K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM through microHAM USB CW Keyer

[Gary Bartlett VE1RGB]

Two direct requests for copies of the following procedure constitute a real
flood of interest in this topic (well, in my books anyway).          

The attached email was the result of me stupidly volunteering my K3 for FD
again this year in the same breath that I boasted about the ease with which
one could implement K3  rig control and rig keying with logging programs,
specifically N1MM.  Never having tried to implement rig keying here at my
fixed station, that was a mistake on my part. .  Looks easy, but not for me.
It took me all day with the assistance of Joe, W4TV, and Richard, VE3KI plus
a couple of local guys, to keep me focused on the important issues to come
up with the following  which, as they say, works for me.  NOTE:  Configuring
the K3 is trivial; my challenge was getting everything to talk to each
other.

I have not yet summoned the courage to close all the programs and shut down
the equipment for fear that I will never be able to recreate success.

73,

            Gary, VE1RGB

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On
Subject: [N1MM] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM and microHAM USB CW
Keyer

Joe, Richard, et al:

Let me be quick to point out that what follows may not
necessarily be either correct or optimum.  There are a couple of settings
that are candidates  for deletion from the procedure.  But I can tell you it
does work
with K3 #095 V3.11/2.15, microHAM USB CW Keyer #120 with Router 4.0.5, and
N1MM V9.3.1.

1. The K3 was connected to the laptop by an Elecraft USB-to-serial adapter
cable which, upon first use, was assigned COM Port 12.

2. Using Device Manager (Properties/Port Settings/Advanced), I manually
reassigned its default COM Port to a low number that N1MM could handle (COM
7).

3. The microHAM keyer is connected to the laptop with its supplied interface
cable from the USB port on the keyer to a vacant USB connector on the
laptop.

4. The keyer is also connected to the K3 Key In line by a cable from the
phono CW jack on the keyer.

5. The K3 is set to 38,400 Baud and the Config Menu PTT-KEY settings are
OFF-OFF.

6. microHAM USB Device Router was used to create a new virtual port. I
chose COM 4.  This step seriously confused me because the new COM Port
showed up in Device Manager, not under Ports (COM & LPT) as do virtual ports
from LP-PAN
bridge, but as a new line item called ELTIMA Virtual Serial Ports.

7. Router Ports settings, top-to-bottom, are: none; none/DTR; none/DTR; COM
4.
I do not know why it says that COM4 is "Open at 1200 8N1".

8. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is selected to COM 4/none, with the CW box
checked, and is set to DTR Always ON; RTS Always OFF.   This is the port
through which rig keying signals, initiated by the logging program, are
generated by the microHAM keyer and sent to the K3.  Also, the Winkey box is
checked.

9. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is also set to COM 7/Elecraft K3/38400 n81/
DTR-RTS OFF-OFF.  COM 7 is the rig control port.

10. N1MM Configurer Winkey Pin 5 is selected to Function PTT.  Don't ask
why.

With N1MM, I now have:

1. Keying via the paddles, speed controlled by the pot;

2. Keying via keyboard, speed controlled by the pot;

3. Messages on the Function keys that I can change under N1MM;

4. Rig control; and

5.  Control over keying characteristics via the Router control panel.

Here's what I learned:

1. I still do not like computers nor, for that matter, rig
keying.

2. This configuration will not work if one does not first turn
on the router;

The Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be very appreciative of
the contributions of those here on the N1MM reflector who pleasantly kept
after me until, like the proverbial monkey, I managed to strike a sufficient
number of keys and make a sufficient repeated number of mouse clicks that I
eventually wrote N1MM K3 Rig Keying for Dummies.

I now have the station on battery power in case the mains fail,
and I'm working on a plan to get all the hardware, still connected and with
all software running, from here and now to Field Day, without every having
been shut down. After Field Day, I'll start examining some of the above
settings to see whether or not they are relevant, then I am disabling rig
keying and going back to contesting by hand, which is where the real fun is
for me.

Thanks a lot, guys.  Really.

73,

Gary, VE1RGB


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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

This procedure essentially uses the microHAM CW Keyer as
a stand alone WinKey keyer.  It completely fails to make
use of the CAT or PTT interface in the microHAM Keyer.

The appropriate configuration for microHAM CW keyer and
most popular software packages (including N1MM Logger)
may be downloaded from the files area of the microHAM
list on Yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/microHAM).
microHAM users may also obtain all of the set-up files
through the "download documents" item in Router's Help
menu.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Gary, VE1RGB
> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 7:25 AM
> To: 'Elecraft Reflector'
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM
> through microHAM USBCW Keyer
>
>
> Two direct requests for copies of the following procedure
> constitute a real
> flood of interest in this topic (well, in my books anyway).          
>
> The attached email was the result of me stupidly volunteering
> my K3 for FD again this year in the same breath that I
> boasted about the ease with which one could implement K3  rig
> control and rig keying with logging programs, specifically
> N1MM.  Never having tried to implement rig keying here at my
> fixed station, that was a mistake on my part. .  Looks easy,
> but not for me. It took me all day with the assistance of
> Joe, W4TV, and Richard, VE3KI plus a couple of local guys, to
> keep me focused on the important issues to come up with the
> following  which, as they say, works for me.  NOTE:  
> Configuring the K3 is trivial; my challenge was getting
> everything to talk to each other.
>
> I have not yet summoned the courage to close all the programs
> and shut down the equipment for fear that I will never be
> able to recreate success.
>
> 73,
>
>             Gary, VE1RGB
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
> ---
>
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> Subject: [N1MM] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM and
> microHAM USB CW Keyer
>
> Joe, Richard, et al:
>
> Let me be quick to point out that what follows may not
> necessarily be either correct or optimum.  There are a couple
> of settings that are candidates  for deletion from the
> procedure.  But I can tell you it does work with K3 #095
> V3.11/2.15, microHAM USB CW Keyer #120 with Router 4.0.5, and
> N1MM V9.3.1.
>
> 1. The K3 was connected to the laptop by an Elecraft
> USB-to-serial adapter cable which, upon first use, was
> assigned COM Port 12.
>
> 2. Using Device Manager (Properties/Port Settings/Advanced),
> I manually reassigned its default COM Port to a low number
> that N1MM could handle (COM 7).
>
> 3. The microHAM keyer is connected to the laptop with its
> supplied interface cable from the USB port on the keyer to a
> vacant USB connector on the laptop.
>
> 4. The keyer is also connected to the K3 Key In line by a
> cable from the phono CW jack on the keyer.
>
> 5. The K3 is set to 38,400 Baud and the Config Menu PTT-KEY
> settings are OFF-OFF.
>
> 6. microHAM USB Device Router was used to create a new
> virtual port. I chose COM 4.  This step seriously confused me
> because the new COM Port showed up in Device Manager, not
> under Ports (COM & LPT) as do virtual ports from LP-PAN
> bridge, but as a new line item called ELTIMA Virtual Serial Ports.
>
> 7. Router Ports settings, top-to-bottom, are: none; none/DTR;
> none/DTR; COM 4. I do not know why it says that COM4 is "Open
> at 1200 8N1".
>
> 8. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is selected to COM 4/none, with the CW box
> checked, and is set to DTR Always ON; RTS Always OFF.   This
> is the port
> through which rig keying signals, initiated by the logging
> program, are generated by the microHAM keyer and sent to the
> K3.  Also, the Winkey box is checked.
>
> 9. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is also set to COM 7/Elecraft
> K3/38400 n81/ DTR-RTS OFF-OFF.  COM 7 is the rig control port.
>
> 10. N1MM Configurer Winkey Pin 5 is selected to Function PTT.
>  Don't ask why.
>
> With N1MM, I now have:
>
> 1. Keying via the paddles, speed controlled by the pot;
>
> 2. Keying via keyboard, speed controlled by the pot;
>
> 3. Messages on the Function keys that I can change under N1MM;
>
> 4. Rig control; and
>
> 5.  Control over keying characteristics via the Router control panel.
>
> Here's what I learned:
>
> 1. I still do not like computers nor, for that matter, rig keying.
>
> 2. This configuration will not work if one does not first
> turn on the router;
>
> The Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be very appreciative of
> the contributions of those here on the N1MM reflector who
> pleasantly kept after me until, like the proverbial monkey, I
> managed to strike a sufficient number of keys and make a
> sufficient repeated number of mouse clicks that I eventually
> wrote N1MM K3 Rig Keying for Dummies.
>
> I now have the station on battery power in case the mains
> fail, and I'm working on a plan to get all the hardware,
> still connected and with all software running, from here and
> now to Field Day, without every having been shut down. After
> Field Day, I'll start examining some of the above settings to
> see whether or not they are relevant, then I am disabling rig
> keying and going back to contesting by hand, which is where
> the real fun is for me.
>
> Thanks a lot, guys.  Really.
>
> 73,
>
> Gary, VE1RGB
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[Gary Bartlett VE1RGB]

Joe:

        I may have done you an un-intended disservice.

        Just so there is no confusion, this anecdote is supposed to be
somewhat self-deprecating (or did people really think I was going to keep
power on the station until FD?).  None of my problems are to be construed so
as to reflect badly on any of the tools I used in that exercise.  Rather, it
was own lack of even the most basic understanding of what I was doing or
lack of understanding of the language in that environment that lead me to go
around in circles.  Also, if you are playing with a system dependent upon
virtual ports, you have to learn to open the program that creates them
first.  That sort of just basic stuff.  I don't like computers.  It's a
complex tool. It was my first time. Lots of excuses.  Easy, now that I
understand how it works.

        With the benefit of hind-sight, perhaps I shouldn't have put
materiel into the public realm without further clarification, since I wasn't
using MH Keyer to its full advantage or traditional role.  But it does work
great the way it's being used.

        73,
        Gary, VE1RGB

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: June 19, 2009 1:44 PM
To: 'Gary, VE1RGB'; 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM through microHAM
USBCW Keyer



This procedure essentially uses the microHAM CW Keyer as
a stand alone WinKey keyer.  It completely fails to make
use of the CAT or PTT interface in the microHAM Keyer.

The appropriate configuration for microHAM CW keyer and
most popular software packages (including N1MM Logger)
may be downloaded from the files area of the microHAM
list on Yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/microHAM).
microHAM users may also obtain all of the set-up files
through the "download documents" item in Router's Help
menu.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Gary, VE1RGB
> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 7:25 AM
> To: 'Elecraft Reflector'
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM
> through microHAM USBCW Keyer
>
>
> Two direct requests for copies of the following procedure
> constitute a real
> flood of interest in this topic (well, in my books anyway).          
>
> The attached email was the result of me stupidly volunteering
> my K3 for FD again this year in the same breath that I
> boasted about the ease with which one could implement K3  rig
> control and rig keying with logging programs, specifically
> N1MM.  Never having tried to implement rig keying here at my
> fixed station, that was a mistake on my part. .  Looks easy,
> but not for me. It took me all day with the assistance of
> Joe, W4TV, and Richard, VE3KI plus a couple of local guys, to
> keep me focused on the important issues to come up with the
> following  which, as they say, works for me.  NOTE:  
> Configuring the K3 is trivial; my challenge was getting
> everything to talk to each other.
>
> I have not yet summoned the courage to close all the programs
> and shut down the equipment for fear that I will never be
> able to recreate success.
>
> 73,
>
>             Gary, VE1RGB
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
> ---
>
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> Subject: [N1MM] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM and
> microHAM USB CW Keyer
>
> Joe, Richard, et al:
>
> Let me be quick to point out that what follows may not
> necessarily be either correct or optimum.  There are a couple
> of settings that are candidates  for deletion from the
> procedure.  But I can tell you it does work with K3 #095
> V3.11/2.15, microHAM USB CW Keyer #120 with Router 4.0.5, and
> N1MM V9.3.1.
>
> 1. The K3 was connected to the laptop by an Elecraft
> USB-to-serial adapter cable which, upon first use, was
> assigned COM Port 12.
>
> 2. Using Device Manager (Properties/Port Settings/Advanced),
> I manually reassigned its default COM Port to a low number
> that N1MM could handle (COM 7).
>
> 3. The microHAM keyer is connected to the laptop with its
> supplied interface cable from the USB port on the keyer to a
> vacant USB connector on the laptop.
>
> 4. The keyer is also connected to the K3 Key In line by a
> cable from the phono CW jack on the keyer.
>
> 5. The K3 is set to 38,400 Baud and the Config Menu PTT-KEY
> settings are OFF-OFF.
>
> 6. microHAM USB Device Router was used to create a new
> virtual port. I chose COM 4.  This step seriously confused me
> because the new COM Port showed up in Device Manager, not
> under Ports (COM & LPT) as do virtual ports from LP-PAN
> bridge, but as a new line item called ELTIMA Virtual Serial Ports.
>
> 7. Router Ports settings, top-to-bottom, are: none; none/DTR;
> none/DTR; COM 4. I do not know why it says that COM4 is "Open
> at 1200 8N1".
>
> 8. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is selected to COM 4/none, with the CW box
> checked, and is set to DTR Always ON; RTS Always OFF.   This
> is the port
> through which rig keying signals, initiated by the logging
> program, are generated by the microHAM keyer and sent to the
> K3.  Also, the Winkey box is checked.
>
> 9. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is also set to COM 7/Elecraft
> K3/38400 n81/ DTR-RTS OFF-OFF.  COM 7 is the rig control port.
>
> 10. N1MM Configurer Winkey Pin 5 is selected to Function PTT.
>  Don't ask why.
>
> With N1MM, I now have:
>
> 1. Keying via the paddles, speed controlled by the pot;
>
> 2. Keying via keyboard, speed controlled by the pot;
>
> 3. Messages on the Function keys that I can change under N1MM;
>
> 4. Rig control; and
>
> 5.  Control over keying characteristics via the Router control panel.
>
> Here's what I learned:
>
> 1. I still do not like computers nor, for that matter, rig keying.
>
> 2. This configuration will not work if one does not first
> turn on the router;
>
> The Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be very appreciative of
> the contributions of those here on the N1MM reflector who
> pleasantly kept after me until, like the proverbial monkey, I
> managed to strike a sufficient number of keys and make a
> sufficient repeated number of mouse clicks that I eventually
> wrote N1MM K3 Rig Keying for Dummies.
>
> I now have the station on battery power in case the mains
> fail, and I'm working on a plan to get all the hardware,
> still connected and with all software running, from here and
> now to Field Day, without every having been shut down. After
> Field Day, I'll start examining some of the above settings to
> see whether or not they are relevant, then I am disabling rig
> keying and going back to contesting by hand, which is where
> the real fun is for me.
>
> Thanks a lot, guys.  Really.
>
> 73,
>
> Gary, VE1RGB
>

______________________________________________________________
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