Fw: [Elecraft] CQ WWCW

Donald Nesbitt [email protected]
Tue Dec 2 17:03:21 2003


Hi David - I posted the following message to the list yesterday and am
forwarding it to you.  I used N1MM Logger version 3.0.127 that I downloaded
on Nov 23rd.  I notice that there have been additional versions since then -
up to 3.0.131 now I think.  Didn't have any problems with it.  In my
original post, I included a pointer to my URL where I placed some pictures
of my "interface" as well as a couple of the setup screens from the logger
program.  One of them clearly shows the "com" port settings that I used.
They worked perfectly.  Maybe my original post did not make it to the
reflector or perhaps you did not see it.  I'm pretty sure it did post as I
did get a copy of it - at any rate, here it is again.  Hope you find it
useful.  73 es gud dx  --don n4hh K2 #2028

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donald Nesbitt" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 9:16 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] CQ WWCW


> I wanted to get familier with the contest logger program by N1MM
> (http://www.n1mm.com) and so ventured forth as a single operator (SO), QRP
> (set the pwr control at 4.5 watts) single band (20 meters only - slug it
out
> with the big boys!) entrant with K2 #2028.  The N1MM Logger is an
extremely
> powerful contesting program and - it's now free !  Once I got the hang of
> the program, it was very easy to use.
>
> Antennas - 20 meter delta loop in "the old oak tree" and a 20 meter double
> zepp at about 30 degrees from vertical toward the northwest.  Power:  4.5
> watts.  Operating time - about 10 hours total.  Results:  107 contacts, 22
> zones, 71 countries.  Score:  25,575 points.  All in all, I was quite
> pleased with my "humbling" results.  Not what it used to be with a KW and
> stacked 20 meter monobanders topping 125' - but - hey, this was flashlight
> power to a bunch of wire deep in the heart of the big guns!
>
> If you are interested in seeing how I interfaced the K2 with the computer
> and the N1MM Logger software, please visit my web site at:
> http://home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-zut  Click on "Photo Albums" at the top of
> the page and you can see a few pictures along with a brief description of
> each.  I used the method described on page 92 "CW Operation" (Figure 8-1)
of
> the K2 manual to connect the computer keying circuit to my keyer paddle so
I
> could use both.  It worked perfectly.  The actual "interface" was a bare
> bones one transistor design.  The "Help" section of the N1MM Logger
program
> provides simple information on interfacing and WM2U's site
> (http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html) includes not only "sound card
> interfacing" [not needed for CW keying] but "com" port keying as well.  It
> is an excellent reference to this mysterious world.
>
> My little haywired scheme worked perfectly with the N1MM Logger program -
> BUT - when I went back to my usual logging program (XMLog - quite a nice
> program with K2 support) I discovered that strange things happened when I
> left the simple keying interface connected to my paddle.  The quick fix
was
> indeed "quick" - disconnect the clip leads!  Surely there is a more
elegant
> fix.  As usual, mice type, no financial interest, etc, etc.  YMMV  Have
fun
> '73 es gud dx  --don n4hh K2 #2028