[Elecraft] K2 - QSK

Thu Nov 27 07:08:03 2003

Well Ron, I would not consider the K2 to have great QSK. Even my TS950SDX
doesn't have great QSK. It has very good QSK. I can tell when someone is
transmitting between CW elements at the speeds I operate at (25-30WPM). Good
QSK is very nice when you are trying to work DX, especially when they are
operating split. If you can hear between elements, you can tell when the DX
station is coming back to someone. Then you can stop transmitting to hear
whom the DX is coming back to.

I would consider exceptional or great QSK to be able to clearly hear between
elements with no thumping and zero recovery time at speeds somewhat higher
than 30WPM. I haven't played with any ham radio that does that, yet.

Maybe this comes up a lot because of statements by some that the K2 does
have great QSK, then those used to great QSK find out that it doesn't have
great QSK. I am trying to find out if anyone has had experience with making
any changes to the K2 to improve the QSK. And one thing that has been real
obvious on this reflector is the ideas and mods made to continually improve
the K2.

73,
N2TK, Tony
#3481

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 23:41
To: 'Elecraft (E-mail)'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 - QSK

This one comes up a LOT.

First of all:

"QSK: Can you hear me between your signals and, if so, can I break in?"

So WHAT is a "signal"? For decades that has meant any significant pauses.
That is, it is asking or reporting that the sending station doesn't have to
throw a bunch of switches to hear anything at all. The T/R function is
"automatic".

As far as I am concerned, the K2 has great QSK. That is, I can ALWAYS hear
if someone's breaking between words, usually between characters, and
sometimes between letters if the speed is low enough.

I realize that doesn't satisfy some operators. But neither does 2 kilowatts
into 20 elements at 500 feet or a receiver that can hear a mouse sneeze via
long path.

My point is that the claims for the K2 having exceptional QSK are quite
true. So if you buy a rig that has "great QSK" and expect to hear between
dits at high speed are going to be disappointed a lot!

If your operating style requires that you can hear that aforesaid mouse
sneeze between dits at 60 wpm.... That's quite a different issue from the
standards of "QSK" that I've known.

Have fun pursuing it!

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Has anyone had any luck with QSK on the K2? If I set the Break-in delay to
0.00, I get thumping. If I set it to 0.02 the thumping goes away. But in
either case I can't listen between the dits and dahs. The keyer speed is at
25WPM. It sure would be nice to have true QSK. Am I doing something wrong or
is this the way the K2 works? I have tried lowering the value of R17 on the
Control Board to 470K, but still can't match the QSK of my 950. Any
suggestions? 73, N2TK, Tony #3481

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