Getting Started with Elecraft Transceiver Control

  1. run Commander, and click the Config button on its Main window to open its Configuration window

  2. in Commander's Configuration window, select the General tab and then set the Radio panel's Model selector to K2, KX2, K3, KX3, or K4

    1. the K2, KX2, K3, KX3, and K4 can be connected to your computer with an RS232 cable; in Commander's Configuration window select the Ports tab, and in its Primary CAT Serial Port panel

      1. designate the serial port that is connected to your radio interface; if you employ a USB-to-serial-port adapter, configure Windows to not automatically power down the USB port.

      2. select the baud rate, parity, word length, and stop bits that match your radio's settings

      3. if an external interface is being used and it derives its power from the serial port's DTR and/or RTS modem control signals, set the selectors for these signals to On

      4. when controlling an Elecraft K3 or KX3, if an external interface controlled by the serial port's DTR and/or RTS modem control signals will be used to effect switching between RX and TX, then in the PTT panel on the Configuration window's General tab, check the Suppress CAT box

    2. the K4 can alternatively be connected to your computer via a local area network; in the Radio panel on the General tab of Commander's Configuration window,

      1. check the Communicate via TCP box

      2. populate the IP Address box from the K4's IP Address menu item

  3. on the Configuration window's General tab,
    1. check the Interrogation box

    2. set the Command interval (ms) to 200 (note: the microprocessors in Elecraft transceivers can handle command intervals much shorter than 200 ms, allowing Commander to more smoothly track frequency, mode, and meter changes; after everything is working correctly, try reducing the Command interval to 100 ms, and then to 50 ms)

  4. On Commander's Main window
    1. the VFO panel should reflect changes you make to your radio's frequency via its front panel

    2. the Mode panel should reflect changes you make to your radio's mode via its front panel

    3. Modifying the VFO panel's frequency display contents and striking the Enter key will change the radio's primary VFO to the specified frequency; see Changing Frequency for information about the other ways you can change transceiver frequency from the VFO panel

    4. Clicking the Mode panel's buttons should change your transceiver's mode; see Changing Mode for additional information

    5. Clicking the Bandspread button will display a Bandspread window; see Bandspread Window for additional information.

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TransceiverControlElecraft (last edited 2023-06-06 16:37:50 by AA6YQ)