I connected my Flex 6600 to my KPA500 using the RS232 cable and both RS232 ports using the 13 pin on the back:
KPA500 = RS232 (XCVR)
FLEX 6600 = Accessory Socket
On my KPA500 the RS232 X speed is 38400
Do I need to activate something on my SmartSDR in order for them to communicate (Band / TX) ?
Hi Juan, the KPA to XCVR cable plugs into the USB socket on the back of the radio, not into the ACC socket.
The cable needs to use a genuine FTDI chip and be wired as a null modem. This is the one I got from Amazon
Once you have the correct cable and everything is plugged in, you need to configure your cable using the Settings, USB Cables menu:
If you plugged in a compatible USB cable, you will be able to edit the settings.
Hello Len,
OK thank you very much, I will get this RS232 to USB cable.
73
Juan
TG9AJR
Len, this RS232 - USB cable could go on either of the 6600 back two USB 2.0 ports ?
Hi Juan, yes - either one. You can even add a USB hub if you have more than two cables to plug in to the radio.
Hi Mark, thank you very much for the document.
73
Juan
TG9AJR
Hi Len, thank you, don't use the USB ports for anything they are empty, will be nice to see what else I can plug in there.
Hi Juan, I got your e-mail. I will post it here so that others can follow the thread.
Hello Len,
Thank you for answering my question regarding the USB cable RS232 from the Flex to the KPA500.
I did ordered the cable you suggested and is here and I following both instructions Flex USB and KPA serial communications, so I connected the USB on the Flex direct to the KPA500 and they talk.
But I notice from the image you attached that you have the USB RS232 going from the Flex to the KAT500.
I have probably the same line Flex KAT500 KPA500.
Do I need only one USB RS232 perhaps from the Flex to the KAT500 and from there to the KPA500 ?
No, you need one USB/RS232 cable from the KPA500 to the Flex, and one from the KAT500 to the Flex. There is an additional (optional) cable from the KPA500 to your computer. I use this one to control the amp from DDUtil.
My example above shows that the KAT500 cable is greyed out because it is not plugged in right now. I originally plugged the KAT500 into the Flex so that it would follow the frequency of the radio and adjust itself automatically. This works really well when you are in the shack. I now have the KAT500 plugged into my computer so that it will work more easily when I am remote.
For remote operations, I plug the KAT500 into a local laptop and run DDUtil so that I have access to the buttons and status information from the tuner using TeamViewer. Using it this way, the KAT500 follows the Flex frequency and I can control it using DDUtil from my remote location.
One thing to watch out for when connecting more than one USB Device like the USB to RS-232 adapters direct to the FLEX you may want to connect a in line GOOD quality Powered USB Switch so your not drawing voltage from the Radio's 5 Volt source to run all the hardware you may want to run, The radio will shut down if the 5V is over loaded and could damage the radio.
There are some very good USB3 8 port Switch's on Amazon and eBay that run off of 12V so you can run it off of your station Power Supply the Radio is on.
Thank you Len for your reply to my email, so one for each in case I still need to run the KAT.
Thank you Bret for the USB suggestion. Mike VA3MW posted before on this thread the SmartSDR USB Interface Cable Guide and in that document Flex recommends one option a D-Link 7 port USB 2.0 but has not been available on Amazon in a long time and I can't find new.
Could it be any (reputable brand) USB 2.0 or 3.0 Powered USB Switch ?
Yes, and good quality powered USB hub will be fine.
73
The KPA 500 has two RS 232 ports. I plug the one labeled "RS232 (XCVR)" into the USB port on my Flex 6400. This provides CAT control (band info) to the amp.
I connect the port labeled "RS232 (PC)" into a USB port on my pc to provide full amp control (stdby, op, etc).
You can use the Elecraft provided utility, or DDUtil, or the utility that I wrote (FlexiCraft Utility).
You also need to connect the TX1, 2 or 3 RCA jack to the PA KEY jack on the amp.
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