K3 RS232 Control and programs

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The K3 uses a superset of the K2 command set. This gives the K3 a substantial advantage as a new transceiver because the K2 command set is based on the Kenwood ASCII control set and is already enabled in most amateur radio control programs. In addition, the hardware in the K3 will allow higher data transfer rates and quicker turnarounds than the K2.


  • Ham Radio Deluxe supports the K3; K3 GUI will be enhanced as more CAT support is implemented in K3 firmware


  • KComm is a logging and CW / data mode communications program for Windows and Linux designed specifically for Elecraft K2 and K3 transceivers.


  • Cool for Windows is a program that brings hundreds of tunable band stacking registers and a virtual analog S-Meter to the K3. Each register has it's own label and the registers are displayed in groups of eight to a page. Each page has it's own user defined label and a check box indicating if the active registers on the page should be live updated by operator frequency and mode changes at the K3. This program is under the development of Don Rasmussen WB8YQJ.




N1MM Logger

Some of the features like "Wide and Narrow" filter switching are not yet coded for the K3 in N1MM but the basics - freq set, band-map click, cw keying, etc. work well.

Configure Ports for CW: 

COM X set to K3 
CW/Other block checked (serial keying)
Set:  38400, N, 8, 1, DTR = CW (serial keying), RTS = always off, Radio/VFO nr =1, Radio PTT via command unchecked

For CW, set K3 Vox on.

For CW, go into the K3 tech mode menu, and change PTT-KEY to OFF-DTR. This will allow the K3 to be keyed via the serial control cable without requiring a separate cw keying interface. After changing PTT-KEY, exit the menu, power off the K3 and then power it back on.

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