[Elecraft] Begali and K2

[ROBERT CARROLL]

Is it true that the Pro III does not support Curtis Mode B?  I have heard
90% of cw devotees use Mode B!

Bob W2WG

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces+w2wg=comcast.net at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces+w2wg=comcast.net at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rich
McCabe
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 6:28 PM
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali and K2

Thanks Vic,

Thats great info although most of it over my head :)

The dilema I have now is I was considering ordering the new MicroHam USB 
keyer.  It sounds like this might not be a good solution right now. To make 
things worse, I really am a novice at CW. I never have been very fast at it 
although I used to enjoy it. My last CW contact was....... uh about 17 years

ago. Never used anything but a straight key.

So what do you think. I buy a Begali signature so now I really have to use 
it !!  Bold move I know, but that usually works for me.

Have you heard anything about the new material that Begali might be using 
(according to MicroHam)? I really thought a clean electrical contact was 
just that. Couldnt get any better !

I would like to be able to use the key on my Pro III as well but it does not

support Mode B. For whatever reason I do better with that mode.

73,

Rich
kd0zv


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vic K2VCO" <vic at rakefet.com>
To: "Rich McCabe" <r.mccabe at 1967z28.com>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 5:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali and K2


> Rich McCabe wrote:
>>
>> I just bought a new Begali Signature to go with my K2/100. I was thinking

>> about buying a MicroHam/K1EL USB CW keyer to work with my Pro III so I 
>> can run mode B.
>>
>> I just ran into this article about a debouncer and the Begali keys. 
>> http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/Begali.html
>>
>> This seems pretty wild to me, but thought I would toss it out the the CW 
>> Pros !  It seems the problem is related to PIC based keyers. Does this 
>> apply to the K2 and what do you think about the whole theory?
>
> To a smaller extent, yes it does.  Here's an edited excerpt from a review 
> of the Magnetic Pro (very similar to the Signature) that I wrote for eHam:
>
> The contact alloy behaves almost like a semiconductor, maintaining a 
> constant forward voltage drop over a range of current. Measuring the 
> contact resistance with an ohmmeter gives 'funny' readings; it's more 
> interesting if your meter has a diode voltage drop range, such as my Fluke

> 79.
>
> Anyway, the result of this is that the key does not work properly with 
> keyers like Winkey, which use a single PIC input and voltage divider to 
> distinguish dots and dashes. Microham has actually developed an interface 
> to solve this problem. More broadly, however, the contact resistance 
> behavior causes intermittent problems with other keyers that do use 
> separate PIC inputs, such as the Logikey K3 and the internal keyers in my 
> Elecraft K2 and TS850s. This problem can be described as an intermittent 
> 'misfire', in which there is a delay before dot or dash generation starts 
> after the contacts are closed.  I believe that the delay is caused by the 
> time constant of the bypass capacitors and the variable contact 
> resistance.
>
> The Microham device is reported to help with Winkey, but does not help 
> with the Logikey K3 (I tried it).  The delay seems to appear more 
> frequently the more heavily you use the paddle, which I suspect has to do 
> with the thickness of an oxide layer that develops on the contacts. If you

> let it sit for a while, the frequency of the problem decreases.
>
> The Begali keys can be ordered with gold contacts, which I recommend. It's

> possible to order replacement parts, but since the contacts are part of 
> the movable arms, the cost of the replacement kit for my key was $78.  I 
> bit the bullet and ordered the kit; hopefully it will solve the problem. 
> In the meantime, I'm using my old Bencher.
>
> Since you already have the key, I suggest that you try it and see how it 
> works.  Some people don't report a problem, in my opinion because they 
> don't beat on it enough.
> -- 
> 73,
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
> 

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft    

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com