN Adapter” or “Wireless Local Network” (if you are using a wireless connection to your router). Look under it for “Default Gateway” and copy that information exactly as shown in the space above. That is your internal or private I.P. address. Locate DNS Servers and do the same.
2. Connect your computer and power to one of the RRC-1258 units (see Figure 4). Figure 4 3. Launch the Microbit Setup Manager you installed. You should see a window similar to Figure 5 reporting that your computer is communicating with the RRC-1258 unit and that it has successfully retrieved the firmware (FW) and software version (SW).
4. Click on the Setup tab to open the window shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 5. Click on the Get button to open the Setup Info window (Figure 7), check and correct the following entries as needed: I.P. address: This address should match those shown on pg 9 for the RRC-1258 unit you are programming. If needed, you can enter a new I.P. address (for example, if you already have another device on your LAN using the address shown) Gateway: This must match the I.P.
7. Disconnect the USB cable between and connect both the RRC-1258 control site unit with the CW knob and the computer to your LAN (Figure 8). Note that the PWR light on the RRC-1258 unit’s front panel stops blinking and remains on, indicating communications with the router. If it continues to blink, check to ensure the cable connectors are fully inserted and that you have a good cable. You must have a steady green PWR light to proceed. Figure 8 8. Open your computer browser and enter the I.P.
9. Check or enter the following data in the Radio Settings window. Note that some are selected using dropdown menus: Program Mode 14 - Elecraft K3 twin Sip Password (Optional: No entry required) Sip Contact (Enter the Public IP or Domain Name of your remote site station. Default: 192.168.1.
Configuring Your Network Router (Port Forwarding) The network router used at the remote site must be configured for port forwarding as follows. No configuration is required at the router used at the control site. 1. With a computer connected to the remote site LAN router, open the browser and enter the router’s I.P. address to open the router’s configuration page (Figure 10). Various makes of routers will show different pages. The examples here show the Linksys router’s configuration pages.
2. Locate the port forwarding page. On the Linksys router, this is under Applications and Gaming. With other routers, likely it will be under a similar heading. Enter the following data as shown in Figure 11. Be sure to check Enable for each entry, and then click on Save Settings to save the changes. Application Start End Protocol IP Address RRIG_cmd 13002 13002 Both (UDP and TCP) 192.168.1.170 RRIG_audio 13001 13001 Both (UDP and TCP) 192.168.1.
Remote Site Setup The Remote K3 must have firmware version 4.48 or later installed. 1. Apply power to the K3 and confirm that it has firmware version 4.48 or later installed. If not, update the firmware as described in the K3 Owner’s manual. 2. Set the K3 for rear panel mic input and no bias (see the K3 Owner’s manual for details), regardless of the type of mic used. The RRC-1258 units automatically supply bias. 3.
Control Site Setup for K3/0-Mini The power supply is included only if you purchased the complete RRIGSET. If you purchased only the control unit, you can obtain a suitable power supply from Elecraft. Order PWR12V1A-US.
Control Site Setup Using a K3/0 The power supply is included only if you purchased the complete RRIGSET. If you purchased only the control unit, you can obtain a suitable power supply from Elecraft. Order PWR12V1A-US.
Control Site Setup using a K3 (K3/10 or K3/100) 1- The control site K3 must have firmware version 4.48 or later installed. 2- The power supply is included only if you purchased the complete RRIGSET. If you purchased only the control unit, you can obtain a suitable power supply from Elecraft. Order PWR12V1A-US. Figure 15.
Operation through the RRC-1258MKII System When you press the POWER switch on the K3 or K3/0 front panel to turn the unit on you should hear a beep and see frequency data displayed on the LCD, indicating that your local equipment is communicating with the K3 at the remote site. Operation is identical to sitting at the remote site K3. All the controls and menus at the control site K3 or K3/0 control the remote site K3, except for sending CW.
VOX Operation The only difference in operating VOX thru the RRC-1258 is both RRC-1258 devices must be configured to allow VOX operation. For VOX to work correctly you must modify two settings under “Advanced Settings”. Set RTP tx mode to Continuous. Also set Full Duplex to Yes. Enabling these options does increase the bandwidth requirements for remote operation.
Updating K3/0, K3/0-Mini and K3 Firmware From time to time, new features may be made available to K3/0, K3/0-Mini and K3 owners via firmware upgrades that you can download and install. Please visit the Elecraft K3 software page (www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm) to obtain our free firmware download application, the K3 Utility. This program runs on PCs, Macs, and Linux platforms.
Customer Service and Support Technical Assistance You can send e-mail to k3support@elecraft.com and we will respond quickly – typically the same day Monday through Friday. If you need replacement parts, send an e-mail to parts@elecraft.com. Telephone assistance is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at 831-763-4211.
Appendix A – Cable Sets RRMINICBL Cable Set E980263, Quantity 1: E980267, Quantity 2: RRMTCBL Cable Set E980169, Quantity 1: E850510, Quantity 1: E850511, Quantity 1: E980207, Quantity 2: E980208, Quantity 1: RRK0CBL Cable Set E980207, Quantity 1: E980210, Quantity 1: 24
E980211, Quantity 1: E850511, Quantity 1: RRK3CBL Cable Set E980210, Quantity 1: E980211, Quantity 1: E850512, Quantity 1: Cables Supplied with RRC-1258MKII Set Power Supply, Quantity 1: The power supply is not included if you purchased the RRIGCON Control Unit alone. If needed, you can obtain a suitable power supply from Elecraft. Order PWR12V1A-US.
Appendix B – Cable Schematics Cables whose schematics are not shown here are wired straight through, pin to pin. E850510: (Power-On and FSK cable for Radio RRC.
E980263: (K3/0-Mini to RemoteRig Interface Cable) 27
