[WT-support] Using COM port keying instead of Winkey (was CW keying from function keys)

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

>> From your QRZ.COM page, it looks like you are using an Elecraft K3,
> so no external keying circuit is required! Unlike any other radio on
> the market (of which I am aware), the K3 supports a built-in legacy
> contest software ON/OFF keying "circuit" via the same serial
> connector that you are already using to control the radio.

Except George is also using the microHAM CW Keyer ...

The better way - if you're going to use PC generated keying which is
strongly *DISCOURAGED* - is to configure the CW port in Router rather
that the Winkey port.  Configure Win-Test for PC generated CW and
PTT on a port *other than* the one used for radio control.

You can *still* plug your paddles into the CW Keyer if you want to
do so and have manual control (the knob) of speed and use a keypad
to access a completely separate set of memories for additional info
(comments, to friends, etc) ...

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 5/28/2012 8:35 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV wrote:
> On Mon, May 28, 2012 at 5:17 PM,<Georgek5kg at aol.com>  wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>> *I have not used COM or LPT port on/off keying, but I'm willing to give
>> it a try once I figure out how to implement it.  I am looking in the
>> documentation and I see the keying circuit, but how would I connect in a
>> paddle?*
>>
>
> You connect the paddle to the radio, and use the internal keyer of the
> radio.
>
>> From your QRZ.COM page, it looks like you are using an Elecraft K3, so no
> external keying circuit is required!  Unlike any other radio on the market
> (of which I am aware), the K3 supports a built-in legacy contest software
> ON/OFF keying "circuit" via the same serial connector that you are already
> using to control the radio.
>
> Just go into the SETUP dialog of Win-Test.  Next to the COM port settings
> for the radio port, click on the [Configure...] button, then set:
>
> DTR (pin 4) to CW
> RTS (pin 7) to PTT
>
>
> and click [OK].  Uncheck any WinKey port completely, and click [OK] again.
>
> Finally, in the K3 menu set CONFIG: PTT-KEY to RTS-DTR.  Win-Test will now
> send very well-timed ON/OFF CW and PTT via the K3 COM port pins.
>
> To keep the keyer paddle speed in synch with the Win-Test CW speed, you can
> use the "K3 LUA Scripts" that I wrote.  Just go to http://bit.ly/wtscripts,
> download K3scripts.zip and follow the instructions in the file named
> Readme_K3scripts.txt.  Whenever you change speeds with Win-Test, the K3
> internal keyer (for your paddles), can be set to the same speed, or maybe 1
> or 2 WPM slower, whichever you prefer.
>
> ** *With COM or LPT port keying can you use the ++ -- speed up/slow down
>> commands which are a problem with the Microham CW Keyer. *
>>
>
> Yes, that still works fine, though if you want to get spotted more quickly
> by the Reverse Beacon Network, you should remove all these CW speed changes
> from your messages.  CW Skimmer decodes CW most easily when everything is
> sent at the exact same speed.
>
> 73,
> Bob, N6TV
>
>   In a message dated 5/28/2012 7:22:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> n6tv at arrl.net writes:
>
> Chances are all you had to do was type SETUP [Enter] [Enter] in Win-Test,
> which re-initalizes all serial port connections, as this is much less
> disruptive than exiting and restarting the program.
>
> However, I have seen similar Winkey reliability issues in the past, so I no
> longer use it.  I much prefer to use COM port or LPT port on/off keying
> with Win-Test, plus the internal keyer of the radio.  Win-Test sends very
> fine CW this way; external Winkey hardware is really not required.  Yes you
> lose paddle interrupt of computer messages, but you get used to just
> hitting the Escape key when you need to do that.
>
>
>
>
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