[Elecraft] K3 Mechanical Bug Contact Bounce

[Vic K2VCO]

Stephen Ellington wrote:
> Bugs will not work correctly with the K3 unless a capacitor is
> installed across the key line. The TenTec Omni VII has the same exact
> problem. Radio Shack sells a tiny Tantalum capacitor 1uf., which work
> perfectly. You can actually install it inside an RCA plug or simply
> slip the capacitor's leads under the screws of your bug. Cleaning the
> bug contacts has nothing to do with this. 

I had noticed this some time ago with various modern rigs, and I made a 
reed relay arrangement to give a positive closure regardless of contact 
condition.

However, yesterday I decided to try the resistor-capacitor trick 
previously suggested, and I found that there was absolutely no problem 
directly connecting my Vibroplex version of the J-36 to the K3. I 
cleaned the contacts with a business card and I could not hear any 
scratchiness, etc.

So the answer is...who knows? YMMV, apparently mine did!
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco