Straight Key on my K2
Locked
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I don't know why. It takes only a couple of seconds to change modes - less
time to switch between paddle and hand key mode in the K2's menu than it does to plug the key in! It seems rather absurd to use an external keyer and ignore the excellent keyer built into the K2 just to avoid one or two button pushes when switching between types of keys. Sheesh! Guys! We're going to go the TV "couch potatoes" one better and develop the ultimate Ham-potato: an operator who can operate without moving a single muscle! The ones who need the fastest possible means of changing things are the dedicated all-out contest operators and, somehow, I don't see one of them switching between hand and electronic keys during a contest! Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- I think this is really the approach to use. The K2 keyer is fine but an external keyer can be in improvement. Leave the ring in Hnd mode and let the external keyer do the work. Then hook your straight key, side swiper and bug in parallel with the output of the keyer and away you go! - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - -----Original Message----- Of course, the easy solution is to use an external keyer and connect the hand key in parallel with its output - the K2 can be permanently set to INP Hnd for that setup. 73, Don W3FPR _______________________________________________ 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 w9cf
** Thanks very much, Kevin, that has done the trick nicely! ** At least
almost. I still got the problem occasionally with 0.1uF, but putting a 0.47uF (474) across the straight key has cured the contact bounce completely. The keying characteristics when moving over to the paddle do not seem to be impaired in any way. Although I was reading the list three years ago, I obviously did not store that mailing by Ed KG4ARN in my brain RAM. It is now printed out and stored away for future reference ;-) 73 de David G4DMP In a recent message, Kevin Schmidt <[hidden email]> wrote ... >I found the suggestion by Ed, KG4ARN (listed on LA3ZA's mods page) >http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/html/elecraft-list/2003-06/msg00979.html >to add a 0.1 microfarad capacitor across the straight key or bug worked >for me. > >The time constant for the paddle lines to come back high is set by the >220 ohm resistor and 0.001 microfarad capacitors in the key lines which >gives a time constant of 0.22 microseconds. Adding the 0.1 microfarad >capacitor across the key changes this to 22 microseconds. This seems >like a reasonable value to me since a test in the controller should take >about 2 microseconds; testing both the dot and dash lines sequentially >should complete in about 4 microseconds. _______________________________________________ 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 Carter W. Craigie
In a message dated 7/31/06 7:31:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes: > It takes only a couple of seconds to change modes - less > time to switch between paddle and hand key mode in the K2's menu than it > does to plug the key in! It seems rather absurd to use an external keyer and > ignore the excellent keyer built into the K2 just to avoid one or two button > pushes when switching between types of keys. > > devil's advocate mode = ON One problem is that those button pushes and menu selections seem to take a lot of time when being done on-air. The big one, however, is that it would be more convenient to be able to have multiple keys connected all the time, and choose which one is used by simply grabbing the knob of the one you wanted to use at that particular moment. The problem Elecraft faced was keeping the number of rear-panel connections, and the necessary software, manageable within the confines of the rig. I think one of the attractions of "vintage" rigs is their lack of menu-type controls, and the related displays. If you want to know what band you're on, just look at the BAND knob and see where it's pointing. Problem is, that takes a lot of panel space and a lot of hardware (knob/switch/control/wiring). Sometimes the things you use all the time get lost among controls that are hardly ever used. (My Southgate Type 7, in its entirety, has more than 33 controls on the various front panels, and it has far fewer features than a K2). A story: The first couple of generations of diesel-electric railroad locomotives had similar cab layouts for the engineer. The throttle, reverser, and air brake controls were all grouped a certain way on the control stand, and the various analog gauges and indicators were grouped together. A lot of the choices were dictated by the available technology of the time. Conrols and indicators that were not often used were usually positioned out of the way behind the engineer, to save space. Then in the 1980s, microprocessor control became all the rage. Some designs used CRTs, others various digital readouts. It was impressive to see the speed and air pressure in big square numbers instead of round dial gauges, and a lot more could be displayed to the engineer. The engineers hated the new designs! For one thing, if a particular gauge failed, it only affected that particular indication, and could usually be worked around. A CRT display failure disabled the locomotive entirely. But what they really disliked was the loss of analog readout. A good engineer is constantly scanning - the track ahead, the signals, the gauges, the train behind when going around a right hand curve, etc. With an analog gauge, a quick glance would tell that all was well because the red needle normally points to 3 o'clock and the white needle to about 2:30. A rising or falling trend is immediately obvious. But with a digital readout, it took a serious look to get the actual indication. That took more time and effort than the old way. Next time around, analog-type displays returned. More than a few locos were retrofitted. Others found themselves as the second unit in many consists. devil's advocate mode = OFF Of course we have a big advantage - the folks in Aptos don't just produce Elecraft rigs, they *use* them! 73 de Jim, N2EY _______________________________________________ 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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On Wed, 2 Aug 2006 [hidden email] wrote:
> devil's advocate mode = OFF > > Of course we have a big advantage - the folks in Aptos don't just produce > Elecraft rigs, they *use* them! And, they obviously listen to their customer base...since we use them too. 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page,Drake Web Ring, QRP IRC channel, Drake IRC Channel, Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/hosting/ *** Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month _______________________________________________ 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 N2EY
> Then in the 1980s, microprocessor control became all the rage. Some designs > used CRTs, others various digital readouts. It was impressive to see the speed > and air pressure in big square numbers instead of round dial gauges, and a lot > more could be displayed to the engineer. > > The engineers hated the new designs! For one thing, if a particular gauge > failed, it only affected that particular indication, and could usually be worked > around. A CRT display failure disabled the locomotive entirely. > > > > 73 de Jim, N2EY ============================= A similar thing happened in the '80s with the Washington State Ferries. They switched from a telegraph bell that signaled instructions from the pilot house to the engin room to computer control. This resulted is several ferries becoming intimately involved with Puget Sound mud until they got the bugs worked out. And of course we all know that voice control will be used in the future. "Give me all shes got, Scotty" 73 Rick Dettinger K7MW _______________________________________________ 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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