K2: Positive or Negative CW Keying? Again

[Bernard Gaffney, N8PVZ/QRP]

Ignore last message -- an oops. Hit wrong key and sent
it before I meant to. SORRY!

Does the K2 use Positive or Negative keying voltage
when keying CW via external keyer? Just curious, as
the WinKey Keyer (non-HV USB version) is only capable
of keying positive voltages up to 50VDC, and is not
compatible with XMTR's that use negative keying
voltages.

  TIA
 
       72 de N8PVZ
         ---bernie
 

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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

It's +5.6 VDC open circuit to ground and the keying circuit needs to sink
less than 1 mA to key the transmitter.

Ron AC7AC

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

Does the K2 use Positive or Negative keying voltage
when keying CW via external keyer? Just curious, as
the WinKey Keyer (non-HV USB version) is only capable
of keying positive voltages up to 50VDC, and is not
compatible with XMTR's that use negative keying
voltages.

  TIA
 
       72 de N8PVZ
 

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[Jack Brindle]

Bernie;

Winkey works just fine with the K2. Just hook it up. You should  
follow the connection diagram shown in the K2 manual, either  
connecting tip and the small ring together or using two 1N4148 diodes  
on each side to make sure the two circuits get shorted to ground at  
the same time. This eliminates the need to change the key menu  
setting when going to "hand key" mode, which Winkey needs.

On Jul 16, 2006, at 7:40 PM, Bernard Gaffney wrote:

> Ignore last message -- an oops. Hit wrong key and sent
> it before I meant to. SORRY!
>
> Does the K2 use Positive or Negative keying voltage
> when keying CW via external keyer? Just curious, as
> the WinKey Keyer (non-HV USB version) is only capable
> of keying positive voltages up to 50VDC, and is not
> compatible with XMTR's that use negative keying
> voltages.
>
>   TIA
>
>        72 de N8PVZ
>          ---bernie

-Jack Brindle, W6FB
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[Bill Coleman-2]

On Jul 16, 2006, at 10:40 PM, Bernard Gaffney wrote:

> Does the K2 use Positive or Negative keying voltage
> when keying CW via external keyer? Just curious, as
> the WinKey Keyer (non-HV USB version) is only capable
> of keying positive voltages up to 50VDC, and is not
> compatible with XMTR's that use negative keying
> voltages.

Solid state rigs are nearly all universally positive-keying, so the  
WinKey should work just fine.

Negative keying voltages are present in older tube-type rigs that  
used grid-block keying. Typical negative voltages are -100 v or so,  
and the current required is usually 1 mA or so. Other type-type rigs  
are cathode-keyed, and with positive voltages of several hundred  
volts (or more!) and current requirements of tens or hundreds of mA.  
(I always thought cathode-keying was dangerously unsafe, since  
potentially lethal voltages were present across the key)

So, if tubes aren't involved, the WinKey should work fine with most  
any rig.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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