[Elecraft] K2/Writelog computer interface

[Ken Beals]

If you are running a Windows NT based OS (NT/2000/XP),
the cw timing problem is an artifact of Windows.  I
believe K2Remote gets around this by using the built
in ascii -> cw command that is in the K2 firmware. 
Unfortunately none of the logging programs I've tried
support this feature.

The best solution so far seems to be WinKey:  this is
a small (and cheap) external keyer that connects to a
serial port.  Both Writelog and N1MM Logger support
WinKey, and it works good.  It can be powered from the
serial port and has a separate speed control so it can
also be used without the logger interface.

Ken K6MR

--- vze3v8dt at verizon.net wrote:
> 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 
> >
> >
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