Re: [Elecraft] CW keying circuit
I use a simple single transistor keyer in conjunction with the "Auto-Detect" feature as described in the K2 manual to use both the computer and keyer paddle with N1MM. It runs directly off a "native" serial port on an old IBM laptop as well as off a USB to Serial Converter Cable used on a "new" laptop. It works fine on either. The simple single transistor keyer is described in the Help section of the N1MM program as well as other places. To see a photo of how all this is cabled together you might want to look at my Elecraft photo album at: http://photos.yahoo.com/n4hh Play the Slideshow for larger photos. 73 -- Don N4HH - Original Message - From: "Carter W. Craigie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I want to be able to do computer-generated CW on my K2, using software such as Can someone send me, or point me to, a CW keying circuit for a COMM port that will work with the K2? ___ 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 circuit
Carter, What do you think of this - one transistor couple of diodes and resistors which all fit in the computer serial port plug. So I plug the serial port plug into the computer Com port and the other end is a straight key (non-stereo) phone plug. Actually that's not technically true. The Argo V requires a stereo plug but you just use the shaft and tip, leaving the ring connection empty. You can wire the rig end as required. Here is the Link: http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/cw.html Scroll about half way down and you'll see the circuit. I've seen some that use even less parts - one transistor, a diode and resistor. But this one works for me. I used the larger side serial plug housing (for 9 pin) available at Radio shack and everything fit inside. There is a Ham who also makes these switch "commercially" in that he charges about $30.00 each. His are finished a little nicer and have a phone jack at the plug. So you plug a wire into it and into your rig. If you are interested I can look up his link. But you can do this yourself in about 15 minutes and a few dollars in parts. Good luck and 73, Paul PS: The companion program, CWGET, which translates audio cw into text - and is not free - is also pretty good. I haven't surveyed them all but it was the best of 3 or 4 I've seen. Note that as a bonus, the CWType program is free. ___ 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 circuit
Carter W. Craigie wrote: Can someone send me, or point me to, a CW keying circuit for a COMM port that will work with the K2? Hi Carter, I went with the simple Serial Port circuit shown at the following website: taggart.glg.msu.edu/wb8dqt/cwpage.htm Actually, I may have gotten it from some other website, but without opening the DB9 shell and inspecting, I'm pretty sure that was the equivalent circuit. It was easily found by doing a Google search (like everything in life). The circuit is built right inside of the DB9 connector shell and can go to a mono plug directly into the back of the K2. No external voltage is required. I've used it connected directly to the back of a PC (desktop and laptop) as well as using it with a USB to Serial converter dongle. I think the keying is not quite perfect, though. I have used this with the KA3JWE PA QSO Party logging program as well as generally using it with the N1MM Contest Logging software. I set the K2 for hand key operation (MENU: InP: HAnd), otherwise you get really interesting (bad) results. I actually use a stereo plug but only connect the tip and shield and do not connect the ring. Also, to keep the Bencher paddles handy for when I want to send something manually rather than using the memories in the logging program (or K2 memories) or the keyboard (Alt-K for keyboard operation on the KA3JWE software, I think it is CTRL-K with N1MM), I have the paddles going into an old MFJ memory keyer which I can easily set the speed as needed and the output of that goes into a Y-adapter cable. So, actually, I have the CW Serial interface cable and the output of the MFJ keyer going into the two Y-cable inputs and the single end going into the back of the K2 key input. This works well for me. I mentioned that the Serial keying isn't perfect. It has been mentioned that this has to do with timing issues, even on very fast compukers. I didn't notice any extra degradation using the USB to Serial interface and figured it would be "less work" to use it on CW keying than for rig communication, which I don't remember if I've tried yet. This is handy for use with laptop compukers that only have one serial port but generally have at least one USB port (or you can get more ports with additional PCMCIA card or a USB Hub). I think I will build a Parallel port CW keying interface as well, which can be found on the web by doing a Google search. As I understand the timing is a bit better on the P-Port than the S-Port. The only reason I haven't done so yet is that the KA3JWE software didn't support the P-Port for keying (as I recall), however I'm likely to not be using KA3JWE software next year and following. I just checked and found that the N1MM Logger does support LPT 1 - 3, so I'll definitely throw a circuit together to try that as well before the next contest. Anyone have success using USB-Serial adapter cable (with the correct cable as built with the KIO2, I guess a pseudo-serial cable for lack of a better name) for communications between the K2 & computer for getting frequency and mode info? This may have been a recent post thread, so please, I didn't mean to open a can of worms by asking this, just a simple question. I am currently using the Belkin adapter (P/N P43293-B or F5U409-CU which is by the barcode on the original package). Actually, this reminds me of another issue altogether that I'm going to do in a separate post. 73, Mark, NK8Q K2 #4786 ___ 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 circuit
Hi Carter: I want to be able to do computer-generated CW on my K2, using software such as DX4WIN and WriteLog. The circuit that works on my wife's Yaesu FT1000 MP Mark V does not work on her Yaesu FT920, which makes me think it isn't going to work on the K2, either, because both require a stereo plug. The circuit for the Mark V addresses a mono plug. Can someone send me, or point me to, a CW keying circuit for a COMM port that will work with the K2? I do not want to use a sound-card approach, such as the RigBlaster. Consider: http://www.n0ss.net/lpt_keying_adapter.pdf PC boards are $6 ppd to your mailbox. I've used this with ALL of my rigs, including several K2s, for the past 15 years with no problems. 73, Tom N0SS ___ 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 circuit
If you happen to use a program that supports the internal keyer in the K2, like TRX-Manager, you will get better keying. It eliminates CPU timing issues. Larry N8LP Carter W. Craigie wrote: I want to be able to do computer-generated CW on my K2, using software such as DX4WIN and WriteLog. The circuit that works on my wife's Yaesu FT1000 MP Mark V does not work on her Yaesu FT920, which makes me think it isn't going to work on the K2, either, because both require a stereo plug. The circuit for the Mark V addresses a mono plug. Can someone send me, or point me to, a CW keying circuit for a COMM port that will work with the K2? I do not want to use a sound-card approach, such as the RigBlaster. 73, Carter -- Carter Craigie N3AO K2/100 s/n 678 K1 s/n 159 KX1 s/n 119 -- ___ 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 circuit
Some time ago, I built the opto-isolator circuit found on http:// www.qsl.net/k0bx/cwkeying.htm. Since it uses an opto-isolator, it should not only work with the K2, but isolate the rig from the computer as wel. 73! Dan KB6NU -- CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator Read my ham radio blog at www.kb6nu.com LET'S GET MORE KIDS INTO HAM RADIO! On Oct 26, 2006, at 10:50 AM, Carter W. Craigie wrote: I want to be able to do computer-generated CW on my K2, using software such as DX4WIN and WriteLog. The circuit that works on my wife's Yaesu FT1000 MP Mark V does not work on her Yaesu FT920, which makes me think it isn't going to work on the K2, either, because both require a stereo plug. The circuit for the Mark V addresses a mono plug. Can someone send me, or point me to, a CW keying circuit for a COMM port that will work with the K2? I do not want to use a sound-card approach, such as the RigBlaster. 73, Carter -- Carter Craigie N3AO K2/100 s/n 678 K1 s/n 159 KX1 s/n 119 ___ 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
