[Elecraft] [K3] Help with K3, TenTec TITAN amp, and QSK

[Vic K2VCO]

David Windisch wrote:
> Hi, all concerned:
> 
> Please make comments about the situation here before I siubar:
> 
> My TITAN amplifier has a QSK keying loop, which I now use with an external keyer and
> FT-1000D.
> 
> I've RTM ver. D2, searched the Nabble K3 reflector, and see nothing about such a setup
> for use with the K3.

You do not need the QSK loop with the K3, which has an adjustable delay of 8 - 20 (I 
think) ms. between the amp key signal and the generation of RF. You can attach the K3's 
key out to the Titan's key in, and connect the external keyer to the K2's key in.

I use a Logikey K3 and set the K parameter (I've been using K=3 or K=4) to lengthen the 
elements to compensate when using the K3 in QSK mode.

The K3's internal keyer does have a weight control which varies the dot:space ratio. This 
is not the same as the Logikey's K parameter, because the K lengthens the elements by a 
constant amount regardless of speed (the Logikey also has a weight adjustment if you wish).

I understand a 'ratio' control as dot:dash ratio. This should, in my opinion, always be 
exactly 3:1 and I am surprised to hear that any modern keyer still has such a control! 
Maybe you mean dot:space ratio, which I have always called a 'weight control'.

In any event, the internal keyer is not bad and can be set for either iambic mode A or B. 
I like the Logikey a bit better because the timing seems less critical to me.

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco