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Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

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IK4EWX

Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

Dear friends, Elecraft K3S owners, now I am sure that the K3S is a CW
transceiver suitable only for the use of paddles with its internal keyer or
external pc keying.
I had already noticed with the Begali Intrepid bug that the K3S introduced
extra points that were not my manipulation errors.
Today, using a spectacular and magnificent Mecograph mod. 3 of 1908,
restored to maximum efficiency, in transmission at about 25 wpm, the
Elecraft K3S, both in qsk and in vox, generates a lot of errors in
transmission. It generate understandable CW.
The same bug used on a Ten Tec Corsair II and a Cubic 102BXA is instead
perfect, with an excellent cw and without any errors.
There is and has been certainly a problem with the key input circuit on the
K3S.
I hope that the same design and construction error will not happen again on
the K4 Elecraft.
Otherwise it will certainly not be a bug user transceiver.
It is a lot better an IC7300, which my friend IK4DCT uses with his two
Mecographs without any problems.
Ian IK4EWX

--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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John Oppenheimer

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

Hi Ian,

All Bugs have some amount of contact bounce. K3 does not have debounce
circuitry. I use a debounce device between Bug and rig. Several can be
found on the internet.

I made one: https://www.kn5l.net/debounce555/

John KN5L

On 5/9/21 12:38 PM, IK4EWX wrote:

> Dear friends, Elecraft K3S owners, now I am sure that the K3S is a CW
> transceiver suitable only for the use of paddles with its internal keyer or
> external pc keying.
> I had already noticed with the Begali Intrepid bug that the K3S introduced
> extra points that were not my manipulation errors.
> Today, using a spectacular and magnificent Mecograph mod. 3 of 1908,
> restored to maximum efficiency, in transmission at about 25 wpm, the
> Elecraft K3S, both in qsk and in vox, generates a lot of errors in
> transmission. It generate understandable CW.
> The same bug used on a Ten Tec Corsair II and a Cubic 102BXA is instead
> perfect, with an excellent cw and without any errors.
> There is and has been certainly a problem with the key input circuit on the
> K3S.
> I hope that the same design and construction error will not happen again on
> the K4 Elecraft.
> Otherwise it will certainly not be a bug user transceiver.
> It is a lot better an IC7300, which my friend IK4DCT uses with his two
> Mecographs without any problems.
> Ian IK4EWX

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by IK4EWX

On 5/9/2021 10:38 AM, IK4EWX wrote:
> now I am sure that the K3S is a CW
> transceiver suitable only for the use of paddles with its internal keyer or
> external pc keying.

Not true. The K3 can easily be used with a straight key, plugged into
the KEY jack.

73, Jim K9YC
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Vic Rosenthal

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by IK4EWX

I use a reed relay with a capacitor across the coil with my bug. The K3
is not the only modern radio that keys poorly with a bug.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
CWops #5
Formerly K2VCO
https://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
On 09/05/2021 20:38, IK4EWX wrote:

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Straight key is one thing. The dit contacts of bugs can be somewhat sketchy/scratchy. There's very little pressure pushing the contacts together when they first make. It's a common problem on many rigs with many bugs. One fix that's been around forever (predates 555 timers and transistors) is a little arm that preloads the dit spring. That's a mechanical fix that can work very well.
On Sunday, May 9, 2021, 12:28:07 PM MDT, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:

On 5/9/2021 10:38 AM, IK4EWX wrote:
> now I am sure that the K3S is a CW
> transceiver suitable only for the use of paddles with its internal keyer or
> external pc keying.

Not true. The K3 can easily be used with a straight key, plugged into
the KEY jack.

73, Jim K9YC
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Jim Brown-10

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by Vic Rosenthal

On 5/9/2021 12:14 PM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
> I use a reed relay with a capacitor across the coil with my bug. The K3
> is not the only modern radio that keys poorly with a bug.

A cousin who had used it in the Navy gave me his bug when I was a new
ham, and when you and I were working on the Traffic Hounds Morning
Watch. I quit it cold turkey for an early electronic keyer sometime in
the '60s. I don't debate your advice, Vic.

73, Jim K9YC (ex-W8FNI)

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Vic Rosenthal

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

Vic Rosenthal

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

I rarely use it any more, because I'm lazy. The keyer is easier. Also,
my bug fist isn't what it used to be. But I do want it to sound clean
when I do.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
CWops #5
Formerly K2VCO
https://www.qsl.net/k2vco/

On 10/05/2021 3:02, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 5/9/2021 12:14 PM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
>> I use a reed relay with a capacitor across the coil with my bug. The
>> K3 is not the only modern radio that keys poorly with a bug.
>
> A cousin who had used it in the Navy gave me his bug when I was a new
> ham, and when you and I were working on the Traffic Hounds Morning
> Watch. I quit it cold turkey for an early electronic keyer sometime in
> the '60s. I don't debate your advice, Vic.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC (ex-W8FNI)

IK4EWX

Re: Elecraft CW keying mistakes using bugs - semiautomatic keys

In reply to this post by John Oppenheimer

Many thans to all, and a special thanks to KN5L for the oscilloscope
traces....
I will insert a debouncer before the key input of my K3S.
I have some MAC bugs with the mechanical debouncers, but on the Mac 1937
with debouncer seem to persist a bounces problems, and with the Mecograph
the problem seem really a mess...
So I have ordered the Jackson Harbour kit.
I will say you something about the results using it
73,
Ian IK4EWX

--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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