[Elecraft] re: K2 QSK

Fri Nov 28 09:48:00 2003

I read with interest the comments on the K2's QSK. I have not 
operated any other rig which has QSK so cannot compare. Initially my 
thoughts were the same as others, that it could possibly be faster so 
that I could hear between dots at my normal sending speed (20-25wpm).

What I find very useful is to hear what is going on when calling DX 
in split frequency pileups. It certainly helps to stop sending the 
moment the DX comes back to somebody else. With a strong DX station 
there is no problem and I can hear it quite well in the letter gaps. 
Because of the inertia in my keying I have normally sent a few more 
dits before the mind reacts, so little would be achieved by being 
able to hear between dots. When the DX is weaker I often miss the DX 
in the inter letter gap and find myself deliberately leaving slightly 
longer gaps to make sure I hear. On occasion I sometimes miss the 
initial G when he comes back to me and am not sure if he has actually 
come back. Using QSK in this way is a skill which comes with practice 
(along with the correct techniques to call split frequency)

With the comments about PLL settling I am happy to live with this 
performance - remember here we are talking about working split 
frequency over a few kHz, and it is certainly impressive how the K2 
works so well when this is considered.

The other mode of QSK is to speed up the QSO exchange by sending 'R' 
after the RST, name etc so the sender knows he doesn't have to 
repeat. Seems to be used rather less than it used to be, which is a 
pity. I tend to use it only when I know the other station is using 
QSK (or is a K2 owner!).

I guess I will be using QSK to my advantage in CQWW this weekend!

73 Dave G3YMC

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