[Elecraft] K2 - RTTY walk through, connections, and software

[David Wilburn]

I was planning on waiting till next year when the K3 gets here to play
with RTTY, but after seeing all the activity this past weekend I am
getting the itch.  So I am trying to understand what I need to do to get
the K2 on RTTY, or if I am better off to wait.  Separate from these
questions, I do need to re-visit the K2's alignment and filter settings.
It could use some attention, as I have learned more since I performed
the last ones after the SSB installation.

The long term view is that the K3 will become the primary operating /
contesting rig, and the K2 will be used as a back-up and to search for
other stations / multi's while in the contest.  So I need to be
cognizant of how much I spend on a K2 only solution at this time.

I do understand I need the following;
* Computer, soundcard, and software
* K2 needs an alignment, and turn on and setting of the RTTY filters
* Interface between the computer and the K2
* RTTY software

Anything I didn't consider?

Currently my resources are a K2, and a deaf computer.  So I know I need
to put a sound card in the computer.  On a side note, I plan to use the
K3 for contesting, would I be better off to start looking at the
MicroHam products, and plan on migrating that from the K2 to the K3?  I
am getting more and more into contesting, and I do not currently have a
voice keyer, or a way of keying the CW on the K2 from the computer.  I
have some very nice responses from my CW K2 keying questions in my
"Keepers" folder, so I'm covered there.  Just starting to think about
larger solutions that solve multiple issues at once.

Filter Setup
============
I have never done RTTY, so my search through the Elecraft archive was
fruitful, but I didn't quite understand the results.  Has anyone done a
walk-through on the RTTY setup like currently exist from N0SS and W3FPR
for SSB and CW?  Don's page describes settings for RTTY with a TNC.

I have seen notes in the archive about setting the RTTY mark and space.
Being new to this, not sure what I need to do here, but I got the
impression that I should set the passband for 1000 if possible, and 800
if not.  Then use the RIT to try and tune the signal.  Am I barking up
the right tree here?

Interface
=========
I picked up Don's line out card to get the output for digital modes, but
I am not going to have time to get that together, and revisit the
alignments, between now and the ARRL RTTY activity in January.  

There are many quick and easy commercial interfaces, from low cost to
quite expensive, but also with increasing capabilities.  Once again,
because of the ability to migrate it to the K3, and I am thinking about
going ahead and investing in the MicroHam, if that meets the needs.

Software
========
With RTTY, do they do the logging with the RTTY software?  Any
recommendations concerning software?  I have been using the N3FJP
programs for contesting, and logging, but I am starting to use N1MM for
contest logging.

-- 

David Wilburn
k4dgw at k4dgw.com
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982