[Elecraft] K3 Mechanical Bug Contact Bounce

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I, too, have never understood the "mega-dit" adjustment philosophy. 

How many dits the key produces depends upon the amount of throw too. I have
mine set for 50/50 weight and then set the throw for perhaps 8 or 10 dits
before the weighing climbs.

Brian Murphy, VE2AGO, wrote an excellent piece about bug adjustment that
agrees with our choice to adjust the bug for only the dits needed. Vibroplex
has posted it on their web site at:

http://www.vibroplex.com/original_bug_adjustments.pdf


Another point Brian makes is that if the damper isn't adjusted properly, the
pendulum will slam into it and still be wiggling when the next dots are
sent. That results in "scratchy" dits since the pendulum is experiencing a
complex vibration mode. IMX, that's not the only reason for scratchy dits
but it is one reason. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I hear no problem with my bug on the K3 (VizBug right-angle model, about 30
wpm). Even when I let the dits run out they transition smoothly into full
contact closure. 

I do have the dits adjusted a little on the heavy side, about 60/40
initially as shown by the sidetone waveform (i.e., contact is about 60% of
cycle). They fill out to about 80/20 on the 13th dit, then full contact
closure. That is according to a waveform made on my K2; haven't made one on
my K3. But it sounds ok to me.

I think it is standard practice to adjust a bug to get 20 or more dits out
of one swipe, but I don't see the point of it since you never need to send
more than 5 dits in a row. I would rather have them heavier-- put more
energy into them. Maybe this has something to do with the K3 bug problem?

73,
Drew
AF2Z