[Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
I finally hooked up my computer keying circuit, 2N off the parallel port, to my K2 before the CQWW contest. I have noticed what appears to be a significant difference in the keying characteristic from the computer versus the keying from the Bencher key. The computer appears to have a significantly harder characteristic than the Bencher. This is observed in the sidetone as I have not checked it with a 2nd receiver. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? tnx 73's, Ralph W1ZK ___ 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] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
Dan, I am referring exactly to weight. Yes, the K2 has a weight adjustment but it does not, or should not, know the difference between the Bencher key and the keying from the computer running Writelog that is paralleled onto the same wire going into the key input. The computer input is run through 1N914 or equivalent diodes. My K2/100 has the key click mod but that should not make any difference in this case. Why the difference is in weight is my question. W1ZK - Original Message - From: Dan Barker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ralph McClintock [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 12:29 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher Harder usually refers to keying envelope shape. The differences I'd expect from the two keying methods you've described would have to do with Weight (length of the elements). To which issue are you referring? The K2 keyer weight is adjustable, but it's CPU has other duties and might sometimes miss it's timing window. (Not a the speeds I can run, I assure youg). Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 Ralph McClintock asks: snip The computer appears to have a significantly harder characteristic than the Bencher. /snip ___ 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] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
Ralph McClintock wrote: Dan, I am referring exactly to weight. Yes, the K2 has a weight adjustment but it does not, or should not, know the difference between the Bencher key and the keying from the computer running Writelog that is paralleled onto the same wire going into the key input. If you are using a Bencher paddle then you are using the internal keyer, which generates the CW elements and sets the weight. Writelog generates the CW elements itself and keys the K2 as though it were a straight key. The K2's autodetect circuit allows you to activate your internal keyer with the paddle while treating the computer interface as a straight key. -- 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
Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
Just to nail down the test case, you are keying via the key input (if so, in straight key more or in auto-detect mode), or programmatically through the serial port? On Sun, 12 Dec 2004, Ralph McClintock wrote: Don, The computer generates an on-off. Writelog does not allow any adjustment of keying characteristics. The Bencher generates an open or ground. Why does the K2 recognize the Bencher, a mechanical switch, as soft and why does it recognize the computer as hard? Ralph W1ZK - Original Message - From: W3FPR - Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ralph McClintock [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 7:10 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher Ralph, There is little to nothing that one can do to alter the keying waveshape from the outside of the K2, so you are likely hearing something different than the keying waveshape. How does the computer program handle the keying 'weight' - I would expect that to be the difference you hear. Change the weighting characteristic in the program to something different (if the program allows you to change it) just to see - and then set whatever you desire. 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - I finally hooked up my computer keying circuit, 2N off the parallel port, to my K2 before the CQWW contest. I have noticed what appears to be a significant difference in the keying characteristic from the computer versus the keying from the Bencher key. The computer appears to have a significantly harder characteristic than the Bencher. This is observed in the sidetone as I have not checked it with a 2nd receiver. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? tnx 73's, Ralph W1ZK ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
At 03:19 PM 12/12/2004, Ralph McClintock wrote... Don, The computer generates an on-off. Writelog does not allow any adjustment of keying characteristics. The Bencher generates an open or ground. Why does the K2 recognize the Bencher, a mechanical switch, as soft and why does it recognize the computer as hard? Ralph W1ZK Which is it - the RF waveform (hard) or the keying weight? You've already said I am referring exactly to weight. Hard/soft by convention refer to the sound of the RF waveshape, heavy/light refers to the on/off ratio (weight). You're mixing terminology and confusing the issue. Keying weight is a function of they keyer. As has already been explained, when you use a paddle, you're using the K2's internal keyer, and consequently get the weight for which that is set; the K2 is making the dots and dashes. The Bencher generates _two_ opens/grounds, and is telling the K2 to make a dot or a dash. As far as the K2 is concerned, the computer is just a straight key, so any weight (and speed) is a function of the computer program you're using. The K2 has nothing to do with the dots and the dashes, it's just making RF when it sees key down. A difference is to be expected, both in weight and speed - you're comparing two different keyers (the K2's vs. the Writelog's). ___ 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] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
Ralph, Another, or an again way of saying what has been said is: You are assuming that the K2 sees the Bencher and computer keying as the same. If that were the case, they would bethe same. The K2 does NOT see the Bencher and the computer as the same. It sees the Bencher as triggering the K2's internal keyer and applies what ever weighting that implies. It sees the computer as a straight key so the dit/dah ratio is what ever you apply sending by hand. Except it is not your hand that is sending. It's the computer software program. So the weighting of of the computer program controls its keying ratio when sending by keyboard and the weighting of the K2's internal keyer controls the Bencher ratio when sending by paddle. 73, Paul ___ 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] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher
Don, Everything here is iambic paddles. I haven't used a hand key since 1962, Hi. The Writelog program does not permit key weighting. I did some more checking and discovered that bringing the K2 weight down to it's lowest value of 0.90, it was at 1.10, makes it closer. There is still a difference, though not as bad, between computer and internal K2 keyer. I wish I could go below 0.90. Thanks for the help, W1ZK - Original Message - From: W3FPR - Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ralph McClintock [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 12:41 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher Ralph, Is your Bencher a keyer, or is it just paddles? If it is a keyer, it will generate its own weighting which may be different than the weighting generated by Writelog OTOH, if your Bencher is a paddle (as I suspect), it activates uses the dot and dash lines as input to the internal K2 keyer - that internal keyer is what determines the weighting from the paddle. Writelog forms the dots and dashes and sends its own version of 'proper' weighting to the K2. The K2 recognizes the input from the computer as a hand key type input (through the two diodes), and will not alter the length of the dots or dashes nor the spacing. Bottom line, if you can't change the weighting in Writelog, you will either have to settle for what you get, or set the K2 keyer weighting to match whatever Writelog is using. 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - From: Ralph McClintock [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: W3FPR - Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher Don, The computer generates an on-off. Writelog does not allow any adjustment of keying characteristics. The Bencher generates an open or ground. Why does the K2 recognize the Bencher, a mechanical switch, as soft and why does it recognize the computer as hard? Ralph W1ZK - Original Message - From: W3FPR - Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ralph McClintock [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 7:10 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Keying characteristics-computer vs Bencher Ralph, There is little to nothing that one can do to alter the keying waveshape from the outside of the K2, so you are likely hearing something different than the keying waveshape. How does the computer program handle the keying 'weight' - I would expect that to be the difference you hear. Change the weighting characteristic in the program to something different (if the program allows you to change it) just to see - and then set whatever you desire. 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - I finally hooked up my computer keying circuit, 2N off the parallel port, to my K2 before the CQWW contest. I have noticed what appears to be a significant difference in the keying characteristic from the computer versus the keying from the Bencher key. The computer appears to have a significantly harder characteristic than the Bencher. This is observed in the sidetone as I have not checked it with a 2nd receiver. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? tnx 73's, Ralph W1ZK ___ 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
