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Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

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N2TK

Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

I finally am going to get on the digital modes. Never did any of the digital
stuff before so I am asking advice from you digital mavens. At Dayton I
would like to pick up the hardware I need.
I have my K3 on order. For now I would be using my K2.

Figured I would look especially at the Microham and Navigator offerings. I
like the idea that I wouldn't need to use an audio card in the PC.
I have a RIGblaster that has never been out of the box. Maybe that works
fine for digital modes? Do I need more than this? What does more than this
buy me?

What advice can you give me as to what to look for, what to recommend for
hardware to use on my K2 and forthcoming K3 so that it would be easy to
switch from CW, SSB and any of the popular digital modes?

Tnx for your advice.

N2TK, Tony

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Don Wilhelm-3

Re: Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tony,

As I understand the K3 you won't even need the RigBlaster, it can
connect directly to the computer (only cables and plugs needed) - even
does RTTY/PSK31 without the computer at all if you want.

For the K2, you should provide some isolation between the computer and
the K2 - transformers in the audio-out and mic-in do that job and a
voltage divider is needed in the mic input because the soundcard output
is much greater than the mic input level. The RigBlaster should provide
that isolation.
Then if you want automatic transmit/receive, you need a transistor
keying switch to turn transmit on (PTT) from the digital computer
application - easily accomplished with a simple transistor switch to
drive the PTT line - Google on PSK31 and you will find a lot of
information about how to hook things up.

Of course, your RigBlaster includes many of these things, so you may
just want to unpack it.

If you want a fixed audio output level from the K2, I have a few boards
left (no kits) - you can take a look at my website article about it at
http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com

73,
Don W3FPR

N2TK, Tony wrote:

> I finally am going to get on the digital modes. Never did any of the digital
> stuff before so I am asking advice from you digital mavens. At Dayton I
> would like to pick up the hardware I need.
> I have my K3 on order. For now I would be using my K2.
>
> Figured I would look especially at the Microham and Navigator offerings. I
> like the idea that I wouldn't need to use an audio card in the PC.
> I have a RIGblaster that has never been out of the box. Maybe that works
> fine for digital modes? Do I need more than this? What does more than this
> buy me?
>
> What advice can you give me as to what to look for, what to recommend for
> hardware to use on my K2 and forthcoming K3 so that it would be easy to
> switch from CW, SSB and any of the popular digital modes?
>
> Tnx for your advice.
>
> N2TK, Tony

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N2TK

RE: Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tnx Don for the feedback. I got one of those boards from you so I am set
with that. Well that will be neat that I don't have to buy any other
hardware for the K3 to operate Digital. So I would only need a program for
the PC?

And sounds like my Rigblaster will do what I need for the K2. Do I get any
advantages by upgrading to something like the Navigator or RigExpert for
either the K2 or K3 as an interface?

73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:02 PM
To: N2TK, Tony
Cc: Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tony,

As I understand the K3 you won't even need the RigBlaster, it can
connect directly to the computer (only cables and plugs needed) - even
does RTTY/PSK31 without the computer at all if you want.

For the K2, you should provide some isolation between the computer and
the K2 - transformers in the audio-out and mic-in do that job and a
voltage divider is needed in the mic input because the soundcard output
is much greater than the mic input level. The RigBlaster should provide
that isolation.
Then if you want automatic transmit/receive, you need a transistor
keying switch to turn transmit on (PTT) from the digital computer
application - easily accomplished with a simple transistor switch to
drive the PTT line - Google on PSK31 and you will find a lot of
information about how to hook things up.

Of course, your RigBlaster includes many of these things, so you may
just want to unpack it.

If you want a fixed audio output level from the K2, I have a few boards
left (no kits) - you can take a look at my website article about it at
http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com

73,
Don W3FPR

N2TK, Tony wrote:
> I finally am going to get on the digital modes. Never did any of the
digital

> stuff before so I am asking advice from you digital mavens. At Dayton I
> would like to pick up the hardware I need.
> I have my K3 on order. For now I would be using my K2.
>
> Figured I would look especially at the Microham and Navigator offerings. I
> like the idea that I wouldn't need to use an audio card in the PC.
> I have a RIGblaster that has never been out of the box. Maybe that works
> fine for digital modes? Do I need more than this? What does more than this
> buy me?
>
> What advice can you give me as to what to look for, what to recommend for
> hardware to use on my K2 and forthcoming K3 so that it would be easy to
> switch from CW, SSB and any of the popular digital modes?
>
> Tnx for your advice.
>
> N2TK, Tony

Fred N. van Kempen

RE: Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

In reply to this post by N2TK

Tony,

I'm using a RigExpert S/D with my K2/100. Currently with just the
SPKR and MIC connections for audio (which is messy), and hopefully
using the MiniDIN on the BLQ interface as of sometime this week
(thanks Doug !) - just to make for simpler cabling.

The RE is nice, small, and USB-based. That's good for laptops that
no longer have a (real) serial port. It also implements its own
sound card, _and_ it presents a "CAT" serial port to the various
HAM programs. Meaning:

- one cable between that box and the K2 for audio/ptt (MiniDIN, or
the MIC/SPK setup)
- one cable between them for CAT (to the RS-232 port on the K2)

- one cable between the box and the PC (USB)

That is all. I use it with HAM Radio Deluxe, MixW2 and EchoLink.

Cheers,

Fred PA4YBR/KA4YBR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of N2TK, Tony
Sent: maandag 7 mei 2007 1:14
To: [hidden email]
Cc: 'Elecraft'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tnx Don for the feedback. I got one of those boards from you so I am set
with that. Well that will be neat that I don't have to buy any other
hardware for the K3 to operate Digital. So I would only need a program
for the PC?

And sounds like my Rigblaster will do what I need for the K2. Do I get
any advantages by upgrading to something like the Navigator or RigExpert
for either the K2 or K3 as an interface?

73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:02 PM
To: N2TK, Tony
Cc: Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tony,

As I understand the K3 you won't even need the RigBlaster, it can
connect directly to the computer (only cables and plugs needed) - even
does RTTY/PSK31 without the computer at all if you want.

For the K2, you should provide some isolation between the computer and
the K2 - transformers in the audio-out and mic-in do that job and a
voltage divider is needed in the mic input because the soundcard output
is much greater than the mic input level. The RigBlaster should provide
that isolation.
Then if you want automatic transmit/receive, you need a transistor
keying switch to turn transmit on (PTT) from the digital computer
application - easily accomplished with a simple transistor switch to
drive the PTT line - Google on PSK31 and you will find a lot of
information about how to hook things up.

Of course, your RigBlaster includes many of these things, so you may
just want to unpack it.

If you want a fixed audio output level from the K2, I have a few boards
left (no kits) - you can take a look at my website article about it at
http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com

73,
Don W3FPR

N2TK, Tony wrote:
> I finally am going to get on the digital modes. Never did any of the
digital
> stuff before so I am asking advice from you digital mavens. At Dayton
> I would like to pick up the hardware I need.
> I have my K3 on order. For now I would be using my K2.
>
> Figured I would look especially at the Microham and Navigator
> offerings. I like the idea that I wouldn't need to use an audio card
in the PC.
> I have a RIGblaster that has never been out of the box. Maybe that
> works fine for digital modes? Do I need more than this? What does more

> than this buy me?
>
> What advice can you give me as to what to look for, what to recommend
> for hardware to use on my K2 and forthcoming K3 so that it would be
> easy to switch from CW, SSB and any of the popular digital modes?
>
> Tnx for your advice.
>
> N2TK, Tony

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

_______________________________________________
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Post to: [hidden email]
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N2TK

RE: Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tnx Fred for the feedback. Good info.
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred N. van Kempen [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:25 PM
To: N2TK, Tony; [hidden email]
Cc: Elecraft
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tony,

I'm using a RigExpert S/D with my K2/100. Currently with just the
SPKR and MIC connections for audio (which is messy), and hopefully
using the MiniDIN on the BLQ interface as of sometime this week
(thanks Doug !) - just to make for simpler cabling.

The RE is nice, small, and USB-based. That's good for laptops that
no longer have a (real) serial port. It also implements its own
sound card, _and_ it presents a "CAT" serial port to the various
HAM programs. Meaning:

- one cable between that box and the K2 for audio/ptt (MiniDIN, or
the MIC/SPK setup)
- one cable between them for CAT (to the RS-232 port on the K2)

- one cable between the box and the PC (USB)

That is all. I use it with HAM Radio Deluxe, MixW2 and EchoLink.

Cheers,

Fred PA4YBR/KA4YBR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of N2TK, Tony
Sent: maandag 7 mei 2007 1:14
To: [hidden email]
Cc: 'Elecraft'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tnx Don for the feedback. I got one of those boards from you so I am set
with that. Well that will be neat that I don't have to buy any other
hardware for the K3 to operate Digital. So I would only need a program
for the PC?

And sounds like my Rigblaster will do what I need for the K2. Do I get
any advantages by upgrading to something like the Navigator or RigExpert
for either the K2 or K3 as an interface?

73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:02 PM
To: N2TK, Tony
Cc: Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Tony,

As I understand the K3 you won't even need the RigBlaster, it can
connect directly to the computer (only cables and plugs needed) - even
does RTTY/PSK31 without the computer at all if you want.

For the K2, you should provide some isolation between the computer and
the K2 - transformers in the audio-out and mic-in do that job and a
voltage divider is needed in the mic input because the soundcard output
is much greater than the mic input level. The RigBlaster should provide
that isolation.
Then if you want automatic transmit/receive, you need a transistor
keying switch to turn transmit on (PTT) from the digital computer
application - easily accomplished with a simple transistor switch to
drive the PTT line - Google on PSK31 and you will find a lot of
information about how to hook things up.

Of course, your RigBlaster includes many of these things, so you may
just want to unpack it.

If you want a fixed audio output level from the K2, I have a few boards
left (no kits) - you can take a look at my website article about it at
http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com

73,
Don W3FPR

N2TK, Tony wrote:
> I finally am going to get on the digital modes. Never did any of the
digital
> stuff before so I am asking advice from you digital mavens. At Dayton
> I would like to pick up the hardware I need.
> I have my K3 on order. For now I would be using my K2.
>
> Figured I would look especially at the Microham and Navigator
> offerings. I like the idea that I wouldn't need to use an audio card
in the PC.
> I have a RIGblaster that has never been out of the box. Maybe that
> works fine for digital modes? Do I need more than this? What does more

> than this buy me?
>
> What advice can you give me as to what to look for, what to recommend
> for hardware to use on my K2 and forthcoming K3 so that it would be
> easy to switch from CW, SSB and any of the popular digital modes?
>
> Tnx for your advice.
>
> N2TK, Tony

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

_______________________________________________
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Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: Digital advice sought for K2 and K3

Administrator

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-3

You might consider getting the RS232 K2IO interface and using it for
keying, instead of using PTT. With the K2IO, you can use rig control via
RS232 commands with many digimode programs, which can also use the RS232
to bring frequency, modes, filters, etc. settings to your computer.
Having an accurate frequency display (VFO +/- AF, depending on sideband)
helps.
73,
Leigh/WA5ZNU
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