[Elecraft] Sequencing a chain of equipment with a K2 at the head.

[Vic Rosenthal]

Guy Olinger, K2AV wrote:

> Well, that's an interesting question. "Should" implies blame. Or who
> owes who what. Or that someone has done something "wrong".

Maybe I should have said, "why compensate for a deficiency in the 
amplifier by kludging the exciter?"  Full QSK may not be so helpful when 
you are running stations in a contest, but it is very helpful in a pileup.

Ameritron, for example has done something wrong (without quotes).  Many 
of their amplifiers use relays that take maybe 25 ms or more to go from 
rx to tx.

> I have also seen vacuum-relays ruined by hot switching. It takes
> longer, but the arcing destroys their points as well.
> 
> Even pin diode circuits can be ruined. I've managed to do that myself
> before I figured out what was going on.

If you drive a vacuum relay or pin diode system with the K2's 8r line, 
you will not hot switch, because there is plenty of time for the amp to 
switch before the RF appears (and the hold time is also adequate, even 
when you set the K2 to 0 delay).

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco