[Elecraft] K3 PK-232 FSK RTTY Setup

[David Wilburn]

Thanks for all of the replies.  I use VOX with MMTTY, because in the 
past there was a sharing problem with some programs needing to access 
the ports.  When contesting I use N1MM / MMTTY.  When I was just RTTY 
hamming, I was using ACLOG and MMTTY, which did not like to share.

Now I have setup DX Labs, and will likely use that and WinWarbler for 
general digital hamming, but the frequencies and modes are all over 
the place at the moment, from the default setup.  Need to play with it 
some more and get it setup.  Thus I can likely use the RTS DTS 
settings now.

Dave Wilburn
NM4M

David Wilburn wrote:
> I'm in the process of picking up a PK-232, primarily for EmComm / Pactor 
> 1.  I'm not intending to start a passionate discussion between FSK / 
> AFSK, but had a question.
> 
> I have been running AFSK since I received my K3 last March.  It has 
> worked well, but it is the only RTTY I have known.  I have seen the 
> reason given for running FSK vs. AFSK as the ability to use the radio's 
> filters.  That is a moot point in the K3.
> 
> I also understand that when using FSK, it is a different distribution of 
> resources.  I have MMTTY running with N1MM (when I am contesting), and 
> MMTTY triggers the radio via VOX.  This has the annoyance that when I 
> click on a SSB spot, then a noise in the shack triggers the VOX kicks in 
> and causes feedback.
> 
> Now to my question.  If I am happy with how the RTTY is performing now 
> using AFSK, what is the incentive to setup for FSK?
> 
> Dave Wilburn
> NM4M
> 
> Ed Gray W0SD wrote:
>> For those now or in the future wanting to setup the PK-232 with the K3
>> using FSK here is the information.  I would think you could do this very
>> similarly for the Hal and  other TNC'S.  Of course the specific wiring 
>> would be different but the same general hook up should work.  This set 
>> up does not use the computer sound card at all.
>>
>> First you need a software program to control the PK-232 or the TNC you
>> are going to use.  I used Writelog but there are other software programs
>> that will work.
>>
>> The PK-232 has a cable from it to a serial COM port port on your 
>> computer which you need to set up in your software, in my case 
>> Writelog. That is all you need between the PK-232 and the computer.  
>> There is absolutely nothing hooked to the computer sound card.
>>
>> The K3 should be set to FSK D, see page 31 of the K3 manual revision D1.
>> Next you should be sure your software program is set up for the same
>> tone and shift that you have the K3 set to.  On the K3 activate pitch
>> and set it accordingly.  Most common would be 2125-170 which is what I
>> have Writelog set at.
>>
>>  From the K3 run an audio line from the line out to the Radio 1 or Radio
>> 2 RX input on the PK-232.  This jack is hooked respectively to the 
>> same place as J4 or J6  which is the 5 pin flat connector.  I would 
>> suggest using Radio 1 and running an audio cable from the K3 line out 
>> to J3 which is the Radio 1 RX input.  The K3 end is a sterio plug and 
>> the PK-232 is a mono plug. On the K3  go ahead and use a stereo cable 
>> and plug it into the K3 line out.  On the PK-232 end of this cable cut 
>> off the stereo plug and solder on a mono plug.  The tip from the 
>> stereo plug should be hooked to the tip of the mono plug which will be 
>> the left channel.  This will be the K3 audio.  The ring(one next to 
>> the tip) would be the SUB so just leave it unhooked and hook the 
>> barrel from the stereo plug to  the ground of the mono plug.  Go to 
>> the K3 config:Line out.  I set it for about about 25.  Remember the K3 
>> manual is talking about sound card input when they mention 10 and here 
>> we are talking about input into the PK-232. The PK-232 manual says to 
>> have at least 200 mv RMS of receive audio. Using my scope and then 
>> calculating RMS I came up with the setting of 25 to get 200 mv RMS.  
>> It is better to be a little low than too high so you don't have 
>> distortion.
>>
>> For FSK transmit you need to hook the PK-232 FSK keying which is pin 1
>> of the DIN plug J7 to Pin 1 FSK Input of the K3 accessory plug.  You
>> hook the ground, Pin 2 of J7 to Pin 5 of the K3 accessory plug. J7 on
>> the back of the PK-232 is labeled so that is easy.  The K3 accessory 
>> jack information is on page 18 of the K3 manual revision D1.
>>
>> Be sure and note that the picture you are looking at in the K3 manual of
>> the accessory jack is the radio pin out and not the plug on the cable
>> you are making so be careful to use the correct pins. I just took a
>> Video cable and cut the female connector off and used the appropriate
>> wires to hook to the PK-232. The extra wires can be folded back and cut
>> to different lengths and heat shrink tubing put over them so no wires
>> can short to each other.
>>
>>  From J4 on the PK-232 which is the 5 pin flat connector hook up the PTT
>> line Pin 5 to the K3 accessory plug pin 4.  This should complete the 
>> FSK setup for the K3 with the PK-232.
>>
>> Ed W0SD
>>
>>
>>
>>
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