[Elecraft] K2 Audio control scratchy throughout the range
I inherited a second K2. It is serial number 85 and works very well except the volume control is noisy and erratic throughout its range. Do I need to do anything other than replace the pot? I know there were other mods for the volume control and its circuit, but I believe it was because of noise only on the low end of the range. I think this pot is just plain old and the radio sat unused for the last seven years. Thanks! Andy W9NJY Milwaukee __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Begali Adventurer Iambic Paddle for Sale!
I was given a second Begali Adventurer Iambic Paddle, so I am selling my first. It will appear on eBay at 6 PM PST today. Condition is as new, so if interested, please take a look. Thanks! 73 - Andy PS. If you have questions about the sale, please go through the eBay messaging system. If you want to contact me with other questions, contact me off list. I subscribe to the reflectors in digest format and I won't see any postings on the list for another day. Thanks. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Noise cancelling phones
Gary, In preparation for CQ WW CW at PJ2T, our leader, N0YY, suggested we all bring noise cancelling headsets. I bought Audio Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones because music listening is my first hobby and they sound better than any Bose headphones. But I used both in Curacao and of course, I use the Audio Technica at home. Both work fine in ham applications. I was amazed at two things. One is how much easier it was to work the contest at PJ2T. (Of course we had six K3's!) The other was how much easier it is to copy at home. I was unaware how much fighting my ears and brain do with background noise in both places. I didn't notice it till the background noise was eliminated. My shack is quiet except for my own equipment noise, but I didn't realize how bothersome it was. There was benefit at PJ2T because we had five Ameritron AL-1200's running, as well as a 25,000 BTU air conditioner in the same room. In the reflector discussion, I don't see anyone discussing these points, but for long term listening, there's less neurological work with noise reducers. Even with all radios, appliances, aquariums, and HVAC equipment off at night in my suburban house basement, it's amazing how much more quiet our poured-concrete room is with noise cancelers on. Even Field Day in the middle of the night is a better experience by getting rid of the distant traffic noise. The ears and temporal lobes are no longer required to waste as much processor time discriminating CW or speech. We want excellent audio and an excellent S/N ratio out of our radios. Why mess it all up at the headphone-to-ear interface when it's so easy to minimize the problem? Insofar as the discussion about Etymotic in the ear monitors goes, I agree with Jim K9YC. They are without equal at noise cancellation. I quit blasting my ears with ham audio about five decades ago, so in-the-ear transducers are never a problem. I also used another manufacturer's in-the-ear monitors with molded ear pieces. The problem with them in a ham shack is they are so good, it's too quiet. The house could be coming down and I wouldn't know it! But for those who want to get their ears wet with noise reducing headsets, I've found that all the least expensive pairs I've picked up over the years offer an advantage over standard phones. 73 - Andy W9NJY Message: 32 Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 20:29:50 -0600 From: Gary K9GS garyk...@wi.rr.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Noise Cancelling Headphones I know that here in Wisconsin, Bose has an outlet store in a nearby mall. I assume you could try on a pair although I have not done so. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] auto-tuner needs more radio output to tune
The LDG Z-11, Z-11Pro, and RT-11 have all tuned successfully over the years with the output of my 3-watt Sierra and my 2-4 watt KX1, let alone my Herculean KX3. I'm not sure where the LDG folks are coming from in their comment about needing a higher power for their units to tune. That's one of the parameters that has caused me to chose LDG products over the years as opposed to SGC. I tried several years ago to convince Wayne of the utility of offering a remote antenna tuner with the Elecraft name on it. The T1 doesn't quite fill the bill. Something that's weather resistant and that will run on internal batteries. 150 watt capability with SWR's as high as 10:1. Option of coax or single post voltage output, similar to the Icom AH-4. Autosense high SWR's and tune functions. I'd buy one in a minute as I enjoy Elecraft's quality and creative products. I have my coffee table special QRP station in the middle of the family room. A Rose Kopp radio cover decreases the visual impact when not in use. A coax cable to the far side of the room energizes an LDG-Z11Pro and that feeds a balun connecting ladderline out the basement window to a 234' loop around the house. Autotuning is truly automatic and I'm on the air with no fuss 160 through 10 meters without getting out of a chair. There's something appealing about the above station on a night I don't feel like wandering over to the shack and firing up the big rig! I also run the Z11Pro with internal batteries when I'm the DX in Bonaire, Curacao, and operating in the field in Wisconsin. It's easier to run coax to a non-resonant multiband antenna than ladderline. 73, Andy W9NJY Milwaukee Julie, The KX3 power in CW and data modes is *not* limited to 5 watts (except when running it on internal batteries). I believe the solution to your problem can be found in the TUN PWR menu parameter - see page 40 of the manual. The power level set there will be transmitted when you do a TUNE (not an ATU TUNE). Yours is most likely set to NOR for which the TUNE power is the same as the power knob. TUNE will send a carrier (CW) no matter what mode the KX3 is set to. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/13/2013 1:01 PM, Julie Royster wrote: The LDG tech support folks say that a 5-watt KX3 output is not enough to trigger tuning by their product. We will eventually have the Elecraft tuner for KX3 when it ships, but for now what selection of modes power etc on KX3 would give me the highest-wattage signal for the autotuner? If I understand it correctly, PSK and CW are limited to 5 watts by the KX3, right? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 - RF Board - C238 - AGC change
I did the mod shortly after it was described here. The change in AGC behavior was not subtle. Yes it improved copy in pileups when I was the DX. I found it a bit difficult to cope with, though, because the changes in audio strength amongst the stations was more than my ears have an appetite for. I had some trouble putting up with the loud signals challenging my ears by the time I had the volume up enough to discern the weak ones. I believe subsequent firmware changes have obviated the need for this mod. I plan on removing the extra cap. YMMV. This is only my experience and my observations. 73, Andy _ _ Message: 11 Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:37:20 -0500 From: N2TK, Tonytony@verizon.net To: 'elecraft'elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - RF Board - C238 - AGC change Message-ID:001801ce031f$d0937fc0$71ba7f40$@verizon.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII A year or so ago there was discussion about adding additional caps to C238 to reduce IMD. I believe it was two 1-uf caps. What was the outcome of that? Did it make a noticeable difference in pileups or for weak signal detection? Is it a recommended mod? 73, N2TK, Tony __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] P3 spectrum display does not follow K3 following firmware upgrade
Upgraded to the P3 firmware version 1.00 today. I lost the center frequency marker and the spectrum displayed no longer follows the VFO. The cursors for both VFO's display normally. The markers A B work normally. I know I am overlooking something simple, but cannot get this figured out. Please CC me off list as I receive in the digest format. Thanks. Andy W9NJY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Loss of speaker audio K3
Keith, My K3 lost it's audio in the same fashion yesterday as I powered it up for Field Day yesterday. There was a repetitive crackle as the speaker audio died. The audio come back later, but the crackle was 20 dB louder than the signals of interest. The headphone audio was unaffected. I reloaded my last good configuration and all the latest firmware, hoping against hope, and of course that did not help. Looks like a harware problem in the speaker amp circuitry. I did do the mod to protect the output chip and I never plug anything into the speaker jack when the radio is on. So as far as I can tell, this just happened spontaneously. I'll be interested to hear what Gary has to say at K3support. 73, Andy Message: 17 Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:04:45 +0800 From: Keith Bainbridge vk...@arach.net.au Subject: [Elecraft] Loss of speaker audio K3 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4a46ebdd.30...@arach.net.au Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed I've had a report today that one of the clubs K3's has lost all audio from the internal speaker and the rear speaker jack, it just crackled and disappeared. The headphones are still working fine. All menu settings are correct, but no audio. As I'm not there at present I'm unable to do any other checks but the guys using the radio are fully conversant with the menu settings. Any ideas guys ? I will pay the club a visit on tuesday to check it out but wondered if anyone else had come across this before. 73 Keith -- Keith R K Bainbridge VK6RK/ VK6XH http://vk6rk.blogspot.com Northern Corridor Radio Group Inc VK6NC /VK6ANC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] CW rise time
According to my friends and according to MP3 files they have made for me, the CW note from my K3 serial number 152 sounds fine. Not as hard as my K2 and not too soft. I see there is a modification to change the rise time from 8 to 5 milliseconds by installing a different capacitor at C222 on the RF board. I wonder what value cap is present in currently shipping K3's? Wonder what people have thought about the change in the CW waveform after changing this capacitor? I know there are those who will say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But it's the true Elecraft spirit to make something good even better. Please answer off list as well as on as I get the reflector in digest form only. Thanks! Andy W9NJY Milwaukee WI ___ 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] K3 SoftRock 6.2 plus Z10000 buffer?
Lyle and Jack, I have a Tony Parks SoftRock v6.2 Lite for 30 meters. It's packaged for use with the K3. The included crystal is 32.7680 MHz and the divide-by-four frequency is 8.192 MHz. Combined with Jack's Z1 buffer amp with 70 dB of isolation, is the local oscillator isolated and offset from the K3's IF enough so that it won't degrade the Elecraft's performance with IMD, BDR, etc.? Please respond to me on and off list as well as I receive only the digest. Thanks. Andy W9NJY K3 #152 --- Message: 19 Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:00:26 -0400 From: Jack Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] Second kit run - Z1 buffer amplifier for IF pickoff K2 and Isolation (K3) To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed I've decided to go ahead with a second kit run of the Z1 buffer amplifier. The Z1 provides an isolated (70 dB isolation at 4.9 MHz) IF sample when installed in a transceiver. It may also be used as an isolation amplifier with a transceiver with an IF output port. (General purpose, not limited to the K2.) The Z1 will be available with several options, including one that permits it to be installed in the K2 and an electronics-only kit such as might be used with a K3, which has a built-in IF port. The Z1 is not limited to the K2/K3 transceivers and has been used to provide a buffered IF sample with a variety of equipment employing IF frequencies in the range from 455 KHz to 73 MHz. The Z1's primary purpose for K2/K3 owners is to use a Softrock as a panadapter via the Z1 IF sample, and to provide additional isolation for the K3 IF output port. Note that even with 70 dB of isolation, it will almost certainly be necessary to offset the Softrock's frequency from the receiver's IF frequency to avoid interference. I've added pricing and options data at the 14 March 2008 entry at URL:http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/Updates.htm . Availability is mid-April. I plan to order parts next week, and if you are interested in purchasing a Z1, I would appreciate an E-mail indicating which options and quantities you are interested in. Jack K8ZOA www.cliftonlaboratories.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
[Elecraft] K2 no power out
My K2/KPA100 was operating fine three weeks ago. I have been using other rigs in the interim. The radio has not been moved and no cables have been disconnected. I believe my rig antenna switch has not been turned to provide the K2 with outside RF. No big lightning storms here in the last three weeks. Tonight I have no power output. The rig is not in the test mode. If I turn off the PA via the menu there is still no power out. There is no indication of power out on the LED power indicator. There is no power measured with an external wattmeter. As I turn the power level up and down while keying the rig there is the error message HiCur. I hear a weak transmit signal when listening on an external receiver. The current meter on my Astron supply indicates about two amps are being drawn at any power setting. Swapping power supplies changes nothing. This is an interesting problem because my K2 has been operating fine for years, and now at turn on it is misbehaving. The receiver works fine. Thanks. Andy W9NJY K2 ser nr 2651 ___ 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] KDSP2 for sale
Elecrafters, I have a very-well built KDSP2 for sale. It is a spare, and has been checked out by Lyle KK7P as I thought it wasn't working. I later found out the problem was elsewhere in the K2. I also have the K2 firmware 2.04P that is necessary to operate this accessory. The original manual is included, as well as the original box. Since this is the second unit I have built, I have unused headers for the K2 control board and unused sets of foam to properly space the KDSP2 from the top of the QRP version of the K2 or from the KPA100. Everything you need is included. $175. I can deliver to Dayton. Don't be confused by incomplete units. Respond off list. 73, Andy W9NJY Milwaukee [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ 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] Fw: KDSP2 for sale
This unit has been sold. Thank you. - Original Message - From: Andrew Catanzaro [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 10:37 AM Subject: KDSP2 for sale Elecrafters, I have a very-well built KDSP2 for sale. It is a spare, and has been checked out by Lyle KK7P as I thought it wasn't working. I later found out the problem was elsewhere in the K2. I also have the K2 firmware 2.04P that is necessary to operate this accessory. The original manual is included, as well as the original box. Since this is the second unit I have built, I have unused headers for the K2 control board and unused sets of foam to properly space the KDSP2 from the top of the QRP version of the K2 or from the KPA100. Everything you need is included. $175. I can deliver to Dayton. Don't be confused by incomplete units. Respond off list. 73, Andy W9NJY Milwaukee [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ 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] Zero beating
Don, Zero beating does not involve hearing down to zero cycles. It is matching two tones, whatever their frequency, until; the beating phenomenon, which is not a sound comprised of frequencies lower than the audio passband of the receiver or below the lower limit of human hearing, stops. As you know, it is more of a whooping sound. It is clearly within the audio passband of most radios. I used to use my K2 listening to WWV with Spectrogram as a frequency reference. I recently built two NorCal FCC1/2 DDS VFO's. If I had used the K2/Spectrogram to calibrate them, they would have been accurate to within a few Hz, as you say. By using my Japan Radio listening to WWV in AM mode (no Spectrogram needed!), it was easy to hear the VFO beating against WWV's carrier. Without being zero beat, it is possible to count the beats per seconds if you know how to tune a piano. You can tell how may cycles it's off. But anyone can easily hear when the beating process stops, and then the *maximum* error the VFO readout displays is 1 Hz. I have found it very hard to get this kind of accuracy using Spectrogram. Regards, Andy W9NJY K2 KX1 --- Message: 16 Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 20:54:29 -0500 From: Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Frequency counters for Alignment To: Ken Kopp [EMAIL PROTECTED], Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED], 'Elecraft Discussion List' elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Ken and all, What you say is true - but you can detect the transmitted tones sent by WWV with great accuracy. See http://tf.nist.gov/stations/iform.html#stdf for innformation about what tones are transmitted at what times. With the audio of a SSB receiver fed into the computer soundcard, and the computer running a program like Spectrogram, one can align the received tones with properly set Spectrogram markers and when the transmitted tones line up with the received tones, you can be certain that WWV is tuned precisely. This is actually more accurate than trying to listen for the carrier at zero frequency - neither the receiver audio nor the human ear can respond to zero frequency, and attempt to do so may be off by +/-30 Hz or more - detecting the tones with a graphic display will allow you to tune within a few Hz. 73, Don W3FPR ___ 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] Fw: K2, MD-2 MIC AND MFJ-434 VOICE KEYER
- Original Message - From: Andrew Catanzaro To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 12:03 PM Subject: K2, MD-2 MIC AND MFJ-434 VOICE KEYER Since my big rig is a Japan Radio JST-245 and it has a Yaesu microphone pinout, I set the jumpers in the K2 for a Yaesu mike. My Heil Goldline works fine with the K2 and puts out excellent fidelity. When I started using the Elecraft MH-2 and Heil boom mikes for the K2, I wired those also for Yaesu and there was no problem. The Goldline's HC-5 element had greater fidelity and definition than the latter two mikes, but they had greater output and drove the K2 to full output. Adding the MFJ 434 keyer was no problem. I set the jumpers for Yaesu and it took right off. It's audio fidelity is a reflection of the audio you feed it with, and its utility is great. You need to be careful about setting the record gain, as it easy to pick up background noise if it's set too high. BTW, when wiring up the K2 for electret mikes, put the 5.7k dropping resistor in the microphone *plug* and not in the K2. That way you can switch between dynamic and electret mikes and never worry about a DC volatege appearing across a dynamic element. Another note, in response to the recent posts aobut the K2 not being a good SSB rig on transmit, I have received many unsolicited reports of good audio with all three of the above mikes. That was with a 2 KHz audio bandwidth. The K2 was designed for communications power not for high fidelity entertainement. Most of the audio reports have come from DX stations. I have more recently opened up the bandwidth to 2.2 kHz and, obviously, the good audio reports continue to come in. For those who want to sound like the nighttime announcers on broacast AM stations, buy the Japanese radios with the wide bandwidth and parametric equalizers, but I think that's a different hobby from the one I participate in. The guys from Peter I didn't seem to mind my SSB audio on the three different bands I contacted them on, and after only a couple calls each. That's communicating! 73, Andy W9NJY Milwaukee WI K2 2561 KX1 1139 Message: 4 Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2006 14:59:46 - From: Chris Page [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] K2, MD-2 MIC AND MFJ-434 VOICE KEYER To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Is anybody using the K2 with the MD-2 mic and the MFJ-434 Voice Keyer, please? I borrowed an MFJ-434 Voice Keyer for the weekend to help my wife June (M0BUE) play in the ARRL DX SSB Contest as W4/M0BUE, but cannot get it to work with the K2 and MD-2. I have tried changing the various jumpers inside the keyer but that doesn't seem make any difference. Does anybody know which of the three options (Yaesu, Kenwood or Icom) of the voice keyer I should use with the K2? Could the problem be anything to do with the way the MD-2 mic plug is wired, perhaps not being compatible with the mic socket on the keyer? Any help and suggestions will be appreciated by June. Thanks and 73 de Chris, G4BUE (currently N4CJ in Florida) ___ 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] Re: micro Ham CW Keyer
Bob - These keyers are designed and built, I think, in Slovenia. The only way to get them is through their US distributor via Internet. http://www.microham.com/ Their web site is most informative and Joe, the ham who runs the US operation, is most helpful if you have questions. The keyer is not available as a kit. If you want to build a good keyer kit, get an Idiom Press CMOS-4. The advantage of the microHAM unit is that it is bullet-proof in high RF fields, which I frequently find myself in when operating non-resonant antennas in the car and during portable operations. Also the microHAM attaches to the USB port of your laptop and allows data transfer from the K2 RS-232 and the computer for logging purposes. With the new computers coming out without RS-232 ports, it allows a USB port to key your K2 (or whatever radio). This is important to me when I do my mini-DXpeditions in the Caribbean. I have my logging program send the repetitive parts of exchanges when in pile-ups and I'm the DX. One disadvantage of the microHAM keyer is that it's set up functions (weighting, etc.) and memories are available only if it's attached to a computer. If RF feedback is not an issue, and it isn't for most hams with well earth-grounded stations, and when you are not trying to key the radio with a computer, the LogiKit CMOS-4 would still be my first pick. Andy W9NJY Milwaukee K2 2561 - Original Message - From: Robert C. Abell [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:48 AM Subject: Re: micro Ham CW Keyer Hi Andy, Where does one buy the micro Ham CW Keyer? Is it a kit? I'm interested. 73, Bob VE3XM - Original Message - From: Robert C. Abell [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:48 AM Subject: Re: micro Ham CW Keyer Hi Andy, Where does one buy the micro Ham CW Keyer? Is it a kit? I'm interested. 73, Bob VE3XM ___ 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] Keying with CW ports
Larry, How are you interfacing the computer with the radio? Lots of new computers have no RS-232 ports or parallel ports. A high-end HP laptop I bought this August has only USB ports. I tried connecting a USB to RS-232 or parallel adapter to the suggested circuit for keying the K2. In my case, and from what I've read many others have found, this doesn't work. It comes down to USB timing issues. The microHAM units work by virtue of the computer sending not CW out the USB port, but other information to cause this keyer to generate the code as an outboard device. It's similar to the concept of your soundcard operating independently of the CPU in your computer. The computer just tells a sound card what task to address, but now matter how busy the CPU in the computer gets, the sound card still plays your PSK signal, music CD, or whatever without burping. The micoHAM has it's own CPU and clock. I found that even with my old computer (a 1.9 GHZ P4) with RS-232 ports that the CW generated was not as precise as what I could do with either the keyer in the K2 or a LogiKit CMOS-4. If the CPU in your computer decides in the middle of sending text that it needs to do some other housekeeping chore, the weighting will change or the spacing between characters or words will change. The same thing is true to a lesser extent with the CPU in the K2. The K1EL chip in the microHAM keyer is the brains (and timing!) behind this keyer's success. Your logging program must support the K1EL protocol, and from what I read, most programs do. I'm not sure about CT yet. And no, I'm not affiliated with microHAM. I'm just a CW operator. Andy W9NJY K2 2651 Message: 6 Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:02:01 -0400 From: Larry Phipps [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: micro Ham CW Keyer Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed If you are using it just for cw keying, the K2 has a built-in keyer that works similarly, and it can be controlled from a number of programs like TRX-Manager. Larry N8LP ___ 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] PSK Microphone input
Ralph, Put the resistor between pins 1 and 6 in the *plug* for the Heil Proset, rather than in the radio. That way the Rascal interface works, and no blocking capacitor is necessary. Another advantage is that you can use other microphones that don't require a bias voltage with the K2. The Heil dynamic elements still sound significantly better than the electret elements in the MH-2 (discontinued) and Heil Proset boom microphone, although the K2 output is somewhat less. When I use the K2 with a Heil HC-5 element and a linear RF amplifier, I get the best audio reports. The Proset is still useful for Field Day and other operations away from home. Although there are published pre-amp circuits for using low-output dynamic mikes with the K2, it isn't clear to me why it wasn't designed with higher audio gain to start with. That way higher quality microphones could be used. The K2 is capable of quite high quality transmit audio, but it isn't as apparent with the electret microphones. Icom et al have made the break with electrets starting with their Pro II and later rigs. We are still using the equivalent of the older style Icom mikes. Andy W9NJY Milwaukee K2 2651 KX1 1139 ___ 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] Re: microHAM CW Keyer
Right, I have the CW Keyer. But it still interfaces with the K2 and passes along band and mode data to the computer. It simulates two COM ports, one for radio data and the other for CW keying. So the full microHAM unit that supports data modes would work fine connected to the K2 data line without modification. The microHAM keyer has a K1EL keyer chip in the unit, which gets rid of all the timing issues of USB ports. No matter how busy the microprocessor is in your computer, the CW KEYER sends perfectly timed code, and it's a little more accurate than the keyer in the K2 itself. Rather than the computer generating code, it tells the keyer (I think in ASCII text) what to send. As a stand alone unit, with just paddles connected, it is an excellent unit, and to my ears, sounds more precise than the K2's internal keyer. So with the RigBlaster equivalent, you get the data modes and a good keyer to boot. 73, Andy - Original Message - From: Stewart Baker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Andrew Catanzaro [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 8:16 AM Subject: Re: microHAM CW Keyer Many thanks for your reply Andy. I am looking to replace a homebrew copy of the RigBlaster, but it seems to me that the microkeyer will do a lot more. Reading your reply I now think the you have the USB keyer. 73 Stewart G3RXQ On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 07:04:39 -0500, Andrew Catanzaro wrote: I purchased a microHAM CW Keyer and have had instant success with it connected to the K2/100 and KAT100. Although there is a dedicated cable for the K2, there was no K2 in the software radio pull-down menu. I selected the Kenwood TS-2000 and changed the baud to 4000. Both VFO's and the mode show up in the microHAM Router software and in my logging program. The keyer is just excellent with the best Morse I've ever heard coming out of a computer. It seems to have the excellent manual keying characteristics of my previously favorite keyer, the Idiom Press CMOS 4, but it is far superior in being RF proof. I have had problems with the CMOS 4 locking up when operating 100 watts with a vertical wire right outside my operating position. The microHAM keyer doesn't mind this environs at all. There is no issue with RS-232 connectivity. Andy W9NJY K2 2651 KX1 1139 ___ 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] microHAM CW Keyer
I purchased a microHAM CW Keyer and have had instant success with it connected to the K2/100 and KAT100. Although there is a dedicated cable for the K2, there was no K2 in the software radio pull-down menu. I selected the Kenwood TS-2000 and changed the baud to 4000. Both VFO's and the mode show up in the microHAM Router software and in my logging program. The keyer is just excellent with the best Morse I've ever heard coming out of a computer. It seems to have the excellent manual keying characteristics of my previously favorite keyer, the Idiom Press CMOS 4, but it is far superior in being RF proof. I have had problems with the CMOS 4 locking up when operating 100 watts with a vertical wire right outside my operating position. The microHAM keyer doesn't mind this environs at all. There is no issue with RS-232 connectivity. Andy W9NJY K2 2651 KX1 1139 ___ 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] Noise on low-level receive
Off and on for a year, I've had a scratchy noise with the volume turned down on my K2. There is a scritch-scratch with the onset of each CW element. It happens when the volume control is set between nearly off and 9:00, which is where I usually operate. The volume never goes completely off with the control set completely CCW. When I turn the RF gain control down and turn up the AF gain to make the signal as loud as it originally was, there is no extraneous noise. The AGC setting doesn't effect the presence or absence of the noise. The noise makes its appearance more often when the K2 is located in the Caribbean, working pile ups than when it is at home. The ambient temperature in the Caribbean is 30C, while it's usually 23C in my Milwaukee basement, and a lot less humid. My K2 is serial number 2651. I performed the volume control mod a couple years ago, and this problem did not exist before or after I did it. I have recently double checked the audio circuits around the pot, and although all the solder joints looked good, I redid them anyway. I have the DSP unit installed. Interestingly, when the DSP unit is switched in to any level of noise reduction, the scratching goes away. So one would think something is awry earlier in the receiver. The noise seems complex. It's not very loud and doesn't keep me off the air, but it's irritating, especially when listening to weak signals. When there is no signal, and I'm listening to atmospheric noise at any volume level, there is never any noise. Whatever it is, it is triggered by the CW coming in. It seems it could still be south of the DSP unit as the signal coming out of that module seems to have its hard edges filed off. The noise is fine in its texture and doesn't appear in the loudspeaker. I can hear it in different kinds of headsets plugged either into the front panel jack or the speaker jack on the back of the KPA100. Ultimately, it's hard to figure this problem out at home as it's intermittent. Any ideas? (Please respond to me direct as well as on the list as I receive it in digest form. Thanks!) 73, Andy W9NJY K2 2651 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Tuner losses
Charles, Thanks for correcting me. Sorry that it's been a while since I looked at the Elecraft balun on their web page. I forgot that it was a current balun. 73, Andy - Original Message - From: Charles Greene [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Andrew Catanzaro [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 6:57 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Tuner losses Andrew, I beg to differ that the LDG: 4:1 balun and the Elecraft 4:1 balun are similar, or even close. The LDG 4:1 balun is a voltage balun. I don't have one, but I have its schematic. The Elecraft 4:1 balun is a current balun, plus the fact that it is wound on a binocular core. The core materials are different. If fact, the only similarity is that both are 4:1 baluns. The major difference between a current balun and a voltage balun is the frequency coverage. ___ 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] Tuner losses
I bought the KAT100 tuner as a convenience item and did not think it would be as efficient as other tuners in the shack. I judge the merit of tuners by measuring the RF current in the ladder line going to my 234 foot open loop around the house. It is a beast to feed on 160 and 40 meters, and much easier on all the other bands. I have the actual conjugate impedance measurements on all the bands around here somewhere, but lucky for the group, I can't find my data at the moment. I have measured current using thermocouple and home- built clamp-on ammeters. My Palstar AT1500BAL is a no-compromise balanced output tuner. There is a 1:1 balun on the input and the tuner consists of an L circuit for each side of the feedline. It is configurable for high and low impedances, with very heavy duty relays changing the variable capacitors from the input of the inductor to the output. It has beat out the 300 watt version of the Johnson Matchbox. I have not had access to the KW version, but an article by Frank Witt in QST several years ago showed the 300 watt version to be superior to its big brother. The Palstar has also beat my MFJ KW tuner that I have used floating from ground with a 1:1 balun at the input. There was no balun at the output and the MFJ was more efficient in that configuration than using the built-in 4:1 balun. (See the ARRL Antenna Compendium Volume 2, page 172, Some Additional Aspects of the Balun Problem.) I was quite surprised to see the KAT100 tuner to put out essentially the same currents on all bands as the Palstar balanced tuner! So a convenience it is, but also it is a good tuner! I have also used it, at Wayne's suggestion, to feed a portable 23 foot vertical with elevated 23 foot radials fed with 300 ohm ladder line and 1:1 balun on the output of the K2. This is antenna is used on 40 through 10 meters and has won me thousands of QSO's. There I have measured current at the base of the vertical radiator. The Elecraft tuner beat my manual 300 watt MFJ tuner feeding the antenna directly at the base. It also outperforms the LDG RT-11 also at the base of that vertical with no feeline between the tuner and antenna. I still use the giant Palstar as the KAT100 won't work with my Sierra or my KW Japan Radio linear! For the K2 barefoot, the KAT100 can't be beat, as far as I can see. Andy W9NJY Milwaukee K2 ser 2651 ___ 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] 10M SSB distortion
Thanks to the help of Gary at Elecraft and Stewart Baker and Stuart Rohre, the problem with 10 meter SSB distortion is fixed. Grounding the shell of the mike socket to the circuit board ground did the trick. The modification is on the Elecraft web page at: http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/k2_microphone_jack_grounding.htm For some reason I overlooked this, but it does make a difference. Thanks also to my wife who sat reading a book aloud into the boom mike while I did audio checks on a radio upstairs. Thanks all, Andy W9NJY K2 SN 2651 ___ 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] 10 meter SSB audio distortion
I get excellent audio reports on my K2 audio on all bands but 10 meters. People tell it sounds like RF is getting back into the radio. I have the KAT100 tuner and an RF Works isolator that should prevent RF from getting back into the radio, and the K2 itself is gorounded. The disortion is present with the Heil H-5 microphone element as well as the MH2 mike and the Heil boom mike for the K2. It happens at all settings of mike gain and/or compression. It happens with or with out the KP100 amp in line. The distortion is present at all power levels and when the radio is driving a dummy load. Suggestions? Andy W9NJY K2 serial number 2651with all the A-B mods. ___ 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
