Elecraft KXPA100 Manual - Manual (Page 34)

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Utility Program
To use the Utility Program you will need:
 A personal computer.
 The KXPA Utility Program available free from Elecraft at
www.elecraft.com .
 The serial interface cable supplied with your KXPA100.
Starting the Utility Program
 Connect your computer to the KXPA100 using the supplied cable. Connect the end with the mini-plug
to the RS-232 (PC) connector on the KXPA100 and the other end to your computer, normally to a USB
port.
 Load the KXPA Utility Program
 Click on the
Port tab and select the port your computer is using to communicate with the KXPA100. If
you have trouble finding the correct port, check the troubleshooting help file in the Utility Program for a
process to identify the correct one.
 Click on the
Test Communications button and, if you selected the correct port and everything else is
working correctly, you will see a pop-up window stating that the utility is communicating with the
KXPA100.
Updating KXPA100 Firmware
If you are using the KXPA100 with an Elecraft KX3 transceiver connected via the
KX3 to KXPA100 Adapter Cable as shown in Figure 3 on page 14, you can use the
KX3 utility through the same connection to the KXPA100. Simply load the KX3
utility program, select the active com port and it will find the KX3.
Although your KXPA100 was shipped with the current firmware installed, from time to time updated and
improved firmware may become available.
Updated firmware may be obtained in two ways.
1. Click on the Firmware tab and then click on Copy Firmware Files from Elecraft to download the latest
production released firmware or,
2. Download the new file from the Elecraft web site manually and place it in a local folder, then click on
Browse… to locate the folder on your computer. This is the way to access the latest Beta firmware
available from Elecraft.
To update firmware, start the KXPA Utility Program as described above and click on the Send Firmware to the
KXPA100 button to start the transfer. Follow any on-screen instructions.
Be sure to check the notes supplied with the new firmware. They may include changes that affect the
instructions in this manual.