[Elecraft] K3 PTT - WHHTLOT

[Vic Rosenthal]

Fred (FL) wrote:
> After the 28 posts on "K3 PTT", I'm thinking we
> haven't heard the last of this!
> 
> Wow - 45 versions and re-explanations of what the
> K3 PTT function is.  In just CW?  As a non-contestor,
> getting back into hamradio ham - I'm starting to 
> think the K3 is getting perhaps too complex, for
> normal operation.  I'm serious.  Its starting to
> resemble a 747 dashboard.

It's really very simple. Here's what I wrote to someone else:

It's my fault for saying "Transmit mode" when I should have said 
"Transmit state". In transmit state the rx is muted (except for 
sidetone), the transmitter is 'armed', the antenna is switched to the 
transmitter, and an external amp or antenna relay is activated.

There is also a "receive state", of course.

CW and SSB (etc.) are 'modes'. The following are 'submodes' for CW: PTT, 
QSK, and semi QSK.

Then it's simple: the PTT switch puts the rig into transmit state. QSK 
and semi-QSK are ways to *automatically* enter and exit transmit state 
when you send CW. But in  PTT submode, the automatic switching to 
transmit state with keying is disabled. In PTT submode, you switch 
states *manually*.

What seems to have confused everyone is that with the K3, if you are in 
the QSK or semi-QSK submode, the PTT switch is 'live' even though it is 
not needed. It will put you in transmit state if you close it. It is in 
a sense in parallel with the automatic switching that is initiated with 
the key.

This is not really important for the original issue, which is that some 
VHF (and other) operators wanted a PTT submode which did not originally 
exist, in which the *ONLY* way to enter transmit state is to use the PTT 
switch.

Now they have it.

I hope this is the final, definitive, solution to the confusion which I 
created.
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco