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Bizarre K2 keyer issue

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Lloyd Lachow-2

Bizarre K2 keyer issue

This is the weirdest thing ever.

So my wonderful K2, #4442, was pressed into service once again, a few
months ago, after some needed TLC from Alan Wilcox.

All was fine. In fact, it was all wonderful!

So I just built a new antenna; got it up yesterday, it's a 40M full-wave
Delta Loop. Hoping for some DX.

Early last evening, I got some plugs on the end of the feedline, and
connected both antlers to the rig. After comparing received sigs, I decided
to call CQ, and compare RBN results. But someone replied, and I began a
QSO.

That's when this trouble began. I was unable to send intelligible code;
extra dits were being inserted. I tried changing menu settings, fiddled
with the key. I finally had to just bag the QSO and go QRT.

This never happened before. Whether operating, or in test mode, the keying
is intermittently whacky. It will sometimes send a couple or five extra
dits. In HAND mode, it will extend dahs, randomly.

As mentioned, this happens when transmitting, and it's the same when in
TEST mode, so it's not caused by RF.

I've tried a couple of different keys; same.

I tried to attach a brief vid showing persistent dits, but it didn't post
to the list. Let's try this: it's a brief vid of me sending
<https://www.dropbox.com/s/0pdb2m9pdpv2frp/20180827_194056.mp4?dl=0> CQ CQ
DE K3ESE K3ESE K - and the keying is correct. What comes out, not so much.

Any ideas...??

Lloyd, K3ESE
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Don Wilhelm

Re: Bizarre K2 keyer issue

Lloyd,

Do you have the 2 diodes to permit using a hand key in addition to
paddles (auto-detect)?

If so, try removing the diodes to see if it works - Turn off auto-detect.

Do you have a microphone connected? If so, remove it on the possibility
that there may be a mic problem with the PTT switch.

If no diodes, put a 1/8 inch stereo plug in the key jack and short
across the tip and sleeve contacts and then across the sleeve and ring.
See if either the dots or the dashes become extended. If not
investigate the external cable(s) to the paddles.

If you have trouble with just the stereo plug, the next suspect is the
key jack - although they seldom fail (I have only 2 in all the K2s I
have serviced), that is the least expensive possible fault.

Eliminating the above as a problem, the only thing left is the firmware.

On 8/28/2018 4:08 PM, LL wrote:

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Drew AF2Z

Re: Bizarre K2 keyer issue

In reply to this post by Lloyd Lachow-2

At the risk of stating the obvious, check your key cable & plug. Sounds
like it is intermittently shorting producing longer dahs & extra dits.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On 08/28/18 16:08, LL wrote:

> This is the weirdest thing ever.
>
> So my wonderful K2, #4442, was pressed into service once again, a few
> months ago, after some needed TLC from Alan Wilcox.
>
> All was fine. In fact, it was all wonderful!
>
> So I just built a new antenna; got it up yesterday, it's a 40M full-wave
> Delta Loop. Hoping for some DX.
>
> Early last evening, I got some plugs on the end of the feedline, and
> connected both antlers to the rig. After comparing received sigs, I decided
> to call CQ, and compare RBN results. But someone replied, and I began a
> QSO.
>
> That's when this trouble began. I was unable to send intelligible code;
> extra dits were being inserted. I tried changing menu settings, fiddled
> with the key. I finally had to just bag the QSO and go QRT.
>
> This never happened before. Whether operating, or in test mode, the keying
> is intermittently whacky. It will sometimes send a couple or five extra
> dits. In HAND mode, it will extend dahs, randomly.
>
> As mentioned, this happens when transmitting, and it's the same when in
> TEST mode, so it's not caused by RF.
>
> I've tried a couple of different keys; same.
>
> I tried to attach a brief vid showing persistent dits, but it didn't post
> to the list. Let's try this: it's a brief vid of me sending
> <https://www.dropbox.com/s/0pdb2m9pdpv2frp/20180827_194056.mp4?dl=0> CQ CQ
> DE K3ESE K3ESE K - and the keying is correct. What comes out, not so much.
>
> Any ideas...??
>
> Lloyd, K3ESE
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

k6dgw

Re: Bizarre K2 keyer issue

In reply to this post by Lloyd Lachow-2

Don is your best source but ... any chance it got set to Iambic B and
you're an Iambic A guy? Iambic B adds elements that you don't actually
send. Just a thought.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County
"Never iambicized"

On 8/28/2018 1:08 PM, LL wrote:

Lloyd Lachow-2

Re: Bizarre K2 keyer issue

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

It's the darndest thing - but I'll take it!

I don't have the diodes. I don't have SSB, or a mic jack. So...I did the
test with the shorted stereo plug. Everything worked fine.

So then, I plugged in my paddles, and - everything worked fine.

Hooked up my new delta loop, worked France with 5W, got a 599.

So thanks, Don, for the long-distance exorcism. May it last!

Lloyd, K3ESE

On Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 4:43 PM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Lloyd,
>
> Do you have the 2 diodes to permit using a hand key in addition to
> paddles (auto-detect)?
>
> If so, try removing the diodes to see if it works - Turn off auto-detect.
>
> Do you have a microphone connected? If so, remove it on the possibility
> that there may be a mic problem with the PTT switch.
>
> If no diodes, put a 1/8 inch stereo plug in the key jack and short
> across the tip and sleeve contacts and then across the sleeve and ring.
> See if either the dots or the dashes become extended. If not
> investigate the external cable(s) to the paddles.
>
> If you have trouble with just the stereo plug, the next suspect is the
> key jack - although they seldom fail (I have only 2 in all the K2s I
> have serviced), that is the least expensive possible fault.
>
> Eliminating the above as a problem, the only thing left is the firmware.
>
> On 8/28/2018 4:08 PM, LL wrote:
> > This is the weirdest thing ever.
> >
> > So my wonderful K2, #4442, was pressed into service once again, a few
> > months ago, after some needed TLC from Alan Wilcox.
> >
> > All was fine. In fact, it was all wonderful!
> >
> > So I just built a new antenna; got it up yesterday, it's a 40M full-wave
> > Delta Loop. Hoping for some DX.
> >
> > Early last evening, I got some plugs on the end of the feedline, and
> > connected both antlers to the rig. After comparing received sigs, I
> decided
> > to call CQ, and compare RBN results. But someone replied, and I began a
> > QSO.
> >
> > That's when this trouble began. I was unable to send intelligible code;
> > extra dits were being inserted. I tried changing menu settings, fiddled
> > with the key. I finally had to just bag the QSO and go QRT.
> >
> > This never happened before. Whether operating, or in test mode, the
> keying
> > is intermittently whacky. It will sometimes send a couple or five extra
> > dits. In HAND mode, it will extend dahs, randomly.
>

Cameron Francey

Re: Bizarre K2 keyer issue

FYI,
I had a very similar issue last month, I keyed down and I got an error code on the display, I cant remember exactly what one it was but it wasn’t listed in the manual.
Anyway, all I done was took the key plug out and reseated it and all was well again. I suspect a high resistance connection on key socket confuses the micro controller in some unexpected way.

73, Cameron – AF7DK/GM7LQR

From: LL<mailto:[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 7:54 PM
To: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
Cc: List Elecraft<mailto:[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bizarre K2 keyer issue

It's the darndest thing - but I'll take it!

I don't have the diodes. I don't have SSB, or a mic jack. So...I did the
test with the shorted stereo plug. Everything worked fine.

So then, I plugged in my paddles, and - everything worked fine.

Hooked up my new delta loop, worked France with 5W, got a 599.

So thanks, Don, for the long-distance exorcism. May it last!

Lloyd, K3ESE

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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