Re: [Elecraft] K2 and digital modes
Matt Patterson wrote: Wondering if others are using their K2 on PSK31 and RTTY? I made my first PSK31 contact on the K2 last night and the guy said I had a nice clean signal but I'm curious what settings on the K2 everyone else uses when running these modes. I'm afraid I may have my RF gain set to high on the rig or my audio out set to high on the PC. On my TS-2000 you would increase the volume until the ALC meter just barely started registering then you knew you were good to go. Is there something similar I can do on the K2? I began using my K2/100 for RTTY contesting some time ago, and it is awesome! There is a 4th bank of filter settings for RTTY ... you have to enable them in the menu. Then, when you cycle through the XFILs, you get C, L, U, r. I use a 400 Hz setting most, occasionally 200 Hz. My setup is really minimalist. Writelog+MMTTY. Line Out goes to a mic connector [tie both hot leads to the mic input pin]. Headphones Out goes to Line In with an in-line phone jack bridged across for my headphones. Enable VOX in the menu to key the radio when you send the AFSK tones. I set my MARK frequency in MMTTY to 1200 Hz. The standard 2125 Hz way too high for me to hear. I was limiting the power to about 50W, but I finally velcro'd a muffin fan to the top of the KPA100 heat sink, and everything stays cold even at 85W now. I did finally put a 1:10 divider into the cable to Line In and covered it with shrink tube since the K2 audio was a little hot for the Windows Audio Mixer-thingy when I had the AF gain up where I could hear weak signals, but it all worked without it too, just a little touchy setting the sound card input level. I can print signals I can't hear in the phones and can barely discern on the MMTTY scope display. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2008 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 08 - www.cqp.org ___ 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] K2 and digital modes
pappy_c wrote: > > Simon, does this apply to RTTY as well? I have had > good results by keeping the power down with PSK-31, > but not such good results with RTTY. Most of my RTTY > is in DX pileups and my results seem better if I run > the transceiver a bit harder and drive my amp to 300 > watts or so, but my experience is very limited. I am > using you DM 780 with an ACER Aspire 5610Z computer > running Vista. > RTTY, or any FSK mode (such as MFSK) does not need a linear PA at all. It is only where phase shift keying is used, which causes amplitude changes to take place, that linearity is important. The reason you haven't had such good results with RTTY (and nor have I) is that RTTY is not so easy for the decoder to dig out of the noise (it occupying a wider bandwidth doesn't help, for a start.) Plus, many RTTY operators run very high power, wh=hile most PSK31 operators use less than 50W, often quite a lot less, so the RTTY stations may be loud with you, but you may not be loud with them. - Julian, G4ILO K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392 G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/K3-and-linear-amp-tp16180386p16203833.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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] K2 and digital modes
Hi, This applies to phase shift keying modes. RTTY seems to be OK with some ALC - remember it's the peak power that matters, not the average. Simon Brown, HB9DRV -- From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Simon, does this apply to RTTY as well? I have had good results by keeping the power down with PSK-31, but not such good results with RTTY. Most of my RTTY is in DX pileups and my results seem better if I run the transceiver a bit harder and drive my amp to 300 watts or so, but my experience is very limited. I am using you DM 780 with an ACER Aspire 5610Z computer running Vista. ___ 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] K2 and digital modes
--- "Simon Brown (HB9DRV)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Julian suggests running a bar of ALC - I very > strongly disagree. Never, ever > run any ALC with PSK as it degrades the quality of > the signal and makes > decoding more difficult. > > With digital modes *always* aim for a 100% linear > signal. It's not the power > but the quality / purity that matters. What may look > good on the other > station's waterfall is not always the best for > decoding. > > It's not just what you transmit but what you don't > transmit that matters. > > Simon Brown, HB9DRV > Simon, does this apply to RTTY as well? I have had good results by keeping the power down with PSK-31, but not such good results with RTTY. Most of my RTTY is in DX pileups and my results seem better if I run the transceiver a bit harder and drive my amp to 300 watts or so, but my experience is very limited. I am using you DM 780 with an ACER Aspire 5610Z computer running Vista. Thanks for a very nice suite of programs. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ___ 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] K2 and digital modes
Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote: > > Julian suggests running a bar of ALC - I very strongly disagree. Never, > ever > run any ALC with PSK as it degrades the quality of the signal and makes > decoding more difficult. > > With digital modes *always* aim for a 100% linear signal. It's not the > power > but the quality / purity that matters. What may look good on the other > station's waterfall is not always the best for decoding. > > It's not just what you transmit but what you don't transmit that matters. > Simon, what you say may be true of most radios but WRONG about the K2. This Elecraft document http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/PSK31_KSB2_mods.htm describes a modification that was made to early K2s that was since I believe incorporated in production. It changes the way the ALC works in data modes. It specifically recommends setting the level to one bar of ALC. I have always operated my K2 like that and when I have monitored my signal on another radio the IMD is typically -32dB. - Julian, G4ILO K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392 G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/K3-and-linear-amp-tp16180386p16196738.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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] K2 and digital modes
Julian suggests running a bar of ALC - I very strongly disagree. Never, ever run any ALC with PSK as it degrades the quality of the signal and makes decoding more difficult. With digital modes *always* aim for a 100% linear signal. It's not the power but the quality / purity that matters. What may look good on the other station's waterfall is not always the best for decoding. It's not just what you transmit but what you don't transmit that matters. Simon Brown, HB9DRV -- From: "G4ILO" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> See this article: http://www.g4ilo.com/k2psk31.html ___ 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] K2 and digital modes
Matt Patterson-9 wrote: > > Wondering if others are using their K2 on PSK31 and RTTY? I made my > first PSK31 contact on the K2 last night and the guy said I had a nice > clean signal but I'm curious what settings on the K2 everyone else uses > when running these modes. I'm afraid I may have my RF gain set to high > on the rig or my audio out set to high on the PC. On my TS-2000 you > would increase the volume until the ALC meter just barely started > registering then you knew you were good to go. Is there something > similar I can do on the K2? > See this article: http://www.g4ilo.com/k2psk31.html - Julian, G4ILO K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392 G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/K3-and-linear-amp-tp16180386p16195883.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 and digital modes
Wondering if others are using their K2 on PSK31 and RTTY? I made my first PSK31 contact on the K2 last night and the guy said I had a nice clean signal but I'm curious what settings on the K2 everyone else uses when running these modes. I'm afraid I may have my RF gain set to high on the rig or my audio out set to high on the PC. On my TS-2000 you would increase the volume until the ALC meter just barely started registering then you knew you were good to go. Is there something similar I can do on the K2? 73 Matt W5LL ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
Gary McKelvie wrote: Hi to the List, I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. I switched my RTTY contesting to my K2, primarily to take advantage of the RX filters. I have a splitter in the headphone cord that feeds the audio input on the computer, and the computer audio output directly feeds the mic jack. I juggled the audio input level in Windoze so I can run with the AF gain on the K2 at about half-scale. I use amplified headphones [I'm generally deaf and my hearing aids don't work with phones] and that gives me a comfortable listening level. WriteLog/MMTTY keys the TX via the serial CAT port. It works way better than just great. I centered my RTTY filters around 1.1KHz, and set them for about 1.0KHz, 800Hz, 400Hz, and 250Hz bandwidth. I rarely use anything but 400Hz. The K2 RX and filtering is so superior to what I had with the FT-847, there isn't even a reasonable way to compare them. Digital modes are 100% duty cycle when transmitting, and the KPA100 heat sink got very hot, even at 50-60W. I mounted an old 12VDC computer muffin fan on top of the HS with a little bit of sticky backed Velcro, and now at 100W, the HS stays cool to the touch. I haven't tried PSK31 or other modes. Maybe I'll get around to them, but don't hold your breath :-) Oh, in order to get the RTTY filters to show up in the K2 menu, you have to turn them on. Apparently, they are off when the K2 comes out of the box. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2007 CQP Oct 6-7 - www.cqp.org ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
The good news is that digital modes do not require a lot of power. I worked Israel on 50w, and Seattle of 15w from the east coast of Virginia. You can an additional fan, I believe Tom shows it on his page. David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] K4DGW K2 #5982 Tom Hammond wrote: Gary: I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. The KPA100 is a nice 100W amp, BUT it is NOT rated for 100% duty cycle in digital (continuous-duty carrier) modes. In fact, were it me, I'd probably not run it at more than about 40W output if I was using it on a digital mode. You COULD probably run it at somewhat higher output IF: 1) You remoted the KPA100, as MANY(!) have done, to a separate EC2 enclosure, AND 2) IF you took steps to BLOW A LOT of air across the heatsink. At higher continuous duty output power levels, I'd want to pass a LOT of air across both the TOP and the BOTTOM (between the PC board and the heatsink) of the heatsink. Cheers, Tom Hammond ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
Sorry, Morning fumble-fingers. Try instead http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com 73, Don W3FPR KJ3D wrote: Hi Don, FYI: Your page link is misspelled (as is misspelled, probably - I never can remember how many s's). Tom -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 8:54 AM To: Gary McKelvie Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and Digital Modes There is no known problem for using the K2 with any of the soundcard interfaces as far as I know. Most interface boxes allow for configuring to the proper microphone cabling (even if they offer special cables). And the K2 can be configured to use most any microphone wiring scheme. The K2 audio that is fed to the interface card is quite another decision. The headphone jack and the external speaker jacks are easy candidates, but will vary with the setting of the AF Gain control (easy enough to adjust by looking at the waterfall display background color), but if you want an independent fixed audio output, my K2 Fixed Audio board is one solution. See my website > http://w3fpr.qrprqdio.com (I no longer have kits, but I still have a few boards available). For the K2/100 the board can be mounted between the front panel and the control board. 73, Don W3FPR Gary McKelvie wrote: Hi to the List, I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. Regards Gary G7USC ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
Hi Don, FYI: Your page link is misspelled (as is misspelled, probably - I never can remember how many s's). Tom -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 8:54 AM To: Gary McKelvie Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and Digital Modes There is no known problem for using the K2 with any of the soundcard interfaces as far as I know. Most interface boxes allow for configuring to the proper microphone cabling (even if they offer special cables). And the K2 can be configured to use most any microphone wiring scheme. The K2 audio that is fed to the interface card is quite another decision. The headphone jack and the external speaker jacks are easy candidates, but will vary with the setting of the AF Gain control (easy enough to adjust by looking at the waterfall display background color), but if you want an independent fixed audio output, my K2 Fixed Audio board is one solution. See my website > http://w3fpr.qrprqdio.com (I no longer have kits, but I still have a few boards available). For the K2/100 the board can be mounted between the front panel and the control board. 73, Don W3FPR Gary McKelvie wrote: > Hi to the List, > > I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will > mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and > Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was > wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all > of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. > > Regards > Gary G7USC ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
There is no known problem for using the K2 with any of the soundcard interfaces as far as I know. Most interface boxes allow for configuring to the proper microphone cabling (even if they offer special cables). And the K2 can be configured to use most any microphone wiring scheme. The K2 audio that is fed to the interface card is quite another decision. The headphone jack and the external speaker jacks are easy candidates, but will vary with the setting of the AF Gain control (easy enough to adjust by looking at the waterfall display background color), but if you want an independent fixed audio output, my K2 Fixed Audio board is one solution. See my website > http://w3fpr.qrprqdio.com (I no longer have kits, but I still have a few boards available). For the K2/100 the board can be mounted between the front panel and the control board. 73, Don W3FPR Gary McKelvie wrote: Hi to the List, I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. Regards Gary G7USC ___ 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] K2 and Digital Modes
Gary: I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. The KPA100 is a nice 100W amp, BUT it is NOT rated for 100% duty cycle in digital (continuous-duty carrier) modes. In fact, were it me, I'd probably not run it at more than about 40W output if I was using it on a digital mode. You COULD probably run it at somewhat higher output IF: 1) You remoted the KPA100, as MANY(!) have done, to a separate EC2 enclosure, AND 2) IF you took steps to BLOW A LOT of air across the heatsink. At higher continuous duty output power levels, I'd want to pass a LOT of air across both the TOP and the BOTTOM (between the PC board and the heatsink) of the heatsink. Cheers, Tom Hammond ___ 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 and Digital Modes
Hi to the List, I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building. Regards Gary G7USC Gary McKelvie G7USC Web : www.garym.org.uk Mobile : +447968501863 MSN Messenger : [EMAIL PROTECTED] So Long and Thanks for all the Fish ___ 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
