Is it true that the Pro III does not support Curtis Mode B? I have heard 90% of cw devotees use Mode B!
Bob W2WG -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rich McCabe Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 6:28 PM Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali and K2 Thanks Vic, Thats great info although most of it over my head :) The dilema I have now is I was considering ordering the new MicroHam USB keyer. It sounds like this might not be a good solution right now. To make things worse, I really am a novice at CW. I never have been very fast at it although I used to enjoy it. My last CW contact was....... uh about 17 years ago. Never used anything but a straight key. So what do you think. I buy a Begali signature so now I really have to use it !! Bold move I know, but that usually works for me. Have you heard anything about the new material that Begali might be using (according to MicroHam)? I really thought a clean electrical contact was just that. Couldnt get any better ! I would like to be able to use the key on my Pro III as well but it does not support Mode B. For whatever reason I do better with that mode. 73, Rich kd0zv ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vic K2VCO" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Rich McCabe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 5:19 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali and K2 > Rich McCabe wrote: >> >> I just bought a new Begali Signature to go with my K2/100. I was thinking >> about buying a MicroHam/K1EL USB CW keyer to work with my Pro III so I >> can run mode B. >> >> I just ran into this article about a debouncer and the Begali keys. >> http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/Begali.html >> >> This seems pretty wild to me, but thought I would toss it out the the CW >> Pros ! It seems the problem is related to PIC based keyers. Does this >> apply to the K2 and what do you think about the whole theory? > > To a smaller extent, yes it does. Here's an edited excerpt from a review > of the Magnetic Pro (very similar to the Signature) that I wrote for eHam: > > The contact alloy behaves almost like a semiconductor, maintaining a > constant forward voltage drop over a range of current. Measuring the > contact resistance with an ohmmeter gives 'funny' readings; it's more > interesting if your meter has a diode voltage drop range, such as my Fluke > 79. > > Anyway, the result of this is that the key does not work properly with > keyers like Winkey, which use a single PIC input and voltage divider to > distinguish dots and dashes. Microham has actually developed an interface > to solve this problem. More broadly, however, the contact resistance > behavior causes intermittent problems with other keyers that do use > separate PIC inputs, such as the Logikey K3 and the internal keyers in my > Elecraft K2 and TS850s. This problem can be described as an intermittent > 'misfire', in which there is a delay before dot or dash generation starts > after the contacts are closed. I believe that the delay is caused by the > time constant of the bypass capacitors and the variable contact > resistance. > > The Microham device is reported to help with Winkey, but does not help > with the Logikey K3 (I tried it). The delay seems to appear more > frequently the more heavily you use the paddle, which I suspect has to do > with the thickness of an oxide layer that develops on the contacts. If you > let it sit for a while, the frequency of the problem decreases. > > The Begali keys can be ordered with gold contacts, which I recommend. It's > possible to order replacement parts, but since the contacts are part of > the movable arms, the cost of the replacement kit for my key was $78. I > bit the bullet and ordered the kit; hopefully it will solve the problem. > In the meantime, I'm using my old Bencher. > > Since you already have the key, I suggest that you try it and see how it > works. Some people don't report a problem, in my opinion because they > don't beat on it enough. > -- > 73, > Vic, K2VCO > Fresno CA > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
