Ultraportable FT8 with an iPhone, Elecraft KX2... and only one cable!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing this, Mark. I love how simple all of this is. You did a brilliant job of explaining it, too. Cheers & 72, Thomas (K4SWL)

[@SOTA-plus]

Thank you, Thomas! I've been a long-time watcher of your channel (thanks for helping me learn CW!) and the style I used for this video was heavily inspired by your videos. VY 73, Mark KD7DTS

[@ConradTrautmann]

Mark, one other setting that you may want to call out is the MON level that you get to when you tap the AF Gain/Mon knob. Mine was set for 3 for some reason and turning it down to zero prevented the transmit signal from feeding back. Also, for older iPhones, you can get a lightning adapter with audio in and out but make sure it's line in and not mic in. Conrad, N2YCH

[@jpoconnor5744]

@user-ei9kw9nj6g I got the standard Apple lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter (short white cord). Do I need a different adapter? Which one? Thanks!

[@SOTA-plus]

If you've already got the brand-name adapter, I'd think you should be good to go! Test it out & let me know if it works?

[@SOTA-plus]

Good catch - that should absolutely be part of the setup! Didn't occur to me at the time I made the video since I wasn't using MON at that point. I'll add it to the description.

[@HaroldIkerd]

You made this look so simple. After watching this video, I'm been searching for an Android option. Thanks for the rabbit hole!! Alice says, "Hi"

[@N7KOM]

Great overview! As for the splitter, I like to think about it in terms of what the phone is doing. When transmitting, the phone is sending out audio, so the audio plug goes to the which would go to the mic jack on the kx2. When the phone is listening it is receiving audio, so its microphone plug needs to hear that from earbud jack of the kx2. Did I just make that more complicated?

[@SOTA-plus]

Nope - that's a great clarification!

[@SOTA-plus]

Motivation for doing the multiple adapters is that I can use the same TRS/TRS splitter for my earbuds with the mic, which cuts down on weight just a bit.

[@jonSM99]

@@SOTA-plus That's really helpful, because it's smaller and lighter than both the mic/speaker options I have now. This also looks like it should work with 2 cables (USB-C to 3.5mm and 3.5mm to splitter) and a MacBook instead of an iPhone. For little cost and space. I have to try it. N8JSM

[@VE6LK]

Great video and well-explained. Thank you Mark (and for all the times you have hunted me in POTA too!). 73

[@JonFlyTV]

Thank you so much. Just got this going with the cables you show and the KX3! Made my first QSO. 73 de Jon K7CO

[@SOTA-plus]

That’s excellent - glad it worked, and thanks for letting me know!

[@LB0FI]

That’s pure genius! I have been waiting for an app like this for iOS. Thanks for sharing!

[@rjs11189]

Thanks for the video! Here are some additional tips that I've learned after some struggle.... Disconnect the splitter, then plug in the USB-C cable into the phone, then the splitter into the KX2, and then connect the two. For some reason the app would use the internal mic if not done this way. If you're not triggering VOX, try going into SSB mode, then back to DATA A mode. Also ensure that VOX mode is on after turning it off and back on again... ask me how I know.

[@ChroniclesofHamRadio-yh2ed]

Wow. This should work well for my KX3. Thanks for showing this!

[@Esriuptime]

I've tried this with my KX3, decode works fine but I can't get VOX to work. Did you get it working on your KX3?

[@toddandrewatkins]

Very cool. I had wondered about this kind of setup using the Elecraft K4D. I just ordered the exact cables set up, and we will find out. Theoretically it should work on multiple different rigs. Thank you for posting this. 73

[@SOTA-plus]

Seems like it should work! Should be fine on the new QRPLabs QMX. I've got one at home, and will test it one of these days. That radio also supports vox for digi-modes.

[@wmb2292]

Instead of the USB-C to TRRS adapter, I used the Apple "Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack" adapter and I was able to make this work with my iPhone 12. I just made a 20m FT8 QSO with the suggested settings. I am still trying to figure out the optimal Mic Gain setting on the rig but this works fine on an older iPhone with a lightning connector instead of USB-C. So far I am not having any luck getting this to work on my iPad Air, with USB-C. The only difference is that I am using the recommended USB-C to TRRS adaptor. I am seeing signals on the waterfall and decoding them but I am not triggering the VOX, so more experimentation needed. I guess the first step will be to verify that the USB-C to TRRS adaptor is ok since that is the only difference in cabling as compared to my iPhone setup, which is working. - Michael VE3WMB

[@wmb2292]

My second attempt with my iPad Air worked just fine with the USB-C to TRRS adaptor so I am assuming I just didn't have the cable seated properly the first time. Another good trick is to use the per band Quick Memories on the KX2 to save the FT4 and FT8 frequencies. Quick memory will even remember the Data mode and other settings so it is perfect for this application. - VE3WMB

[@KD7QOW-np9gd]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for this overview! Now I don’t have to use my IC-705 just to get FT8!

[@SOTA-plus]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kj7nwknorthwesthamradio607]

I'm using these cables now to run ft8 on my iPhone connected to my TX500! Thank you! de NT3S

[@SOTA-plus]

Glad to hear it worked! Are you using vox on the TX500, or a separate cat cable to trigger PTT?

[@503Nick]

@@SOTA-plusI’m using vox. I’m going to see if I can do it with Bluetooth too

[@philipchandler330]

Great video by the way

[@claudem.p.7969]

Excellent VA2SOB Claude in Quebec Canada.

[@wb6pot-peter634]

Mark, thanks for the video. I have been wanting to experiment with some FT8 on my KX2. I seem to be having one problem however. Everything seems to work only if I unplug the jack going into the phones plug so the audio from the KX2 comes from the speaker. With this configuration the iPhone app decodes and will transmit via the MIC input. I have made one qso confirming it works this way. But when I plug the mic cable into the PHONES port of the kx2, the iPhone stops decoding. I'm wondering if this could be an iphone setting, a kx2 setting or perhaps a bad cable? Wondering if you might have any incite. BTW: Thanks for all the SOTA contacts. You are in my log at least 20 times.

[@SOTA-plus]

Hey Peter - you & NT6E were the first callsigns I learned to recognize as words! Thanks for all the hunts. The configuration you're describing is acoustic coupling - that'll work, but it's not convenient on a windy summit. Bad cable is always an option, but let's try configuration mods first. I'm assuming you've tried plugging headphones into the PHONES port & verified that audio comes out of the KX2? You've got the MIC cable from the phone plugged into the PHONES port, and the PHONES cable from the phone plugged into the MIC port, right? Can you try this sequence? 1 - Check that these settings are configured: Mic Bias OFF, Monitor OFF, Mic Button OFF, Vox ON 2 - Unplug all the cables 3 - Restart the iPhone 4 - Set the iPhone volume to mute, and then increase by one click of the volume button (should be ~5% on the phone's volume indicator) 5 - Set the KX2 volume to a low value 6 - Plug in the connectors (Remember: Mic --> Phones, Phones --> Mic) 7 - Adjust the ALC to 5 bars

[@rowitech]

Thank you for the video. Bought an UGREEN cable, works so far, but on my (tr)usdx it constantly changes the volume of the iphone, so I guess, there needs to be a resistor soldered into the line to prevent the "steering" from the cable? Had anyone those issues and knows what to do?

[@kalskag8496]

Does this work with an older iPhone that has a lightning port?

[@SOTA-plus]

A few folks have tried it now, and yes! Definitely. You just need a lightning-to-TRRS adapter instead of the USB-C version. Something like this: amzn.to/432Rgys (affiliate link)

[@randalltom9750]

Very, very cool... Thanks

[@philipchandler330]

Just received a KX2 and does this work with android?

[@truckinguy92]

On the earbuds you use with the KX2 does the same splitter need to be used with them? I see the earbuds only come with one plug. Can you eliminate the extension cable?

[@zanado11]

Mark, is it possible to do this with an I-14 and a lightning to TRRS? Thanks, de Roger W8RLP

[@thuff3207]

I have an iPhone 14 so I will need a different cable since it is not USBC. My iPad is so I may give it a try. I think the iPhone thinks this cable is an audio source and the app sends audio out. I will have to give this a try and make it work with my KX2

[@SOTA-plus]

This is the Lightning version of my USB-C adapter. I'm curious if it works for you! Let me know in the comments once you try it? amzn.to/47LOgaj (affiliate link)

[@forgetyourlife]

I have the apple oem Lightning to headphone dongle. Is there any special mojo needed or do you think those would pass audio just the same?​@@SOTA-plus

[@SOTA-plus]

@@forgetyourlife should work! Try it and share the results :)

[@thuff3207]

The Ipad iFTX transmits with the USB C to Audio adaptor but the app does not receive. More work to do.

[@IDtheTarget]

Will this setup work with an Android phone running ft8cn? FT8 cable complexity with digirig was one of the reasons i had delayed ordering a KX2.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Very cool. I wonder if I can get that setup (or something similar) to work with the FX-4CR and my iPad Pro (Gen3).... 73!

[@SOTA-plus]

Drop a comment here if you test it out - would be great to know!

[@BurtonChristmasLites]

How do you go about getting your logs on the iPhone? Would love to use this with POTA.

[@SOTA-plus]

The iFTx app has an export log entries function, which can export only new entries since last export. I make sure I've exported prior to an activation, and then export only the new entries when I return. I merge those with my SSB/FM/CW contacts using the ADIF Master software on my desktop PC. Let me know if you get it working!

[@JonFlyTV]

Do you think this will be the same settings and setup for the KX3 ?

[@SOTA-plus]

I would think so, but I don’t have a KX3 to test. If you give it a shot, can you let me know?

[@soldermecold7456]

Would this method work with a yaesu ft-891?

[@markwagner7023]

Can you do this with a KX3?

[@chn1971-1]

Yes, same setup will work for a KX3 as well

[@AAPR]

Great video, Mark. Do you or any of those who view this video know if the same approach would work with a Xiegu G90. 73, Alex K6AUR

[@SOTA-plus]

It should - according to the G90 manual, there is a vox function that's useful for digital modes. If you try it & it works, drop the results here? www.manualslib.com/manual/1648470/Xiegu-G90.html?page=17

[@dsmit258]

Im using iPhone 14 with a KX2. It recieves phenomenal, but cannot get a signal out. The software will trigger the transmitter in the KX2 every time, but IO cannot get the ALC up, currently have no bars. Phone volume is all the way up as far as I know. Any thoughts???

[@SOTA-plus]

That phone volume all the way up could be your issue! I've had the same problem when I was running the KX2 off my laptop using a sound card adapter - it occurred when my input audio levels were *too high*. The KX2 has over drive protection on the MIC input, and - if it sees an MIC input level that is too high, the KX2 will shut off the input until it is reduced. If you've got a second radio (I use an X6100 that's laying around the house) then you can use it to monitor your KX2 transmitting into a dummy load by putting it close by - no antenna even needed. That's a great way to check that your TX audio is working, and then you can increase the volume to get that ALC dialed into the 4-5 bar level. Also, just double check that you've got the mic bias turned to off - that can really cause an issue if you forget. Let me know what you figure out!

[@GuyHamblen]

@@SOTA-plus This was exactly my case. No ALC action with phone vol at 100%. 4-5 ALC bars with vol at 50%.

[@SOTA-plus]

@@GuyHamblen great to hear you got it working!!

[@tonyf9896]

Logging?? Is it just pen and paper?

[@SOTA-plus]

Build-in digital logging in iFTx... you can export your log when you're done. Features are outlined here - www.hb9zhk.ch/iftx.html

[@bpsengineer_AC7PB]

My iPhone 11 Pro Max with iOS 17.3.1 is looping the radio audio input back out to the radio. (When I first connected, it also triggered the Apple Music app to autoplay into the radio even though I had not opened the app, so I stopped that too.) How does one configure iOS to not loop the radio audio out back to the radio? de AC7PB

[@SOTA-plus]

That’s a new one! You don’t happen to have your radio set to monitor the TX audio, do you? That would do what you’re seeing.

[@bpsengineer_AC7PB]

This is happening in the phone. I have the mic cable plugged into PHONES on the radio and the speaker cable plugged into an external speaker. I can hear the FT8 coming out the speaker while in Listen mode. This was my troubleshooting setup after finding the radio was constantly in TX when the speaker cable was plugged into MIC. (Note: I’m using KX3 and iPhone 11 so I have a Lightning to TRRS adapter.) In Windows, I would just go to the output mixer and mute the mic to solve this scenario. I haven’t found anything like that in iOS

[@bpsengineer_AC7PB]

@@SOTA-plus. Someone on FB pointed out my digirig TRRS cable has different pin out. I’ll order the cables you suggested 🙂 (Was trying to save $ by using something already on hand)

[@SOTA-plus]

@@bpsengineer_AC7PB let me know how it works out!

[@bpsengineer_AC7PB]

@@SOTA-plus The correct hardware resolved the constant-transmit problem, but there seems to be an ill-behaved app on my phone that sends out a blip of audio every second which triggers transmit momentarily. I’m contemplating a factory reset…. de AC7PB

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

Will all this work with my iPhone 13 Pro????

[@SOTA-plus]

Just need to swap out the USB-C adapter for a lightning adapter. Should be fine :)

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

I set everything up just as you described in your video. I wasn’t hearing any signals and no one was hearing me. What am I doing wrong???

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

I have never done any digital modes. I have always done voice. I noticed the problem, I had my KX2 set USB and not Data. I will try again tomorrow. Thank you for making this video!!!

[@SOTA-plus]

@@Ammed_KN6STX Glad you caught the setting! Well done, and good luck with testing it out!

[@k6usy]

I do this with my IC-705 but over WiFi to an app on my phone. No cables or adapters needed and you have full CAT control.

[@SOTA-plus]

The IC-705 is a great radio!

[@randalltom9750]

Thanks for the video...

[@barrykery1175]

Pretty slick. Barry, KU3X

[@mianesva]

In case this helps others... I tried the suggested cables and have been having mixed results as most of the time the iphone (or ipad) does not get the audio from the cable but rather from their own internal mic... It does work sometimes though.... To rule out a possible bad cable I ordered this one which already has integrated the male connector and so far this new one has been working out all the time. It may be a bad cable situation... not sure. www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMHRKBNG

[@SOTA-plus]

That's a great option - thanks for sharing!

[@dongelinas5990]

Doesn’t work for me, nothing no receive and no transmit. Followed exactly what you did

[@SOTA-plus]

Same radio? Which troubleshooting things have you tried?

[@dongelinas5990]

@@SOTA-plus. I’ve finally got it to receive but not transmit

[@ve2zdx]

Very good tutorial! I’m not a fan of digital modes nor find them interesting, but this tutorial is awesome. 73!

[@SOTA-plus]

Thanks! I almost exclusively activate CW since I like the personal connection you get from the fist, and the ability to throw in names, places, and other fun tidbits about how the activation is going. I've mostly been messing with FT8 since it lets me use SOTAmat for self-spotting when I'm out of cell phone service, and there aren't any APRS nodes around.

[@ve2zdx]

@@SOTA-plus very nice! Anyway, the tutorial is awesome and may save the $50 for the digirig and all the complexity for a lot of people! Great job!

[@gliderrider]

Finally!

[@Redbelly357]

Just skip the radio and send a text message.

[@SOTA-plus]

😂

[@astorp12345]

@@SOTA-plusI know, right!!

[@DaveW6OOD]

Oh, that sounds like a load of fun. 🤩

[@rons1566]

I really appreciate this! Ordering cables right now! N8VSB

[@mossmossmoss7487]

Thanks for sharing this Mark. Excellent explanation of the setup. I just need to get a TRRS cable and I’ll have a go. Maybe a S2S ft8 one day? 72 VK5HAA

[@mossmossmoss7487]

I got it working Mark. Yaaaeeee. Took me a while to work out I needed to put the Kx2 into data mode A. Made my first ever ft8 contact last night 🎉. I’m not sure how well iFTx is decoding- what are your recommended receive and AF settings?

[@SOTA-plus]

That's awesome! Congrats on getting it running! I'll check settings next time I get a free evening, but it's not super sensitive. I think I had the AF turned down into the low end of the range. Are you getting any decodes? If so, then you should be ok. What antenna/radio are you using?

[@rons1566]

I love it! I’m going to give it a try. I really appreciate your time and help! N8VSB