K2 CW monitor

[Cloud Runner-3]

This may seem odd, but the main reason I have not yet sold my FT-1000MP in
favor of a second K2 is the CW monitoring.  The CW side-tone in the K2 began
with a terrible sound.  Various mods improved the sine wave attritubes, but
it remains relatively poor, harsh at the make and break, and in between I
don't know how to say.  In comparison, the MP side-tone has a soft rise and
fall, while the tone in between is rich in overtones, very pleasant to
monitor.

Why is the K2 side-tone so lacking?  Could a better one be a mod?

72,  Fred - kt5x / w5ya
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[Darwin, Keith]

Really?  I have an 830s (soon to be sold) and find the K2's side tone is
vastly superior to the 830.  After one QSO on the 830, I'm wanting to
shut the rig off.

With my K2, the side tone sounds very similar to the tone of a received
CW signal.  Not quite the same, but pretty close.

IIRC Island Keyer folks make a true sine wave practice oscillator kit
that is pretty cheap.  I wonder if it could be used in place of the K2
side tone?

- Keith N1AS -

-----Original Message-----

The CW side-tone in the K2 began with a terrible sound.  Various mods
improved the sine wave attritubes, but it remains relatively poor, harsh
at the make and break, and in between I don't know how to say.  In
comparison, the MP side-tone has a soft rise and fall, while the tone in
between is rich in overtones, very pleasant to monitor.

Why is the K2 side-tone so lacking?  Could a better one be a mod?

72,  Fred - kt5x / w5ya
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Fred,

You speak of mods to the sidetone which indicate to me that you have an
older K2.  If so, have you changed the sidetone source to U8 pin 4 (required
when adding the KIO2 or KPA100)? And have you installed the shielded
inductor that is included with the K2 A to B kit?

There were some early changes to the sidetone to attempt to obtain a better
sinewave.  If you have these older mods rather than the circuits installed
after SN 3000, then your sidetone may sound quite different than the
sidetone that is produced by the more recent K2s.  The firmware may also
make some slight difference.  You may want to listen to the sidetone on a
recent K2 before making a judgement about that 2nd K2.  Your ears may be
more critical than others, so try to judge for yourself.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> This may seem odd, but the main reason I have not yet sold my
> FT-1000MP in
> favor of a second K2 is the CW monitoring.  The CW side-tone in
> the K2 began
> with a terrible sound.  Various mods improved the sine wave
> attritubes, but
> it remains relatively poor, harsh at the make and break, and in between I
> don't know how to say.  In comparison, the MP side-tone has a
> soft rise and
> fall, while the tone in between is rich in overtones, very pleasant to
> monitor.
>
> Why is the K2 side-tone so lacking?  Could a better one be a mod?
>
> 72,  Fred - kt5x / w5ya
>

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[Rick Dettinger-2]

IIRC Island Keyer folks make a true sine wave practice oscillator kit
that is pretty cheap.  I wonder if it could be used in place of the K2
side tone?

- Keith N1AS -
================================================================
I have thought about this, however, the problem seems to be how do you get
the external sidetone to the headphones that are plugged into your rig.  It
would probably work with speakers.  I would think the AF1 would clean up any
sidetone.  My Logikey SCAF does that for my K1 sidetone.  It sounds really
harsh without an external filter.  The rev b mods I made to my K2 make a big
difference.  It sounds nice now.  The best sidetone I have used is the twin
T audio osc. used in Oak Hills radios.  It is a simple circuit that could be
added to most any QRP kit.
73
Rick Dettinger
K7MW

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[Darwin, Keith]

 
Yea, I guess I was thinking patching some other sidetone circuit into
the K2 in place of the existing sidetone circuit.  It would not be easy.
In my case, I'm quite happy with the K2 sidetone (and I'm very picky!)
so I won't be cutting any traces in my rig!

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411 -

-----Original Message-----
...how do you get the external sidetone to the headphones that are
plugged into your rig.

Rick Dettinger
K7MW
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[Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR]

On Thursday 09 November 2006 09:07, Darwin, Keith wrote:

> IIRC Island Keyer folks make a true sine wave practice oscillator kit
> that is pretty cheap.  I wonder if it could be used in place of the K2
> side tone?

 The K2 sidetone is associated with the transmit frequency.
Sounds like it would be a major, if not impossible task
and still have a method of zero beating with the incoming
signal.

Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962
--
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[Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR]

On Thursday 09 November 2006 13:22, Ian Stirling wrote:

> On Thursday 09 November 2006 09:07, Darwin, Keith wrote:
>
> > IIRC Island Keyer folks make a true sine wave practice oscillator kit
> > that is pretty cheap.  I wonder if it could be used in place of the K2
> > side tone?
>
>  The K2 sidetone is associated with the transmit frequency.
> Sounds like it would be a major, if not impossible task
> and still have a method of zero beating with the incoming
> signal.

  Install the zero beat LED modification that is mentioned
from time to time and wire it in parallel with the K2.

Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962
--
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