Kantronics KAM 98 - The Transceivers; Cabling the KAM98 to Your HF Transceiver

Note: All Kantronics models are “Terminal Node Controller” (TNC) devices. All
Kantronics TNCs can operate without the computer being connected, once they
have been configured. For example, you can receive messages via the radio port for
storage in the personal mailbox, inside the KAM’98, without using your computer.
And your KAM’98 can serve as a relay station for other stations without your com-
puter being connected. This independence from the computer is possible because
the TNC contains the intelligence necessary to carry out these functions, once it is
appropriately configured and attached to a transceiver.
The Transceivers
Your KAM’98 will operate with most single side band High Frequency (SSB
HF) or FM transceivers.
Cabling the KAM’98 to your HF transceiver
You have two choices in cabling a KAM’98 to your transceiver: 1) via the MIC
and speaker jacks, or 2) via a data jack. There are advantages and disadvantages
of using both methods.
The straightforward and traditional way of wiring a multi-mode data controller
to a SSB transceiver is to wire push-to-talk and outgoing data drive to the MIC
jack and receive audio from the speaker jack. Appropriate data drive level may
then be set using the “ALC” meter and MIC gain knob on the front panel of the
radio. An additional advantage of this approach is that any modes/parameters se
-
lected within the KAM’98 are not likely to be restricted as they might be if wired
to the radio data jack. Two disadvantages or inconveniences arise however;
you’ll have to remove your MIC to accommodate wiring the KAM’’98 to the
The Major Components of Your Station Installing Your KAM’98
KAM’98 v 8.3 35 User’s Guide
Pow e r
HF/VHF Rad io
DB-9
connector
(female)
DB-9
connector
(female)
AUX
Com puter/GPS
DB-25
connector
(female)