Hi Mark, The main benefit to FSK seems to be not having to fiddle with audio levels to and from the computer, which are constantly being changed depending on what I'm doing with the computer. Other than that I don't think there's any functional difference between FSK and AFSK.
I went back to the MicroHam website and had a look at the schematics for the cables they provide for other transceivers (something I should have thought of before) and I see that they show a dedicated FSK line going to a multi-pin plug on some of the Icom cable sets. So, I guess the MicroKeyer provides the capability for FSK on rigs that have FSK inputs like your '820, but not on the K2. That is unless they do some fancy tricks on the KIO2 line, which doesn't seem likely. Thanks for your help! 73 - Ken --- "Mark J. Schreiner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Some radios, back in their day, not sure about > modern ones, had an input > for RTTY. It was a stereo plug or something > similar. Sort of worked > like paddles do, but one side was for Mark and one > for Space. I > remember my TS-820S had that. Got me curious, so I > just took a look, it > was actually a 1/4" stereo jack on the upper right > corner of the rear > chassis and labeled RTTY Key, right next to a > similar jack labeled CW > Key. The radio had a fixed frequency shift (maybe > was selectable from > under the covers for a couple of different > standards) so that the Mark & > Space would automatically frequency shift the proper > amount when keyed > with the correct interface. No, your K2 doesn't > have that, so AFSK is > the method used for your K2. If you get responses > otherwise, let me > know, though, however I am not sure I even could > find any hardware to > drive the Mark/Space correctly anymore! Oh, I guess > the MicroKeyer > would, hence the purpose of your email, DUH! > > I'm not sure if there are any benefits to hardware > FSK versus AFSK. The > "A" is really a method as they are both "FSK" > regardless. It seems like > the benefit for AFSK would be the versatility and > many software programs > out there now that use a computer and soundboard to > give the proper > audio signals fed into your microphone connector to > generate a multitude > of modulation schemes from PSK31 and PSK63 to RTTY > to Hellschreiber, and > so on. Used to be different hardware solutions > required for different > modes, now it is all done with computer and sound > card. > > So, if interested, I have an old TS-820S for you to > try if you would > like to do "true FSK" instead of plain old "AFSK", > just let me know! > > Mark, NK8Q _______________________________________________ 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
