[Elecraft] K3 - Linking the VFOs for CW - SSB switching

[Bill W5WVO]

I can't explain the original subject line, either, but y'all may have missed 
the fact that Eric and Wayne have already implemented this feature in the 
firmware and it is in the final testing phase (post from Eric on 5/2 -- is 
that only yesterday?). Anyway, it's a reality! -- for Elecraft, anyway, and 
for us very shortly. Looks like my K3 and this firmware feature will arrive at 
about the same time -- albeit not necessarily in the same box. :-)

I do sense that there are still some guys out there who are scratching their 
collective heads, wondering why somebody would see this feature as such a big 
deal. It has to do with the way CW is used in conjunction with SSB on the VHF 
bands. While there are nominal CW-only sub-bands on 6 and 2 meters, CW is 
frequently used on the SSB frequencies when signals become too weak for voice 
modulation to support communication. You just start sending CW on the fly, and 
the other guy will hear it more or less centered in his SSB receive passband. 
No retuning. When you stop sending (or in between code elements, if you are 
running QSK) you are still receiving in SSB mode -- so whether he comes back 
to you on SSB or CW, you will hear him either way. You want to transmit again 
in SSB, just grab the mike and talk.

This feature was my favorite thing about the FT-897, which otherwise was a 
rather forgettable entry-level rig in terms of its close-in strong signal 
performance. Once again, the K3 is evolving into a stellar radio for both the 
HF and VHF/UHF worlds, where high-end performance requirements are really very 
different.

Thanks, guys!

Bill W5WVO


David Yarnes wrote:
> Ken and All,
>
> I haven't followed this thread very closely, so now I'm a bit
> confused about the subject line.  If I understand it right, the
> question is can the K3 be set up so that you can just hit the paddle
> and be on CW, even though you have currently selected SSB.  Is that
> right?  If so, I'm not sure why the thread subject line says "Linking
> the VFO's.......".  I would think it would just be a matter of
> automatically changing the mode temporarily for transmit.
>
> I would assume that  Elecraft can do this, and if they do, the offset
> will be whatever you set it for.  Your CW sidetone is fully
> adjustable, and that would be the process.  My FT-897 (I assume the
> FT-857 has it too) has this feature, and it is pretty handy at times.
> Via the menu you can set this feature to be active (menu #22), and
> you can even choose whether the offset is up, down, or automatically
> selected for you (menu #23).  But the amount of the offset is based
> on whatever you have set previously for CW operation, which is what
> you would want.  You can be talking on SSB, then just hit the paddle
> to send in CW.  I don't think it involves more than just the VFO you
> have currently selected.
> I'm probably missing something here as far as what the original
> question really was.
>
> Dave W7AQK
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ken Kopp" <k0pp at rfwave.net>
> To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 1:27 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Linking the VFOs for CW - SSB switching
>
>
>> Me, too!  I'd -really- welcome this feature.  BUT, I'd like to be
>> able to select the off-set tone.  The 700 Hz suggested earlier is
>> -way- too high! (:-))
>>
>> 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
>>       ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net
>>
>>
>> Add my vote to this. I can't even estimate how many contacts I have
>> missed while changing modes and retuning.
>>
>>   - Ron
>>
>> K9ZTV <k9ztv at socket.net> wrote:
>>  I agree completely with Joe, having found this a convenient feature
>> on HF when using an FT-897.
>>
>> K9ZTV
>>
>> Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>> After experiencing it with the FT-2000, I find "auto CW" a joy
>>> to use for tuning a quiet band ... I can tune in SSB and, if I
>>
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