Don and K3 fans, I have a few comments on interfacing Elecraft transceivers with QSK amps.
When the K2 was first announced publicly (Oct 1999, Pacificon QRP forum) Wayne and Eric invited those attending to give input and comments regarding desired features. As I have been a Tentec fan for many years and own two Tentec QSK amps, I requested of Wayne that a QSK keying loop be provided in the K2 design. As you know, my request was not implemented. This fall, again at Pacificon, I asked Eric I asked if there would be a QSK keying loop provided, this time in the K3. His response was in the negative. Don, in the email below, says that the time delay in the K3 will accommodate a QSK amp. That is only partially true. The problem is in setting it up. I could, of course, put in a LONG delay but then QSK is gone. If I crank the delay down, at some point I am relying on the RF sensing circuitry in my QSK amps to hold the relays closed until RF is really gone from the input. That may work but I would really prefer the sure-fire solution of a keying loop. This allows a QSK amp to be set up optimally by just plugging in and does not require a scope and a bunch of fuss. The QSK of my Tentec transceivers coupled with either the Titan or Hercules II QSK amps is plenty fast for me as I never go above 50 wpm anyway. For what it is worth, the Yaesu transceivers and their Quadra QSK amp use a keying loop. It works great also. We used it in SS this year and had a ball. I am sure that the K3 will key perfectly with the yet-to-be-available Elecraft amps, but it would be nice if interfacing with existing QSK amps could be done in the obvious way. BTW: I am purchasing a used K2/100 (updated, of course #755) from a K3 buyer and am on the 3rd run for a K3. 73 Allan K7GT southern Oregon On 11/28/07, Don Wilhelm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Barry, > > For amplifier keying, the K3 has an adjustable T-R delay that is very > much longer than that provided by the K2. It may be easier to use that > than fooling around with the external TX inhibit function. > The TX inhibit is more useful to folks who operate VHF/UHF with a > sequencer to switch a chain of preamps and antenna mounted gear between > TX and RX - it can also used to steer the keyer input to one of 2 > transceivers in SO2R setups. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Barry N1EU wrote: > > Thanks Don. Although TX Inhibit is described in the latest C1 version > > of the manual, I missed it because no mention is made of using it for > > qsk amp control. It would have been nice to make +5V available on the > > AUX I/O connector for the pullup wiring. Also, I'm not sure why the > > manual text refers to the "ACC" labeled connector as "AUX I/O" - > > shouldn't this be consistent? > > > > I believe there's an omission in the manual - TX INH is not listed in > > the CONFIG menu section and I believe it should be. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
