K2 PC Interface for N1MM

[Tom KG3V]

I need to connect my K2 to a PC using N1MM contest software, mainly for CW use. I was getting ready to build an interface for a parallel port when I saw that others have had timing problems and had to use something like a Winkeyer interface instead. I don't want to bother building an interface if the timing will not be acceptable. Anybody on the list have experience with this?

Thanks and 73,

Tom, KG3V

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Tom,

The timing problems are a product of the multitasking and interrupt
processing in Windows, and not a fault of the K2 (or K3).  So the real
answer depends on the computer that you are using.  If you are using a
dedicated computer to do the 'hamshack chores', and there is nothing
else running to steal cycles from the keying mechanism, then you will
likely have good results without the WinKeyer.  But if your computer is
doing multitasking and as a result has delays before the keying
interrupts can be processed, then you will either have to "suffer the
consequences" or use the WinKeyer which avoids these problems.

73,
Don W3FPR

Tom KG3V wrote:

> I need to connect my K2 to a PC using N1MM contest software, mainly for CW
> use. I was getting ready to build an interface for a parallel port when I
> saw that others have had timing problems and had to use something like a
> Winkeyer interface instead. I don't want to bother building an interface if
> the timing will not be acceptable. Anybody on the list have experience with
> this?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Tom, KG3V
>  
>

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[Mike Reublin]

Tom,
I found  the timing issue affected a Windows PC running Vista, but not
XP. Not a clue about Windows 7 or Macs. I'd give the simple parallel
interface a try. I use it regularly.

73, Mike NF4L

Tom KG3V wrote:

> I need to connect my K2 to a PC using N1MM contest software, mainly for CW
> use. I was getting ready to build an interface for a parallel port when I
> saw that others have had timing problems and had to use something like a
> Winkeyer interface instead. I don't want to bother building an interface if
> the timing will not be acceptable. Anybody on the list have experience with
> this?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Tom, KG3V
>
>  

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[Tom KG3V]

Thanks for the replies. I am running an XP Laptop that is only doing logging during the contest. I will give the homebrew interface a try and see how that works. I still mainly hand-key during the contest, but I am starting to use two radios and I really need computer keying for that.

I understand this is not an issue with the K2, but with Windows.

73,

Tom, KG3V

Mike-14 wrote

Tom,
I found  the timing issue affected a Windows PC running Vista, but not
XP. Not a clue about Windows 7 or Macs. I'd give the simple parallel
interface a try. I use it regularly.

73, Mike NF4L

Tom KG3V wrote:
> I need to connect my K2 to a PC using N1MM contest software, mainly for CW
> use. I was getting ready to build an interface for a parallel port when I
> saw that others have had timing problems and had to use something like a
> Winkeyer interface instead. I don't want to bother building an interface if
> the timing will not be acceptable. Anybody on the list have experience with
> this?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Tom, KG3V
>
>  


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[Jim Brown-10]

On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:02:58 -0800 (PST), Tom KG3V wrote:

>I will give the homebrew interface a try and see how
>that works.

Before I moved to CA, I was using a K2/100 extensively for
contesting. The standard serial interface worked quite well,
but NOT with the standard K2 cable, which is a dog for RFI if
your TX antenna is close to your rig.

To solve the RFI issue, simply rebuild the serial cable with
twisted pair (like CAT5). See details in

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf 

That same pdf shows the control wiring needed -- only pins 2,
3, and connector shell between computer and radio -- and pin 4
plus the connector shell to send CW. Pin 4 drives the base of
the standard NPN inverter transistor through a small value
resitor (a few kOhms), collector drives the key line of the K2,
emitter goes to common.

Again, details in the pdf.

BTW -- virtually all contest loggers use the same serial and
parallel connections and signals to key radios, so if you build
an adapter for one logger it will work for all. Another BTW --
the computers I've used for contest logging all run on either
W2KPro or XPPro on IBM Thinkpads. No issues with those OSs.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC




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