K3 Keyer vs. Winkeyer

[W4JBB]

Any pros / cons for either or both?

I have the K1EL K14 keyer, but it does not have the USB interface. I
have an on again / off again relationship with it.  It sometimes does
whatever speed it wants.

I have been experimenting with RUMlog and noticed it has a CW section
that will let you select the keyer.  Currently, I have it set to the K3,
but it only plays the CW memories I have in the K3 not in RUMlog.  I
don't contest that much, but I think I'd like to - some.  I will not
take it to the field - I have the KX3 for that.

Any real reason to spend the $60 or so for the Winkeyer?  It seems I can
do a lot with the CW memories on the K3.

73,
Joel - W4JBB
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[Jim Brown-10]

On 6/27/2013 3:56 PM, Joel Black wrote:
> Any real reason to spend the $60 or so for the Winkeyer?

Most serious CW contesters use WinKey to take the CW keying load off of
the computer.  While serial port keying often works just fine, it's also
common for other programs running on the logging computer to interfere
with serial port keying and make it "choppy."  With WinKey, the logging
computer sends text to WinKey, solving the problem.

WinKey can also help by switching the paddle and PTT between two radios
for SO2R.

73, Jim K9YC
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[Dick Dievendorff]

For CW contesting I use N1MM, and it seems to key the radio just fine
through the DTR/RTS lines of the same serial connector I use for serial
communications (and it's a USB to Serial adapter, too!)

For DXing I have two CW memories set up, one with my call and one for "5NN
TU". I have similar memories set up in the DVK for night-time DXing.  Mem1:
"Kilo Six Kilo Radio". Mem2: "Thanks, you're also 5 and 9".  Those two take
me a long way in "hollering" contests with my DXing brethren.

I have used a WinKey (often incorporated in another device) and it's fine,
too. I have had some surprising speed changes from time to time. I don't
know why. It could be WinKey, the device hosting the Winkey, the logging
program, or the operator. I thought it was probably something I'd done and
never really did pin it down.  Once I get to about 4 choices it becomes kind
of daunting to isolate an intermittent event.

At times keying can stutter if my computer becomes "too busy" doing other
tasks.  So in contests I try to remember to turn off the automatic things
like overnight backup, virus scans, automatic update checks, disk
defragmenting, e-mail archiving, but I often forget one and sometimes get to
choose whether or not I'd like to update the Java Runtime right now in the
middle of a contest.

And every now and then I reach for the paddle, too!

73 de Dick, K6KR



-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Joel Black
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 15:57 PM
To: elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Keyer vs. Winkeyer

Any pros / cons for either or both?

I have the K1EL K14 keyer, but it does not have the USB interface. I have an
on again / off again relationship with it.  It sometimes does whatever speed
it wants.

I have been experimenting with RUMlog and noticed it has a CW section that
will let you select the keyer.  Currently, I have it set to the K3, but it
only plays the CW memories I have in the K3 not in RUMlog.  I don't contest
that much, but I think I'd like to - some.  I will not take it to the field
- I have the KX3 for that.

Any real reason to spend the $60 or so for the Winkeyer?  It seems I can do
a lot with the CW memories on the K3.

73,
Joel - W4JBB
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[Rick Prather-2]

Joel,

If you select the K3 keyer in the CW preferences in RUMlog you will be able to play your own memories or you can use the K3 built in memories if you use the K3 control panel.

I have the Winkeyer USB here and have used it many times with RUMlog and also with RUMped for contests but I have found that on the Mac I don't see stutters or interruptions so have put it away and just use the K3 onboard setting in either program.

BTW, you can also use the F keys to send the programmed memories with either keyer.

GL,

73,
Rick
K6LE

On 6/27/2013, at 3:56 , Joel Black <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Any pros / cons for either or both?
>
> I have the K1EL K14 keyer, but it does not have the USB interface. I have an on again / off again relationship with it.  It sometimes does whatever speed it wants.
>
> I have been experimenting with RUMlog and noticed it has a CW section that will let you select the keyer.  Currently, I have it set to the K3, but it only plays the CW memories I have in the K3 not in RUMlog.  I don't contest that much, but I think I'd like to - some.  I will not take it to the field - I have the KX3 for that.
>
> Any real reason to spend the $60 or so for the Winkeyer?  It seems I can do a lot with the CW memories on the K3.
>
> 73,
> Joel - W4JBB
> ______________________

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[Carl Clawson-3]

Another great advantage of the WinKeyer is that it integrates the paddles
nicely with the computer. You have one speed control for the computer and
the paddles, and if you don't like what the computer is sending (which
happens) just hit the paddles and take over by hand and it'll cancel the
programmed message. As a bonus you don't get spurious keying while
rebooting the computer. This is an absolute deal breaker for me with RS232
keying.

I wish the K3 had a Winkeyer built in. It is the ONLY external accessory on
my desk apart from the K-line, key and headphones.

73, Carl WS7L


On Thu, Jun 27, 2013 at 4:07 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]>wrote:

> On 6/27/2013 3:56 PM, Joel Black wrote:
>
>> Any real reason to spend the $60 or so for the Winkeyer?
>>
>
> Most serious CW contesters use WinKey to take the CW keying load off of
> the computer.  While serial port keying often works just fine, it's also
> common for other programs running on the logging computer to interfere with
> serial port keying and make it "choppy."
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[W2RU - Bud Hippisley]

I haven't seen anyone mention one feature of the WinKeyer  -- a feature which happens to be what originally attracted me to it in the first place:  non-iambic modes!  In particular, Ultimatic.  Of course, if you use a single-lever paddle, or if you never employ paddle-sent code, this won't matter to you, but I prefer dual-lever paddles, and I make far fewer mistakes with Ultimatic mode than either of the common iambic ones.  Combine that with the near seamless relationship between the WinKeyer Host Mode and good general purpose or contest logging software on a PC or Mac, and I can't imagine doing without it.  I love my K3, and I'd love to eliminate one more accessory box, but not at the expense of the WinKeyer's features.

Bud, W2RU




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[Rick Prather-2]

Since the discussion started off talking about Mac integration, "spurious keying" is not a problem on the Mac anyway.

And, taping the esc key kills the transmission, and, speed can be controlled with the K3 speed control.

As much as I like my Winkeyer USB I also like not having a bunch of little black boxes on my desk and using RUMlog or RUMped with the K3 keyer eliminates the need for the Winkeyer box, at least for me.

RIck,

K6LE

On 6/27/2013, at 6:08 , Carl Clawson <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Another great advantage of the WinKeyer is that it integrates the paddles
> nicely with the computer. You have one speed control for the computer and
> the paddles, and if you don't like what the computer is sending (which
> happens) just hit the paddles and take over by hand and it'll cancel the
> programmed message. As a bonus you don't get spurious keying while
> rebooting the computer. This is an absolute deal breaker for me with RS232
> keying.
>
> I wish the K3 had a Winkeyer built in. It is the ONLY external accessory on
> my desk apart from the K-line, key and headphones.
>
> 73, Carl WS7L

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