K3 Keying
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David, G3UNA, wrote:
"I would be interested to know why folks use external keyers in preference to the internal keyer." I use the microHam CW keyer with my K2 and K3 for a couple of reasons. The two logging programs that I use (DXBase 2007, and N1MM) work nicely with the K1EL WinKey chip in the microHam. The WinKey is very versatile, allowing one to key the rigs from the computer keyboard, paddles, an external numeric keypad, or icons provided by the logging program. It also provides a programmable PTT signal with lead-in and tail delays for keying an amplifier. 73, Chuck Guenther NI0C K2/10 s/n 5853 K3 s/n 1061 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Would it still work for you if you used your paddle directly into the K3
paddle input and pc into the key input, then the programs would still key directly? I'm wondering if you would want to change the PTT, lead-in and tail features on the fly, ie could these all be programmed in config? David G3UNA ----- Original Message ----- From: "ni0c" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 6:30 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Keying David, G3UNA, wrote: "I would be interested to know why folks use external keyers in preference to the internal keyer." I use the microHam CW keyer with my K2 and K3 for a couple of reasons. The two logging programs that I use (DXBase 2007, and N1MM) work nicely with the K1EL WinKey chip in the microHam. The WinKey is very versatile, allowing one to key the rigs from the computer keyboard, paddles, an external numeric keypad, or icons provided by the logging program. It also provides a programmable PTT signal with lead-in and tail delays for keying an amplifier. 73, Chuck Guenther NI0C K2/10 s/n 5853 K3 s/n 1061 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Hi David, Generating cw directly from a (Windoze..?) pc is usually bad news. Windows always has priority and will interrupt cw keying when it needs to do something else; the result can be awful cw which can be embarrassing in a contest. Winkey takes the data from the pc as ascii (I think..) and generates it's own perfectly timed characters independantly of the computer with which to key the radio. A Microham keyer uses Winkey which also accepts paddle input - this means that the cw sent from your pc (eg from N1MM) will always be at the same speed and setup as that sent from the paddles, one speed knob controls both. I tend to use my Microham cw keyer all the time but admit the keyer in the K3 is excellent. 73, Stewart GW0ETF (K3 145) |
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In reply to this post by ni0c
G3UNA asked:
> Would it still work for you if you used your paddle directly into the K3 > paddle input and pc into the key input, then the programs would still key > directly? I'm wondering if you would want to change the PTT, lead-in and > tail features on the fly, ie could these all be programmed in config? Running a standalone keyer in parallel with computer keying suffers from the disadvantage that input from the two sources is OR'ed, i.e. touching the paddle while the computer is sending CW results in unintelligible garble. One of the selling features of the WinKeyer for me was its integration of paddle and computer input. When the keyer is sending computer-generated CW, a touch of the paddle automatically interrupts computer-sent code and clears the input buffer. Thus, if you hit the wrong macro button in your software, you can start sending with the paddle instead and the PC-generated CW will stop instantly. This eliminates the need to first hit the ESC key on the computer and then switch to the paddle (or to PC keyboard CW). In fact, even if what I want to do is stop the computer output and then press the correct macro button on the keyboard, just touching the dit paddle still seems to be the easiest way for me to interrupt the output stream. Perhaps the K3 firmware will do this too, i.e. give priority to the paddle input over any of the other input sources: DTR on the serial interface, the straight key jack (which is often used for computer keying), or CW generated using the KY software command. I can't tell yet - I haven't found anything about this in the firmware release notes, and my own K3 arrived about two hours ago and is still just a collection of parts. Another feature of the WinKeyer has already been mentioned in this thread: the ability to configure it to add a constant keying compensation of a few msec to every element. Oh yes: will the K3's internal keyer autospace CW elements? That's a useful feature of many external keyers. 73, Rich VE3KI K3 #1595 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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The internal K3 keyer works fine, but I also prefer external keyer(s) for various reasons. I have both a WinKey USB and a LogiKey K-5 wired in parallel to the K3 key input. Most of my operating is CW contesting, and the WinKey generates great CW from the N1MM logging program. I have the LogiKey with its 6 memory buttons directly left of my keyboard, so it is pretty much just like an extension of the PF keys to call up one of those memories. I keep the LogiKey set to a lower speed than what I am using on the WinKey. That way, it makes slow speed fills of exchange elements quite convenient when signal levels/band conditions are difficult. I also program in some lesser-used items that I don't want to dedicate a keyboard PF key to. The downside of this, as Rich points out, is that you need to remember to hit ESC sometimes to avoid doubling with yourself. With my shack layout, the K3 is a much longer reach and the K3 memory buttons are in a cluttered panel area and in a vertical plane, making using them not very ergonomic - especially at 2 AM in a darkened shack. ... Craig AC0DS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by David Cutter
I think your suggestion would work if I tied the two PTT ouputs (one from K3
and other from the microHam CW keyer) together, isolating them with diodes. Another option would be to have a second set of paddles connected to the K3, for barefoot operation of the K3. I don't see any advantages to doing any of this-- at least for CW operation. The PTT, lead-in and tail features are easily changed in the microHam Router software, in DXBase, and N1MM. I do understand that I would need to use the internal K3 keyer if I wanted to take advantage of its ability to translate Morse into Baudot. 73, Chuck NI0C ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Cutter" <[hidden email]> To: "ni0c" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 1:06 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Keying > Would it still work for you if you used your paddle directly into the K3 > paddle input and pc into the key input, then the programs would still key > directly? I'm wondering if you would want to change the PTT, lead-in and > tail features on the fly, ie could these all be programmed in config? > > David > G3UNA > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ni0c" <[hidden email]> > To: <[hidden email]> > Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 6:30 PM > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Keying > > > David, G3UNA, wrote: > "I would be interested to know why folks use external keyers in preference > to > the internal keyer." > > > I use the microHam CW keyer with my K2 and K3 > for a couple of reasons. The two logging programs > that I use (DXBase 2007, and N1MM) work nicely > with the K1EL WinKey chip in the microHam. > > The WinKey is very versatile, allowing one to key > the rigs from the computer keyboard, paddles, an > external numeric keypad, or icons provided by the > logging program. It also provides a programmable > PTT signal with lead-in and tail delays for keying > an amplifier. > > 73, > Chuck Guenther NI0C > > K2/10 s/n 5853 K3 s/n 1061 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Craig Smith
Craig D. Smith wrote:
> The internal K3 keyer works fine, but I also prefer external keyer(s) for > various reasons. OK, the other side weighs in. Several years ago, I built a K1EL keyer [don't remember the model and not sure where the book is right now]. I included an interface to key the radio[s], and inputs from the computer, bug, hand key, and paddle. Worked great with my K2 and TS-850. I built the interface to key both positive and negative lines and actually used that once on someone else's rig on FD. My only complaints were: 1. K1EL keyer lets me send commands in Morse. Sounds great ... not so much so when you are trying to change something in the middle of the contest. 2. K1EL keyer gives me two choices for weight. One is just a bit too "crisp" when I record my signal off the air, and the other is way too much. I got my K3 and HexKey. I now still have the external keyer plugged into the KEY jack so my computer can key the radio and my bug and hand key work. I use the 4 memories on the external keyer for stuff that doesn't change much or at all ... my call, QRL?, general CQ, etc. I have never used the K3 memories. TR-Log handles the memories for contests. External keyer weighting is still just a tad "crisp" for me on the K3. HexKey runs the internal K3 keyer. I can set the weight at whatever I want, I've got it just a bit less "crisp" than the external keyer and it's the paddle I always grab. I can QRS instantly with the front panel knob if someone calls me slower than my CQ. I always thought standard Benchers [with the spring] were really good. Then I got the HexKey :-) My K2 keyer very occasionally will seem to "stutter." It's just discernible, and doesn't happen very often and isn't a problem, my sending isn't that well spaced anyway. I think every now and then the CPU has to do something more important than CW. Haven't noticed that at all on the K3 keyer. Just another opinion, I prefer the internal K3 keyer even though I have an external one too. YMMV 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2008 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 08 - www.cqp.org _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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