[Elecraft] K2/Writelog computer interface

[vze3v8dt at verizon.net]

Good question, Andy.  I started to investigate this last night actually and found the keying using the interface from the computer RS232 port to the KIO2 with K2Remote much better than the keying using a keying circuit built into a DB9 connector and using Log-EQF.  I've only used the keying circuit one other time and wasn't pleased with it then either, although the convenience was nice, just not very smooth CW. I used a laptop originally and my desktop compuker last night, so I can't blame it on something with the serial port itself.  The common things were the keying interface built into the DB9 connector and the logging program.  Are there any other contest logging programs out there that use the same keying as is used with K2Remote?  Maybe it is a configuration issue for me with Log-EQF.

Oh, let me explain my complaint on the keying.  The timing seemed choppy.  Some characters were not sent correctly, actually sounded like another character, for instance, my callsign, NK8Q sometimes gets sent okay and other times sounds like NO8Q or something like that.  Other times it seems to have longer pauses between characters so it isn't real smooth.  I figured maybe it was just at the speed I was operating, about 20 to 25 WPM, so I slowed it down to 13 to 16 WPM and still noticed the same thing.  

I would use K2Remote during the contest this weekend (MAQP) if it had memories built in, but would be nicer to have an integrated logging program that keys the K2 better.  Also, Log-EQF doesn't fully support the MAQP, but I created my own multipliers list for the contest.  Only thing I would have to do manually for scoring is adjust the score for mobile contacts.  

Any ideas that I can try before the contest this weekend?

Mark, NK8Q
K2 4786

>From: Andy Bullington <abullington at comcast.net>
>Date: Wed May 11 13:11:24 CDT 2005
>To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Elecraft] K2/Writelog computer interface

>Although not a big contester as a rule, last weekend I had a lot of fun 
>working the New England QSO Party using Writelog. I was working mostly CW 
>and doing most everything manually. It was pointed out to me I should be 
>using a lot of the automatic message features in Writelog. This is fine with 
>me but I'm confused as to what I need to do to key my K2 with the computer. 
>Do I have to have more outboard stuff? I have NO SSB module so using PTT is 
>out of the question. With K2 Remote I can key the K2 and send CW with my 
>keyboard just using the normal computer connection. Is this possible with 
>Writelog or any other program? I tried it with MixW but no luck. I wonder if 
>I'm just configuring my programs wrong. I'm very hazy on this aspect of the 
>hobby. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
>             Andy W1AWB 
>
>