Brendan,
I agree the CMOS4 is an excellent design and very easy to use (though I
did have one go berserk on me in Aruba last year in the middle of a
contest).
Winkeyer isn't designed to use any serial protocol in communicating with
the radio. I modified my logging software, CQPWIN, to use Winkeyer, and
used it with the K3 in CQWW CW last month. Winkeyer's real purpose in life
is to eliminate any "stuttering" that Windows logging programs occasionally
run into due to the difficulty of controlling real time processes (e.g.,
sending CW) at the millisecond level in the Windows environment. So to use
it, the computer sends ASCII characters to the Winkeyer, which converts them
into CW that is simply routed into the radio's external key jack as you
would for any other keyer or for a hand key. The nice thing about Winkeyer
in its current iteration is that it also contains a competent stand-alone
keyer, so you can plug the paddles into it, and then use it both for
computer control and for hand sending. For most contesters, I suspect that
features like sending serial numbers are more easily controlled in the
computer than the keyer.
Winkeyer also has a PTT output that is controllable by the computer. I
used this as well, just plugging the cable into the PTT input on the K3. I
did find, however, that to avoid losing the first dot I had to insert some
lag time into the process (that is, have Winkeyer assert PTT, then wait,
then start sending to the radio). As little as 10 ms seemed to work fine.
Of course you can also, with the K3, plug the paddles into the radio even
when using the external keyer. I think that's the feature Rick was extolling
in the K3 (unlike, e.g., some Yaesu radios which do not allow you to use
both a hand key (or external keyer) and the rig's own internal keyer)
73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brendan Minish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 3:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: dot/dash memories
On Sun, 2007-12-30 at 18:14 -0800, Rick Tavan N6XI wrote:
Isn't it great that the K3 supports external keyers through the KEY jack
so
we can all have it our own ways? Such foresight! Such imagination!
An external keyer cannot be used to send RTTY or PSK31 using the
paddles. For that you need to use the internal keyer.
The CMOS4 is the most versatile feature-rich keyer that I know of that
would also fit with the K3's keyer User interface (4 memory buttons and
a speed control)
The CMOS4 supports a wide range of keying styles (including various
modes without dot/dash memories) , has an intuitive morse driven user
interface, Supports macros and has a wide range of other features.
The macro features would be particularly useful for RTTY and PSK use, as
well as CW. Especially if one is at the receiving end of a pileup.
The current K3 keyer is good but very basic, it would be nice if we
could have all the features of the CMOS4 in there.
Rather than reinventing the keyer, perhaps licencing the code for (or
having on a small internal daughter-board) the CMOS4 could be
considered. it would be a fantastic option to have.
I am sure that winkeyer has become the way to go for computer based
keying however it's hard to see how winkeyer's serial protocol would be
in any way compatible with simultaneous use of the K3's serial protocol
for rig control on the same com port.
The K3 already has 2 keying options for computer keying; Keying via
DTR/RTS and keying via Elecraft's serial protocol.
I notice with interest that the latest version of the winkeyer
(winkeyer2) now implements a subset of the CMOS4 keyer functions and
command set for standalone use, However a number of keying modes and and
some useful features are missing. Perhaps the biggest omission is the
ability to decrement the sent serial number by pressing 2 memory buttons
simultaneously.
73 es happy new year
Brendan EI6IZ
--
Don‘t complain. Nobody will understand. Or care. And certainly don‘t try
to fix the situation yourself. It‘s dangerous. Leave it to a highly
untrained, unqualified, expendable professional.
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