Just Starting in Digital Modes

[Mark Tosiello]

Hi,

As a ham since 2006, I've been working pretty much straight phone and
hand-keyed (paddled) CW. I've recently been bitten by the DXing/Contesting
bug, and this has led me not only to work very hard on my CW skills (a mode
I really, really like but which I'm still a novice at), but to take an
interest in exploring the digital modes.

I've recently built both the KX3 and PX3 kits with ATU and Roofing Filter,
and I'm blown away by the quality of this little radio and its visual
sibling. I DO have the cable kit.

I'd like to ask for both recommendations on Windows or Mac software to
begin working with (fPSK, RTTY and CW at least), and for fairly entry-level
step by step instructions (a link is fine) as to how to get the entire mess
cabled.

Currently, I've got the KX3 and PX3 connected in standard fashion, a Heil
Headset/Mic attached to the phones/mic jacks, and one of several keys (K8RA
paddles, J-38 key, Begali Camelback, Vibroplex Original Chrome Deluxe)
connected to the Key jack. Acc1 from the PX3 is connected via KX3 USB cable
to my laptop.  I have a Win 7 laptop (which I MAY upgrade to 10, it's an
old Core 2 Duo) with headphone in and out and lots of USB ports and an
early Mac Pro Tower (1.1 2006 model) running Lion. My understanding is that
the stereo cables from my cable set connect KX3 mic in with Laptop
Headphones Out, and Laptop Mic in with KX3 headphones out. One thing I
wonder is if there is another way to listen to the signal (CW or other)
while still seeing the decode/waterfall on the computer.

I do have Fldigi and the Free version of HRD. My contesting (logging)
software is N3FJP. I have no problems with Rig Control via USB, but I'm
having trouble getting connected to any sort of software which supports
digital mode or CW deode and getting other than gibberish.  I know I'm
doing something wrong.....LOL

Thanks all, and all help and digital "Elmering" will be appreciated! I did
purchase Fred Cady's wonderful KX Line book, which is where I started.

73, Mark
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[Barry K3NDM]

Mark,
     I think you have the basics. My view is that you can run an
integrated station better on a PC. That is what most of the good
software is written for. I use HRD 6 as my basic logging software and
N1MM+ for contesting. The difference aren't all that great between what
you have and what I run. There may be one exception. N1MM+ integrates
with Fldigi as it's FSK interface. I don't know if your contesting
software does the same. If it doesn't, switch over. You should feel
comfortable with N1MM as it plays quite similarly to W3FJP.

     I don't use the PX3. I use Win4K3. However, the important thing is
that you can see what is happening and react faster than if you had a
second receiver, IMHO.

     I use the KX3 and just love it for contesting. One addition you
might want to make is to add a Winkeyer to your collection of stuff. It
is an external keyer that can be keyed by your contesting software or
just used as your main keyer. In contesting, you set up your macros on
the software and just click on a button or hit a function key and your
radio starts to send that information. It really cuts down on your
fatigue and increases your Qs rate. All of the rest of it is just
practice. Get into as many contests as you can. You will make
adjustments to your operation as you gain experience, but everyone does.


73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Mark Tosiello" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: 12/29/2015 11:04:09 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Just Starting in Digital Modes

>Hi,
>
>As a ham since 2006, I've been working pretty much straight phone and
>hand-keyed (paddled) CW. I've recently been bitten by the
>DXing/Contesting
>bug, and this has led me not only to work very hard on my CW skills (a
>mode
>I really, really like but which I'm still a novice at), but to take an
>interest in exploring the digital modes.
>
>I've recently built both the KX3 and PX3 kits with ATU and Roofing
>Filter,
>and I'm blown away by the quality of this little radio and its visual
>sibling. I DO have the cable kit.
>
>I'd like to ask for both recommendations on Windows or Mac software to
>begin working with (fPSK, RTTY and CW at least), and for fairly
>entry-level
>step by step instructions (a link is fine) as to how to get the entire
>mess
>cabled.
>
>Currently, I've got the KX3 and PX3 connected in standard fashion, a
>Heil
>Headset/Mic attached to the phones/mic jacks, and one of several keys
>(K8RA
>paddles, J-38 key, Begali Camelback, Vibroplex Original Chrome Deluxe)
>connected to the Key jack. Acc1 from the PX3 is connected via KX3 USB
>cable
>to my laptop.  I have a Win 7 laptop (which I MAY upgrade to 10, it's
>an
>old Core 2 Duo) with headphone in and out and lots of USB ports and an
>early Mac Pro Tower (1.1 2006 model) running Lion. My understanding is
>that
>the stereo cables from my cable set connect KX3 mic in with Laptop
>Headphones Out, and Laptop Mic in with KX3 headphones out. One thing I
>wonder is if there is another way to listen to the signal (CW or other)
>while still seeing the decode/waterfall on the computer.
>
>I do have Fldigi and the Free version of HRD. My contesting (logging)
>software is N3FJP. I have no problems with Rig Control via USB, but I'm
>having trouble getting connected to any sort of software which supports
>digital mode or CW deode and getting other than gibberish.  I know I'm
>doing something wrong.....LOL
>
>Thanks all, and all help and digital "Elmering" will be appreciated! I
>did
>purchase Fred Cady's wonderful KX Line book, which is where I started.
>
>73, Mark
>______________________________________________________________
>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]

______________________________________________________________
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]