[Elecraft] K2 External Keying

[Kevin Schmidt]

Dear Dave,

You need to use the transistor circuit too. It does 2 things, first it
makes the RS232 levels, which are often +12V and -12V, compatible with the
K2 (applying -12V to the keying input is probably not a good idea), and
second it inverts the keying. I think the inversion is what is giving you
the continuous tone which is the sidetone. The incorrect sequence of dots
and dashes are then the spaces in the message rather than the dots and dashes.

73 Kevin w9cf

>I have configured my computer and paddle according to Figure 8-1 on page 92
>of my K2 owner's manual. According to the N3FJP software I connected the
>keyline to pin 7 of the d-sub and ground to pin 5. I selected INP PDLn and A
>DET On in the K2 menu. When I turn on the K2 I hear a low frequency steady
>tone coming from the K2 speaker. When I tell the N3FJP software to send a
>message, the message is heard but it is not the correct sequence of dots and
>dashes.  N3FJP shows a transistor interface in the help section. However, I
>am using the two diodes shown in Figure 8-1. Can anyone help me solve this
>problem?
>
>73,
>Dave Kent
>K0TCP

=-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Schmidt, w9cf at ptolemy.la.asu.edu, http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf
Department of Physics
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504
(480) 965-8240 Fax: (480) 965-7954