K3 - PSK settings

[hf4me]

Can someone give me or point me to settings that will get me started on PSK on the K3?  Best connection option, cables needed, power setting, favorite psk programs(Digipan, Winpsk, Mixw, HRD/D780??), etc. 

 

And, does anyone have comments on "PSKMETER" kit and software???

 

Thanks es 73, de Jim KG0KP

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Jim,

Best connection - two stereo cables with 3.5mm stereo jacks at each end
- connect from the computer Line-in/Line out jacks to the K3
Line-out/line-in (note that the designation changes from one end to
another i.e, the computer line out connects to the K3 line in).  No
interface required.

Whether you use the serial port DTR or RTS or the RS-232 commands for
keying depends on the capabilities of your application.  I use Ham Radio
Deluxe/DM780 which oes the K3 keying by serial commands to the K3.  
Digipan is usually easy to set up, and you will have to set the
application and the K3 to use PTT from either the DTR or RTS signals -
make certain the application and the K3 selections match.
Others may offer suggestions for using their favorite PSK applications.

73,
Don W3FPR

Jim Miller wrote:
> Can someone give me or point me to settings that will get me started
> on PSK on the K3?  Best connection option, cables needed, power
> setting, favorite psk programs(Digipan, Winpsk, Mixw, HRD/D780??), etc.
>  
> And, does anyone have comments on "PSKMETER" kit and software???
>  
> Thanks es 73, de Jim KG0KP
>
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[Julian, G4ILO]

I recommend Fldigi by W1HKJ as currently the best digital modes program - if you don't need all the bells and whistles of HRD.

Setting up the power level: Currently you can't rely on the K3 limiting the power output to the level set with the POWER control when data mode is used. Therefore I would suggest you use the following procedure. Connect the rig to a power meter and set the POWER control to some value, say 20W. In the software, click to set the cursor in the center of the passband and then click the Tune button in the software, which should send a pure sine wave not an idling signal. Use the MIC control to adjust LINE IN until the power output on the meter matches the level you set on the POWER control. If LINE IN adjustment is too coarse to set the output power exactly, reduce the audio level from the computer using the mixer sliders.

Once this input level has been set, the output power should follow the POWER control fairly accurately. Do not run more than 40W unless you have some means of monitoring the signal to be sure it is not excessively wide and causing interference to other PSK users.