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KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

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Josh Lehan

KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

I picked up a straight key at a flea market, and it works great for CW
with the KX3. Set the "CW KEY1" and "CW KEY2" menu items to "HAND", and
it worked the first time! Very responsive, I'm impressed.

However, I was disappointed that it did not work for voice. I keyed
down, and nothing happened. The radio stayed in RX mode, until I
manually hit the "XMIT" button, then it went to TX normally, so I know
that it works. It's just not "seeing" the key in any voice mode. It
only works in CW mode.

Is there a way to enable this for all modes, in the KX3? It seems that
the voice modes are looking for a separate PTT switch, which I do not
have. I'm using a headset originally intended for use with a computer,
and it works well, except for the lack of a PTT switch.

The CW key is a big convenient button, just waiting for me to press it.
Is there a menu option that I'm missing?

Thank you!

BTW, *really* liking the KX3. Wish I had remembered to bring mine to
the KX3 lovefest aka Pacificon!

Josh
K6JSH
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wayne burdick

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

Administrator

You can use the tip contact of the ACC2 jack as a PTT input. Set
MENU:ACC2 IO to "LO=PTT".

You can plug your key directly into the ACC2 jack if it has a 2.5-mm
stereo plug. If not, you'll need an adapter like the one supplied as
part of our KX3 accessory cable kit.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Oct 20, 2012, at 7:10 PM, Josh Lehan wrote:

> I picked up a straight key at a flea market, and it works great for CW
> with the KX3. Set the "CW KEY1" and "CW KEY2" menu items to "HAND",
> and
> it worked the first time! Very responsive, I'm impressed.
>
> However, I was disappointed that it did not work for voice. I keyed
> down, and nothing happened. The radio stayed in RX mode, until I
> manually hit the "XMIT" button, then it went to TX normally, so I know
> that it works. It's just not "seeing" the key in any voice mode. It
> only works in CW mode.
>
> Is there a way to enable this for all modes, in the KX3? It seems
> that
> the voice modes are looking for a separate PTT switch, which I do not
> have. I'm using a headset originally intended for use with a
> computer,
> and it works well, except for the lack of a PTT switch.
>
> The CW key is a big convenient button, just waiting for me to press
> it.
> Is there a menu option that I'm missing?
>
> Thank you!
>
> BTW, *really* liking the KX3. Wish I had remembered to bring mine to
> the KX3 lovefest aka Pacificon!
>
> Josh
> K6JSH
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Josh Lehan

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

On 10/21/2012 08:05 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> You can use the tip contact of the ACC2 jack as a PTT input. Set
> MENU:ACC2 IO to "LO=PTT".
>
> You can plug your key directly into the ACC2 jack if it has a 2.5-mm
> stereo plug. If not, you'll need an adapter like the one supplied as
> part of our KX3 accessory cable kit.

Thank you for the response!

If I were to use a Y-cable, that plugged into both KEY and ACC2 (ACC2
via 3.5mm-to-2.5mm adapter), would this work? My key is only a straight
key, but for some reason, it has a stereo (not mono) 3.5mm plug.

I'm curious: Would it be possible to add a software feature to allow the
use of a key as a PTT switch? It seems rather strange to have the key
toggle TX/RX in CW mode just fine, but to lock out that function in all
other modes except for CW. As the KX3 is very small and compact, it
would be an advantage to minimize the cables, and maximize the functions
available through existing accessories. Allowing a single key to be
used for both CW and PTT would make a lot of sense.

Thank you!

I'm glad you have an accessory cable kit available. Finding good 3.5mm
to 2.5mm adapters that actually work seems to be unusually difficult.
Most of them are made for cellular headsets (4-pin), not stereo
headphones (3-pin). I realize that space was limited on the KX3 to use
standard 3.5mm cables everywhere, but it's still a disappointment to not
have standardized on a single cable size.

Josh
K6JSH (formerly KJ6PVN)
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wayne burdick

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

Administrator

> I'm curious: Would it be possible to add a software feature to allow
> the
> use of a key as a PTT switch? It seems rather strange to have the key
> toggle TX/RX in CW mode just fine, but to lock out that function in
> all
> other modes except for CW. As the KX3 is very small and compact, it
> would be an advantage to minimize the cables, and maximize the
> functions
> available through existing accessories. Allowing a single key to be
> used for both CW and PTT would make a lot of sense.

No one ever asked :) Usually, operators who manually activate PTT
either tap the XMIT switch or use a foot-switch plugged into ACC2.

I'll add "key as PTT" to the wish-list.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Matt Maguire

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

On 25/10/2012, at 1:45 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'll add "key as PTT" to the wish-list.

More interesting will be to implement the "send CW from SSB mode" (CW WGHT = SSB +CW) as described in the owner's manual.

73, Matt VK2ACL
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Bruce Beford-2

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

In reply to this post by Josh Lehan

Agreed. -Bruce, N1RX

> More interesting will be to implement the "send CW from SSB mode"
> (CW WGHT = SSB +CW) as described in the owner's manual.

> 73, Matt VK2ACL

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Helmut OE1MHL

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

Yes, agreed too!
Helmut OE1MHL

via iPad

Am 25.10.2012 um 03:04 schrieb "Bruce Beford" <[hidden email]>:

> Agreed. -Bruce, N1RX
>
>> More interesting will be to implement the "send CW from SSB mode"
>> (CW WGHT = SSB +CW) as described in the owner's manual.
>
>> 73, Matt VK2ACL
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Josh Lehan

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Thank you very much! I also like the idea of having another different choice for the key, to have it send CW while still in SSB mode, as others have mentioned.

Josh

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 24, 2012, at 7:45 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

>> I'm curious: Would it be possible to add a software feature to allow the
>> use of a key as a PTT switch? It seems rather strange to have the key
>> toggle TX/RX in CW mode just fine, but to lock out that function in all
>> other modes except for CW. As the KX3 is very small and compact, it
>> would be an advantage to minimize the cables, and maximize the functions
>> available through existing accessories. Allowing a single key to be
>> used for both CW and PTT would make a lot of sense.
>
> No one ever asked :) Usually, operators who manually activate PTT either tap the XMIT switch or use a foot-switch plugged into ACC2.
>
> I'll add "key as PTT" to the wish-list.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>

Christian AK4VV

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

In reply to this post by Josh Lehan

On Oct 24, 2012, at 4:47, Josh Lehan <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I'm glad you have an accessory cable kit available. Finding good 3.5mm
> to 2.5mm adapters that actually work seems to be unusually difficult.
> Most of them are made for cellular headsets (4-pin), not stereo
> headphones (3-pin). I realize that space was limited on the KX3 to use
> standard 3.5mm cables everywhere, but it's still a disappointment to not
> have standardized on a single cable size.

There's another way to look at it.. it's less likely to accidentally
plug into ACC2 when you're looking for ACC1 and are doing this by feel
rather than looking at it.

I'm very happy with my "yoke mounted" ICOM PTT switch btw. The velcro
that comes with it straps conveniently to my left hand and I don't
have to hold the PTT switch (like you would with a key), just use my
thumb or whatever to push when needed while having the other hand
free.

73,
Christian
AK4VV
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Josh Lehan

Re: KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

On 10/21/2012 08:05 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> You can use the tip contact of the ACC2 jack as a PTT input. Set
> MENU:ACC2 IO to "LO=PTT".

I noticed this myself in the menus. Thanks for the tip! Works great as
PTT in voice modes.

However, this doesn't work for CW. If I use the key in CW mode, while
it's still plugged into ACC2, it does the same thing as pressing the
"XMIT" button: it puts the radio into TX mode, but doesn't actually
transmit anything on the air. Strange.

In CW mode, I have to unplug the key from ACC2, and then plug it into
KEY, and then it works normally, transmitting at full power. No
problems there at all, the key works great.

So, the radio does have the ability to work with my straight key in all
modes, which is good to know. However, it's awkward and cumbersome to
have to plug it into a different jack when changing modes, especially
considering it's the same piece of hardware.

I tried a Y-adapter as a workaround. Unfortunately, no luck. I get
really strange behavior when the key is plugged into ACC2 and KEY at the
same time. I often get "stuck key" syndrome, where the radio gets stuck
in TX mode, and doesn't get out of TX until powered off! Probably a
race condition between the radio detecting the ACC2 state change and the
KEY state change?

Really looking forward to a future software release that allows the use
of the CW key as a PTT switch in voice modes.

As others have said, it would also be nice to have a further option to
use the CW key to transmit CW in voice modes (at whatever frequency
corresponds to the selected sidetone pitch), as well, not just to act as
a PTT switch. Hope this all is feasible.

> You can plug your key directly into the ACC2 jack if it has a 2.5-mm
> stereo plug. If not, you'll need an adapter like the one supplied as
> part of our KX3 accessory cable kit.

Nice, didn't know there was an accessory cable kit! Getting decent
3.5mm to 2.5mm adapters is surprisingly difficult, especially trying to
find right-angle adapters.

Josh
K6JSH
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