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K2 key-down issue

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N4TY

K2 key-down issue

I've got an early K2 SN 2608, with 2 problems....and Field Day is almost here :-(

I have a key plugged into the rear key jack, and the Menu set to "Paddle -> Hand Key".
When I key the radio, it stays key-down until I unplug the cable from the K2.
I've borrowed another K2, and using the same cable it works fine.
Any ideas on this?

Another minor problem is that it doesn't mute the speaker when plugging in the headphones.
I can live with this, but the key-down issue is a killer.

Thanks! Tyler N4TY
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 key-down issue

Tyler,

I would venture a guess that you have a mono plug on that straight key.
Put a stereo plug on it (no - an adapter will not work) and connect the
key to the tip and to the shell.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/22/2012 4:35 PM, Tyler Barnett wrote:

> I've got an early K2 SN 2608, with 2 problems....and Field Day is almost here :-(
>
> I have a key plugged into the rear key jack, and the Menu set to "Paddle -> Hand Key".
> When I key the radio, it stays key-down until I unplug the cable from the K2.
> I've borrowed another K2, and using the same cable it works fine.
> Any ideas on this?
>
> Another minor problem is that it doesn't mute the speaker when plugging in the headphones.
> I can live with this, but the key-down issue is a killer.
>
> Thanks! Tyler N4TY
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 key-down issue

In reply to this post by N4TY

Tyler,

On your second question (speaker not killed when headphones inserted) -
you have a broken headphone jack.
Once you get the mono plug off the hand key, use it (with no wires
attached) to insert into the external speaker jack and kill the speaker
sound as a temporary measure until you can get the headphone jack changed.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/22/2012 4:35 PM, Tyler Barnett wrote:

Tom McCulloch

Re: K2 key-down issue

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Tyler,

I had this key down problem as well. Don's advice to me regarding the
use of a stereo plug was exactly the fix. I'm not sure why your plug is
working on a different K2, though.

Tom
WB2QDG
K2 1103

On 6/22/2012 4:39 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Tyler,
>
> I would venture a guess that you have a mono plug on that straight key.
> Put a stereo plug on it (no - an adapter will not work) and connect the
> key to the tip and to the shell.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>

Guy, K2AV

Re: K2 key-down issue

There is a menu setting that can be different between the two. Inp on the
first menu can be set to PdLn or PdLr, or HAnd. Also if one goes to the
menu Inp and then does a "hold" on EDIT, tapping DISPLAY will toggle and
show the resultant state of Autodetect feature, which will allow both
straight key and paddle to be hooked up to the rig at the same time if
turned on.

See
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740001_K2%20Owner's%20Manual%20Rev%20I.pdf
page 99 and elsewhere.

Also do NOT attempt to make sense of what happens if a shorted state exists
on either paddle lead when the rig is turned on. If either paddle lead is
shorted when the rig is turned on, the K2 will abide by a firmware
directive not to key the transmitter with a key/paddle assertion in force
when it is powered up. So as soon as you key the rig, the shorted state is
now paid attention to. This initiates the behavior you refer to. Easily
caused by using a mono plug instead of a stereo plug.

73, Guy.

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 5:01 PM, Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Tyler,
>
> I had this key down problem as well. Don's advice to me regarding the
> use of a stereo plug was exactly the fix. I'm not sure why your plug is
> working on a different K2, though.
>
> Tom
> WB2QDG
> K2 1103
>
> On 6/22/2012 4:39 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> > Tyler,
> >
> > I would venture a guess that you have a mono plug on that straight key.
> > Put a stereo plug on it (no - an adapter will not work) and connect the
> > key to the tip and to the shell.
> >
> > 73,
> > Don W3FPR
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Robert Vargas (KP4Y)

Re: K2 key-down issue

In reply to this post by N4TY

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

----- Reply message -----
From: "Guy Olinger K2AV" <[hidden email]>
Date: Fri, Jun 22, 2012 7:28 pm
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 key-down issue
To: "Tom McCulloch" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "Elecraft" <[hidden email]>

There is a menu setting that can be different between the two. Inp on the
first menu can be set to PdLn or PdLr, or HAnd. Also if one goes to the
menu Inp and then does a "hold" on EDIT, tapping DISPLAY will toggle and
show the resultant state of Autodetect feature, which will allow both
straight key and paddle to be hooked up to the rig at the same time if
turned on.

See
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740001_K2%20Owner's%20Manual%20Rev%20I.pdf
page 99 and elsewhere.

Also do NOT attempt to make sense of what happens if a shorted state exists
on either paddle lead when the rig is turned on. If either paddle lead is
shorted when the rig is turned on, the K2 will abide by a firmware
directive not to key the transmitter with a key/paddle assertion in force
when it is powered up. So as soon as you key the rig, the shorted state is
now paid attention to. This initiates the behavior you refer to. Easily
caused by using a mono plug instead of a stereo plug.

73, Guy.

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 5:01 PM, Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]> wrote:

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N4TY

Re: K2 key-down issue

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

Hi Tom (and others),

Don's advice fixed the key-down issue: use a stereo plug, not a mono plug.
There was some other posted advice on how to auto-detect the plug, and I'll get into that too, many thanks!

Field Day was better with this K2, compared to my OMNI6+, in several subtle ways.
But the biggest tangible was the remarkably lower audio noise level...less fatigue after 24 hours.

I have to replace the headphone jack someday too....

- Tyler N4TY