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PSK31, RTTY, and CW -- all conversational modes, all alive and kickin'

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wayne burdick

PSK31, RTTY, and CW -- all conversational modes, all alive and kickin'

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Recently we've been testing and enhancing the K4's built-in text decode/encode. This feature is very convenient on the K4, with multiple lines of received text, and the ability to use a keyboard (wired or wireless) at any of the three USB-A jacks. You can also transmit in any of these modes by sending CW with the keyer paddle.

At present the K4 can handle PSK31, RTTY, and CW, as on our other transceivers. We hope to add other in-box text modes in the future.

I was happy to discover lots of activity in all three modes over the past week. PSK31 -- which provides below-the-noise-floor copy -- is found primarily on 20 meters from 14070-14073, and I've also heard it on 80, 40, and 15 meters. RTTY is common (especially during weekend contests) around 14080-14090 or higher. And of course there's CW at all times of the day or night. Weekly CWT contests are a big draw these days.

Each of these modes has its idiosyncrasies. But one thing they all have in common is that they're conversational -- you can carry on real QSOs. They can also be used in contests, with no "canned" limitations on exchanges as with heavily automated data modes.

I encourage everyone to give these modes a try. If you have a K3, K3S, KX2, or KX3, you can use all three. Decoded text is scrolled across the VFO B display as signals are tuned in. (See your owner's manual for further details.)

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Re: PSK31, RTTY, and CW -- all conversational modes, all alive and kickin'

Thanks, Wayne!

The ability to do PSK31 ‘barefoot’ (without an external computer) is one of a number of reasons I decided to get my KX2, and I’ve not regretted it!

I also love CW in SSB Mode; and I very much appreciate that I can set the sidetone to precisely A 440 and that the reception passband automatically centers itself to whatever the sidetone is set to, etc. There are so many wonderful subtleties nestled within the Elecraft design philosophy!

73 de KX2CW ..
Joan

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, said Piglet.
Shaka, when the walls fell, said Pooh.

> On May 9, 2020, at 10:18, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Recently we've been testing and enhancing the K4's built-in text decode/encode. This feature is very convenient on the K4, with multiple lines of received text, and the ability to use a keyboard (wired or wireless) at any of the three USB-A jacks. You can also transmit in any of these modes by sending CW with the keyer paddle.
>
> At present the K4 can handle PSK31, RTTY, and CW, as on our other transceivers. We hope to add other in-box text modes in the future.
>
> I was happy to discover lots of activity in all three modes over the past week. PSK31 -- which provides below-the-noise-floor copy -- is found primarily on 20 meters from 14070-14073, and I've also heard it on 80, 40, and 15 meters. RTTY is common (especially during weekend contests) around 14080-14090 or higher. And of course there's CW at all times of the day or night. Weekly CWT contests are a big draw these days.
>
> Each of these modes has its idiosyncrasies. But one thing they all have in common is that they're conversational -- you can carry on real QSOs. They can also be used in contests, with no "canned" limitations on exchanges as with heavily automated data modes.
>
> I encourage everyone to give these modes a try. If you have a K3, K3S, KX2, or KX3, you can use all three. Decoded text is scrolled across the VFO B display as signals are tuned in. (See your owner's manual for further details.)
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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wayne burdick

Re: PSK31, RTTY, and CW -- all conversational modes, all alive and kickin'

Administrator

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Just a follow-up on this topic for those using PSK31 mode: The K4 handles upper- and lower-case characters, in both transmit and receive. Previously we handled upper-case only.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

> On May 9, 2020, at 10:18 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Recently we've been testing and enhancing the K4's built-in text decode/encode. This feature is very convenient on the K4, with multiple lines of received text, and the ability to use a keyboard (wired or wireless) at any of the three USB-A jacks. You can also transmit in any of these modes by sending CW with the keyer paddle.
>
> At present the K4 can handle PSK31, RTTY, and CW, as on our other transceivers. We hope to add other in-box text modes in the future.
>
> I was happy to discover lots of activity in all three modes over the past week. PSK31 -- which provides below-the-noise-floor copy -- is found primarily on 20 meters from 14070-14073, and I've also heard it on 80, 40, and 15 meters. RTTY is common (especially during weekend contests) around 14080-14090 or higher. And of course there's CW at all times of the day or night. Weekly CWT contests are a big draw these days.
>
> Each of these modes has its idiosyncrasies. But one thing they all have in common is that they're conversational -- you can carry on real QSOs. They can also be used in contests, with no "canned" limitations on exchanges as with heavily automated data modes.
>
> I encourage everyone to give these modes a try. If you have a K3, K3S, KX2, or KX3, you can use all three. Decoded text is scrolled across the VFO B display as signals are tuned in. (See your owner's manual for further details.)
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
>
>
>