[Elecraft] SO2R setup

[VR2BrettGraham]

W3FPR continued:

>True, and thanks for the clarification.
>My CW PTT for the K2 does not address a situation where the K2 is keyed by
>its internal commands - it only works with hardwired inputs to the K2 key
>jack.
>How many folks using or contemplating SO2R are using the KY commands for
>keying?

I suspect you will find the answer to that question to be zero.

Though I have not used KY commands yet, I would not be surprised if
it would be possible to get everything to work - whilst at the same time
polling the radio for frequency information - to rely on KY commands
keying the radio consistently in time.  In SO2R operation, timing is
important if one is to try & squeeze a contact on the second rig
whilst running on the other at any reasonable clip.  Spend too much
time on the second rig & one may even loose the run frequency to
someone else.

I believe KY is unique to Elecraft.  To key the rig via the serial port
when there is a key line available already only increases the novelty
factor should someone out there be doing it.  It's that novelty factor
that suggests the answer is close to zero to begin with & likely to
remain in that vicinity.

KY may be a concern to the remote base crowd, or at least those
in USA if deregulation hasn't gone so far as to allow stuff to be
put on HF without any form of additional control.  Accommodating
this in firmware would be tough.

But as for making the radio stop transmitting after 'PTT' is lifted, one
might still be able to do something along the lines of hardware
modification you put forward by using the CE line.  It gets easier if
one doesn't have to worry about the internal keyer & I suspect no
serious SO2Rer uses the internal keyer on any radio, but even with
the keyer it might be possible to stop the radio after it completes
the current code element after 'PTT' is lifted.

In any event, I suspect the rest of the radiosporting community
is keenly waiting for the firmware fix as I am.  Radios are radios.  They
tend to have the same connectors.  The K2 is missing an important
one that is an absolute must for interfacing radios in a serious
contest station.  And unlike my grandfather's SX-71/AF-67, there
are contesters interested in buying K2s now.

73 & HLNY, VR2BrettGraham

> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > Don replied (and I trust will not mind my keeping it on the list, as
> > my intention is more than helping him):
> >
> > >Thanks for your analysis.
> > >
> > >One point though worthy of mentioning - the K2 will not produce RF until
> > >keying takes place, so my solution does the job quite nicely by simply
> > >inhibiting the keying.
> > >
> > >In many applications where the computer does both the keying and
> > the 'PTT',
> > >everything will sequence fine if the 'PTT' is simply not
> > connected to the K2
> > >(but connected to everything else - The RF path will be
> > completed before the
> > >program begins keying).  The only problem that will occur is
> > when the K2 is
> > >keyed directly by the paddles instead of through the computer control.
> > >
> > >Bottom line, many situations do not really need the CW PTT, but
> > >unfortunately, SO2R operation where the steering is done through
> > PTT is not
> > >one of those situations.
> >
> > Effectively ANDing a 'PTT' line with the key line doesn't do much towards
> > stopping the radio from transmitting when 'PTT' is unasserted if the radio
> > is doing the keying.  A possible situation for this is where the
> > K2 is used
> > as a remote base & one wants to have a fail-safe should one want to not
> > keep transmitting into something that has gotten ugly (failed amp,
> > antenna, antenna switch, etc).  Even this radiosporting enthusiast can
> > envision using his K2 with the KY command this way - I may one day
> > soon only be able to operate with such a remote station & is one reason
> > I bought a K2.
> >
> > Such a summary "unhappiness" alarm could also be used to
> > implement the sort of positive control I think I would have to have
> > on a remote base if I were to do this back in USA (though the rules may
> > have changed since I left, it really is a good thing to do any way).
> >
> > I use a popular antenna matrix switching product that I think could tell
> > me when it hasn't really switched due to how its way of doing interlock
> > between its two ports (used for two radios) can become intermittent.  I
> > would like use this to stop _all_ of my radios from transmitting under
> > _any_ circumstances when I get around to figuring out a way of putting
> > an unhappy light in the matrix.
> >
> > Some folks do not use logging programs that send CW for them.  A
> > toggle or foot switch can just as easily drive switching of key, mic,
> > PTT & audio between two rigs in an SO2R contesting station.  Other
> > folks - at one time, myself included - will have nothing other than a foot
> > switch determining if their station is in transmit or receive mode.
> >
> > So like how radios might be used, there is more to CW 'PTT' to
> > consider.  That's why I didn't go further with the mod you have kindly
> > put forward - it's better done in code.  Another one high on my list is
> > filter selection - anyone who has heard what after-market filters can
> > do to a radio can probably appreciate what it's like to sit on an INRAD
> > prototype for the K2 & not be able to use it.  ;^(
> >
> > 73, VR2BrettGraham