Hi Bill,
You said you are looking for the simplest solution to support PSK31.
I was completely new to digi modes prior to getting my K3 on the air about a
month ago. I have an old IBM laptop running XP that has no serial port.
From posts on e-ham I learned that people were generally happy with the
Keyspan USB to serial adapter, so I ordered one while I was waiting for my
K3 to arrive. I knew I would need an adapter to do the K3 firmware updates.
I'm sure the KUSB3 offered by Elecraft is eqally competent.
Lyle, KK7P, once posted to this reflecter that all you needed to work PSK31
were two audio cables with 1/8" plugs. Although I worried a bit at first
because the rear microphone socket is supposed to be "mono", and all that my
Radio Shack had was cables with "sterio" plugs, I tried them anyway. The
"sterio" cables worked perfectly. One cable goes from the "line out" on the
K3 to the "mic in" on the laptop. (My laptop has no "line in" jack.) The
other cable goes from the "line in" on the K3 to the "headphone out" on the
laptop. (no line out either) The DB9 plug from the USB to serial adapter
goes to the DB9 socket on the K3 and handles T/R/switching. You probably
could use VOX to handle T/R, but the serial port seemed easier and more
positive to me. It works perfectly.
I use DigiPan for PSK31 and MMTY for RTTY. The first time you use either
program, you need to configure the COM port and that RTS is to be used for
push to talk. Also, you need to specify that the Mic line out is turned on
in the K3 CONFIG menu. I set all the volume controls on the computer
half-way up, and the microphone control almost near the bottom of the scale.
(You can find the mic volume control by invoking
Options/Properties/Recording from the control bar of the Windows volume
control .) After that it was all smooth sailing for me.
NO INTERFACE IS REQUIRED.
I use DATA A, set my power out to 25 watts, and my line-out level to 1. No
AGC bars show on transmit, and my PSK meter indicates -34. I invariably get
great reports on the quality of my signal. I prefer PSK31 to RTTY because I
found that I can be effective with low power and thus not come through my
neighbors' audio equipment. People seem to run high power on RTTY
(needlessly? this wouldn't surprise me being an avid QRPer).
In the past month, starting from 0, I have worked 54 DXCC entities, mostly
on PSK31 with this setup, and I'm having a ball. As everyone is aware,
during this period, the solar flux index has hovered around 70, and the K
and A indexes have been on the high side, indicationg lots of QRN. My best
DX so far has been 3B8, Mauritius, and UK0, Asiatic Russia. My QTH is on
Long Island NY.
As a newcomer to digital modes, one thing still puzzles me. Sometimes, a
station will come back to me several HZ above where I have called him. I
have to move to his frequency, by repositioning my arrow on his waterfall
trace so I can decode him. Then on successive "overs" we seem to walk up
the bandpass a bit. I don't think it is a problem on my end, because it
doesn't happen with every QSO. Maybe an experienced digital mode user could
comment.
I hope that sharing my experiences is helpful to you. Of course, the
specific settings might be different for you since it is unlikely that we
use exactly the same computers and USB/Serial adapters.
73, John, W2GW
K3 #384
----- Original Message -----
From: "KB1PXD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Rigblaster/Signalink for K3?
Hi Dave,
I appreciate your input but as I had said, I'm looking for
canned solution. Also, my laptop doesn't contain a serial
port so I'd need a USB-->Serial adapter. (I know, not
a big deal but I'm trying to keep this clean and simple)
I too plan to use DM780 but have no interest in controlling
the K3 (changing freq., etc.) from HRD. I'm looking for the
simplest solution to support PSK31. I've read in some older
threads where someone was able to accomplish this by just
a pair of stereo cables and enabling VOX, but based on a recent
thread, there seems to be some question about this configuration
and whether or not it works or is problematic. Thanks for
your reply.
- Bill
Dave G4AON wrote:
Bill
What does the K3 lack that a Rigblaster or Signalink provides? I use
mine with MMTTY, N1MM logging/CW keying and DM780 straight to a sound
card. The TX control in DM780 is via the normal serial cable, in MMTTY
via a simple single transistor keying circuit built into the 15 way
accessory plug. CW keying from N1MM logging is via the serial lead, I
also have a K1EL "Winkey" which works fine too. The K3 has transformer
isolated line in and line out sockets.
73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80
--------------------
Does anyone know if there's a Rigblaster or Signalink product
that supports the K3? I'm looking for a plug n' play canned solution
to support the digital modes.
Thanks,
- Bill, KB1PXD
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