<div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 2:22 PM, John Baranyi </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><<a href="mailto:n8um@comcast.net" target="_blank">n8um@comcast.net</a>></span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"> wrote:</span><br>
</div><div><div class="gmail_extra" style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto">Bob, what special handling does the K3 require w/WT 4.11?</div></blockquote></div></div></div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br>
</span></div>The Elecraft K3 sends very poor (jittery) CW at speeds above 37 WPM, in </span><i style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">both</i><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"> semi-breakin and QSK modes. This is a known issue based on certain difficult engineering trade-offs. It was the best way for Elecraft to keep the K3 signal "clean" (compared to most radios).</span><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
<br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Elecraft created a new feature called "CW QRQ" mode that eliminates this jitter problem. But if you use it, you have to turn RIT OFF (not just cleared, but OFF), you cannot use SPLIT mode, and you cannot shift the IF passband. This is unacceptable to most high-speed contesters, who want to use all of these features at the same time (especially RIT).</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Only recently I discovered that if you close PTT IN, the K3 CW jitter problems goes away, at all contest speeds, even if CW QRQ is OFF. If you use the internal Win-Test COM port or LPT port keying, Win-Test automatically closes the PTT line for you, for the precise duration of the CW message, and opens it immediately at the end. This is 100% under the control of Win-Test, and the CW timing is perfect. However, it is important to set the PTT LEAD time in the Win-Test SETUP menu to at least 10 ms. 0 ms does not work well.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Unlike all other radios (but Flex), the K3 has a "keying circuit" built in to it's COM port. You can use the same COM port for rig control, PTT, and CW keying. No other cables are required! This is keying via fast on/off signals, not via slow software commands (CAT or microHAM control protocol).</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">In the K3 menu, set CONFIG:PTT-KEY to RTS-DTR</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
In the Win-Test Interfaces Configuration Menu, for the radio's COM port, set DTR=CW, RTS=PTT, Active With=Radio 1.</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Set the PTT LEAD to 10 ms or more</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
Set WinKey port to NONE (do not use WinKey except for hand keying)</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">You can also send CW via the standard KEY IN line, and PTT via PTT IN; you don't have to use the COM port (e.g. the MK2R+ doesn't pass any of the CW / PTT signals from the virtual COM port to the K3 serial port, so you have to specify Radio = COM5, CW = COM5 (DTR), PTT=COM5 (RTS) in the Router "Ports" tab to get it to work if you're not using LPT).</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">What about keying by hand? Whether you use the internal keyer or an external one, the jitter will only go away at high speeds <i>only</i> if you close the PTT line manually, e.g. by closing a footswitch connected to PTT IN, when you are transmitting by hand. It is OK to enable VOX and semi break-in modes to compensate for being early or late with the footswitch, but the jitter problem will still be there when you're hand keying, <i>until</i> you close the footswitch.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">What if you want to use the WinKey? First, why? There is no compelling reason to use a WinKey with Win-Test if you have a K3 (other than the ability to adjust keying compensation, as described in my previous post). The internal K3 keyer is all that you need. For SO2R, plug a paddle into each radio for full control of each (and use the <a href="http://bit.ly/K3lockout" target="_blank">simple K3 Lockout circuit</a> to prevent simultaneous transmission). Use the <a href="http://bit.ly/wtscripts" target="_blank">K3 Win-Test Scripts</a> to keep the K3 internal keyer speed in sync with the COM port keying speed (or slower, your choice).</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Yes, the WinKey has a PTT output line you can connect to the K3, and that will prevent jitter problems while it is transmitting at high speed. But since Win-Test sends one character at a time to the WinKey, the WinKey thinks it should open the PTT line after every letter is sent. You can set the PTT TAIL to a high value to prevent the PTT line from opening in the middle of a message, but then you miss the first letter of the station who answers your CQ.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">In sum, don't use a WinKey, use the COM port or LPT port pins for PTT and CW keying, and use the internal keyer or a standard keyer like a Logikey, with a footswitch while hand keying, if you plan to operate > 37 WPM with a K3.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">73,</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Bob, N6TV</div>
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