GIVE ’EM A HAND: The Saga of the Palm K2 Logger Project
Special to The ARS Sojourner
July 2005
There I was at Atlanticon 2005 one of the largest qrp conferences on the east cost of the United States in April. As I walked around the display tables one night, I noticed a small display demonstrating how to control an Elecraft K2 Radio with a Palm PDA. I like small radio things so I was intrigued to say the least. Imagine changing bands, frequencies, etc. with a tiny PDA. Later I found out that I could even log and dupe with the same program – I said no way!
About a week after I returned home from Atlanticon, I just kept thinking about PDA control of my Elecraft K2 Rig. I activate lighthouses, covered bridges and hike on the Appalachian Trail so a small PDA would be a big asset to me while out in the field. The first thing I do is go on eBay and buy a Palm 105 PDA. I snagged a new one for around $48.00. Next I order a KIO2 Kit from Elecraft to interface the PDA to the rig. The RS 232 interface kit cost me an around $89.00. Let’s see so far I have about $137.00 into the project, yes I consider it a project at this stage, and I haven’t touched anything yet.
Now I decide that I need to get the Palm application software so I go to KØPC’s Website and guess what? The software is FREE! Yes the magic word I like to see – FREE. Pat is a great guy and is very helpful if you have any questions etc. Here is his website to get the Palm K2 Application. <http://home.mchsi.com/~k0pc/K2Logger.htm>
I download the software with no problems, but I have to unzip the files later. While on Pat’s site, I notice that he gives out a great link on where to buy the cable needed to connect the Palm PDA to the 9-pin interface connector on the K2.
I now go to the Sync Cable Solutions Website (<http://www.syncablesolutions.com/>) and buy a modem cable that connects between the Palm PDA and my Elecraft K2 Radio. The modem cable has a 9 pin male D connector on one end a connector for my Palm 105 on the other end. It’s five feet in length and you may order longer lengths for an additional charge. I also have to specify that it’s for a Palm 105 PDA. This cable replaces the bulky Hotsync cable + null modem adapter combo and costs me around $20.00. I now have $157.00 into the project and I haven’t touched anything yet.
A few weeks after receiving the KIO2 Kit from Elecraft, I start to build the interface kit. The interface kit has a total of 52 parts not including cables etc. All the parts fit on two small PCB boards. The KIO2 PCB measures 1.5” x 1.5” and the AUX2 PCB measures only 7/8” x 7/8”. Both boards are connected together by an eight-conductor cable. It takes me approximately 2.5 hours to build the kit and another hour to wire up a computer interface cable to use with my notebook computer. Yes, I can control my K2 with my small Libretto 110CT VHS tape-size computer too.
As I read the directions to build the KIO2 Interface Kit, I find that my K2 Serial Number 321 has very old firmware in it. I have firmware version 1.04 and I’ll need at least version 2.01 or later to use the interface. I call Elecraft (<http://www.elecraft.com>) and, as usual, they ship me out new firmware at no cost. Another FREE item – cheap is good, but FREE is the best! At this point I have the KIO2 Interface built and I have to modify my “Rev A” K2 Control Board.
Since I have an older K2 and my control board is “Rev A,” I will have to now modify the control board. After reading the directions, it doesn’t seem too hard. There are only five modifications to the board.
1. install new firmware IC U6
2. cut the top circuit run trace between the gate of Q5 and U6 pin 25.
3. install jumper between Q5 gate and U8 pin 4
4. install jumper between U6 pin 25 and P4 pin 1
5. install .001uf capacitor across P4 pins 1 and 5
While I wait for the new firmware to arrive, I install KØPC’s K2 Palm Logger Application (<http://home.mchsi.com/~k0pc/K2Logger.htm>) into my Palm 105. I unzip the files and Hot-Sync them into the Palm. All goes ok, but the K2 Logger Conduit didn’t install on my desktop computer. The conduit is the link between the Palm PDA and the files and programs on my desktop computer. I need this conduit to keep my PDA logs on my desktop computer. I email Pat, KØPC, and he lets me know what I did wrong. Pat was correct, I didn’t look at the updated folder on my desktop. After I finally view the updated folder, the desktop and all are OK now.
About three days after calling Elecraft for the new firmware, it arrives via the USPS. The package contains two ICs. It looks like I must also replace U1 on the main RF board. IC U1 is the relay driver PIC; I/O Controller; OTP programmed integrated circuit. To remove U1 I use an old IC puller I have laying around because of the tight fit in the socket and the closely spaced surrounding components. I then replace IC U6, the PIC; MCU on the K2 Control Board. Please note – I haven’t plugged in the KIO2 interface yet. After replacing the ICs, I turn on my K2 and all looks good, but I now must recalibrate the K2 VFO and program all my previous parameters in the various menus etc. All goes well and I also recalibrate my K2 filters too.
By now I’m ready to install the KIO2 Interface Assembly. I do as the directions indicate and check for smoke – no smoke is a good thing! I next do a voltage check and all is ok. I then check how much current the interface draws and it looks like 20ma. All looks fine so far and I’m pleased with that. Next I turn off power to the K2 and install the KIO2 assembly in my K2. All looks great and the assembly looks good in there. I then go to the “PORT” Menu and turn it on as told in the directions.
Now comes the acid test. I hook up my Palm 105 through my null modem cable to the K2 I/O Port and turn on the rig. The K2 freezes and my Palm is on the Hot-Sync Screen. I cancel the Hot-Sync and the K2 is back to normal. I then go to the K2 Logger Application on my Palm and check things out and it doesn’t look good. The Palm is not talking with the K2. What is the problem? A tap on the K2 Logger Screen at the top left where it indicates “K2 Logger” and a drop-down menu with a field labeled “reconnect” pops up. I tap “reconnect” with the stylus and BAM my Palm is reading my K2! Yes, yes, yes - it looks like a winner - my PDA is reading my K2!
Now it’s time to have some fun playing around with the K2 Logger Application on my Palm 105 and my K2. Below is a graphic representation of a Palm PDA running the K2 logger Application. With the first three lines - Call, Sent and Rcvd – you input the received call and the report sent and received. If you want to check if the call is a dupe, just tape the right-hand box labeled “Dupe.”
On the next line down is the time displayed in UTC format. Next the frequency is displayed in kHz. On the far right side are two boxes labeled “Set” and “Read.” If you tap “Read,” the PDA will read your K2 band and frequency. Tap the “Set” and you will change the K2 band and frequency to whatever you input on the PDA screen. There is a bug in the application. All the CW and LSB frequencies work, but the USB frequencies won’t change from CW to USB. If you tap the down arrow for “CW” a drop-down menu appears and you select cw or ssb. Tap the band down arrow and a menu appears with a list of bands. You simply tap the band you want and the K2 responds by changing to that band!
Now look at the nine boxes near the bottom of the PDA screen. The first six boxes: CQ, Exch, TU, My Call, His Call and ? are for you to program a CW message into.
Tap the “CQ” box and your programmed CQ is sent into the air by your K2. The other five boxes will send what you put into them. The “Enter” box is tapped after you copy all the qso information and what it entered into the log. Yes, this puppy also logs and dupes for you! The “Clear” box is tapped to clear the qso information from the PDA screen. Interestingly, if you tap this box, and change bands and or modes on theK2 by hand, the screen reads the new K2 information. It also doesn’t have the USB bug.
Below is a graphic of the K2 Logger screen in the Setup mode. All you do is tap on the button line and change the message. You may also set duping by band or mode or band and mode. A real nice feature is the Default Sent and Received functions. This saves a lot of time and energy in a contest etc. Last, but not least you can program your local UTC Offset so you clock reads correctly on the operating screen.
For more detailed information about the operation of the K2 Logger, just go to: http://home.mchsi.com/~k0pc/K2Logger.htm
This was an interesting project and I enjoyed building the KIO2 Interface and making it work with the Palm K2 Logger Application. I plan to use my K2 with my Palm while on vacation this summer on the Outer Banks of North Carolina to activate a few lighthouses. So if you work me this summer, I’ll probably be using this set up. If you have any questions about this article, please email me and most of all – get out there and have FUN!
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Edward R. Breneiser, WA3WSJ, is a QRPer, hiker and builder living in Reading, PA.