[Elecraft] Rigblaster/Signalink for K3?

Sun Mar 23 19:50:59 EST 2008

Hi Bill,

You said you are looking for the simplest solution to support PSK31.

I was completely new to digi modes prior to getting my K3 on the air about a 
month ago.  I have an  old IBM laptop running XP that has no serial port. 
>From posts on e-ham I learned that people were generally happy with the 
Keyspan USB to serial adapter, so I ordered one while I was waiting for my 
K3 to arrive.  I knew I would need an adapter to do the K3 firmware updates. 
I'm sure the KUSB3 offered by Elecraft is eqally competent.

Lyle, KK7P, once posted to this reflecter that all you needed to work PSK31 
were two audio cables with 1/8" plugs.  Although I worried a bit at first 
because the rear microphone socket is supposed to be "mono", and all that my 
Radio Shack had was cables with "sterio" plugs, I tried them anyway.  The 
"sterio" cables worked perfectly.  One cable goes from the "line out" on the 
K3 to the "mic in" on the laptop.  (My laptop has no "line in" jack.)  The 
other cable goes from the "line in" on the K3 to the "headphone out" on the 
laptop.  (no line out either)  The DB9 plug from the USB to serial adapter 
goes to the DB9 socket on the K3 and handles T/R/switching.  You probably 
could use VOX to handle T/R, but the serial port seemed easier and more 
positive to me.  It works perfectly.

I use DigiPan for PSK31 and MMTY for RTTY.  The first time you use either 
program, you need to configure the COM port and that RTS is to be used for 
push to talk.  Also, you need to specify that the Mic line out is turned on 
in the K3 CONFIG menu.  I set all the volume controls on the computer 
half-way up, and the microphone control almost near the bottom of the scale. 
(You can find the mic volume control by invoking 
Options/Properties/Recording from the control bar of the Windows volume 
control .)  After that it was all smooth sailing for me.

NO INTERFACE IS REQUIRED.

I  use DATA A, set my power out to 25 watts, and my line-out level to 1.  No 
AGC bars show on transmit, and my PSK meter indicates -34.  I invariably get 
great reports on the quality of my signal.  I prefer PSK31 to RTTY because I 
found that I can be effective with low power and thus not come through my 
neighbors' audio equipment.  People seem to run high power on RTTY 
(needlessly? this wouldn't surprise me being an avid QRPer).

In the past month, starting from 0, I have worked 54 DXCC entities, mostly 
on PSK31 with this setup, and I'm having a ball.  As everyone is aware, 
during this period, the solar flux index has hovered around 70, and the K 
and A indexes have been on the high side, indicationg lots of QRN.  My best 
DX so far has been 3B8, Mauritius, and UK0, Asiatic Russia.  My QTH is on 
Long Island NY.

As a newcomer to digital modes, one thing still puzzles me.  Sometimes, a 
station will come back to me several HZ above where I have called him.  I 
have to move to his frequency, by repositioning my arrow on his waterfall 
trace so I can decode him.  Then on successive "overs" we seem to walk up 
the bandpass a bit.  I don't think it is a problem on my end, because it 
doesn't happen with every QSO.  Maybe an experienced digital mode user could 
comment.

I hope that sharing my experiences is helpful to you.  Of course, the 
specific settings might be different for you since it is unlikely that we 
use exactly the same computers and USB/Serial adapters.

73,  John, W2GW
K3 #384

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KB1PXD" <bill.kimura at gmail.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Rigblaster/Signalink for K3?

>
> Hi Dave,
> I appreciate your input but as I had said, I'm looking for
> canned solution.  Also, my laptop doesn't contain a serial
> port so I'd need a USB-->Serial adapter.  (I know, not
> a big deal but I'm trying to keep this clean and simple)
> I too plan to use DM780 but have no interest in controlling
> the K3 (changing freq., etc.) from HRD.  I'm looking for the
> simplest solution to support PSK31.  I've read in some older
> threads where someone was able to accomplish this by just
> a pair of stereo cables and enabling VOX, but based on a recent
> thread, there seems to be some question about this configuration
> and whether or not it works or is problematic.  Thanks for
> your reply.
>
> - Bill
>
>
> Dave G4AON wrote:
>>
>> Bill
>>
>> What does the K3 lack that a Rigblaster or Signalink provides? I use
>> mine with MMTTY, N1MM logging/CW keying and DM780 straight to a sound
>> card. The TX control in DM780 is via the normal serial cable, in MMTTY
>> via a simple single transistor keying circuit built into the 15 way
>> accessory plug. CW keying from N1MM logging is via the serial lead, I
>> also have a K1EL "Winkey" which works fine too. The K3 has transformer
>> isolated line in and line out sockets.
>>
>> 73 Dave, G4AON
>> K3/100 #80
>> --------------------
>>
>> Does anyone know if there's a Rigblaster or Signalink product
>> that supports the K3? I'm looking for a plug n' play canned solution
>> to support the digital modes.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> - Bill, KB1PXD
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