Interfacing K3 to TenTec QSK Amplifiers/Automatic Antenna Tuner

[Ben Horton]

After completing my new K3 I am now anxious to interface it to my TenTec
Titan model 425,  Hercules II model 420, and Automatic Antenna Coupler
model 253. Of course with the two amplifiers I have built a black box
switching unit that will only allow one amplifier to be in the RF/keying
chain at any given time.  Has anyone interfaced the TenTec amplifiers or
the TenTec Antenna coupler to the K3 utilizing the unique
"key-in/key-out" technique particular to TenTec QSK operation?

Please note that QSK operation is my main concern in interfacing these
units together.

Ben,  K5EX
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[Bob-270]

Please post answers to the list .

I'm hopeful to get a Ten Tec Titan II model 416 interfaced to a K2
before the CQWW CW contest.  So information on the below combination may
also be helpful to me.  Unless someone has experience with my
combination.  Information on it would be appreciated!!

I'd sure miss the Break-In operation after years with it on my TS930 &
SB220 or Ameritron AL811 with QSK5( used on 160 only).

Thanks....

73,
Bob
K2TK

Ben Horton wrote:

> After completing my new K3 I am now anxious to interface it to my
> TenTec Titan model 425,  Hercules II model 420, and Automatic Antenna
> Coupler model 253. Of course with the two amplifiers I have built a
> black box switching unit that will only allow one amplifier to be in
> the RF/keying chain at any given time.  Has anyone interfaced the
> TenTec amplifiers or the TenTec Antenna coupler to the K3 utilizing
> the unique "key-in/key-out" technique particular to TenTec QSK operation?
>
> Please note that QSK operation is my main concern in interfacing these
> units together.
>
> Ben,  K5EX
>

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[Gary, W7TEA]

Ben, I connect my K3 to a TT Centaur amp.  I just ran
a shielded cable between the K3 "Key Out" jack to the
amp "Key In" jack.  Seems to work just fine for QSK.

73, Gary W7TEA

Ben Horton wrote

After completing my new K3 I am now anxious to interface it to my TenTec
Titan model 425,  Hercules II model 420, and Automatic Antenna Coupler
model 253. Of course with the two amplifiers I have built a black box
switching unit that will only allow one amplifier to be in the RF/keying
chain at any given time.  Has anyone interfaced the TenTec amplifiers or
the TenTec Antenna coupler to the K3 utilizing the unique
"key-in/key-out" technique particular to TenTec QSK operation?

Please note that QSK operation is my main concern in interfacing these
units together.

Ben,  K5EX
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:32:37 -0800 (PST), W7TEA wrote:

>Ben, I connect my K3 to a TT Centaur amp.  I just ran
>a shielded cable between the K3 "Key Out" jack to the
>amp "Key In" jack.  Seems to work just fine for QSK.

I'm doing the same with my K3 and Ten Tec 425. The K3 has a built-
in delay that causes XMIT to begin several msec after the power
amp is keyed via the PTT line. This delay is variable, and as I
recall, the default value is around 8 msec. I'm being conservative
and setting it to 12 msec. It runs fine. I have reason to believe
that some serious engineering went into choosing the default
value, and that it's probably sufficient for most amplifiers.

The original post in this thread says K2. The K2 also has a
similar pre-delay circuit, but it's not adjustable. I forget what
it's called, but I've used it and it works fine too.

I've used both of these rigs this way in full QSK mode. The amp is
set for PTT mode.

The reason for the delay is simple -- it's quite important that
the amplifier's T/R relay pull in before it sees RF. Switching
with RF on it is called "hot switching" and is a great way to burn
up a relay (and maybe to damage the amplifier if you do it
enough).

73,

Jim Brown K9YC




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