[Elecraft] K3: Configuring N1MM to send CW

[Randy Moore]

Sorry, but I've been using N1MM on Windows for several years now and 
have never seen this problem!

Randy, KS4L

WILLIS COOKE wrote:
> This is a very well known problem.  It has been documented by N1MM and many contest publications.  It is not a problem with N1MM, it is a problem with WINDOWS.  If you change to another version of N1MM or a different logging program, you will have the same trouble.  The usual solution is to purchase and use a WinKeyer.  Virtually all CW contesters 
> have done this.  The other alternative is to revert to DOS and an old unsupported DOS logger.  I am not sure if buying a MAC will help.
>
> The problem is the way that WINDOWS handles interrupts.  It does not give a high enough priority to the serial bus to allow proper keying at anything but very slow speeds.
>
> Willis 'Cookie' Cooke 
> K5EWJ
>
>
> --- On Wed, 2/18/09, Bill Feidt <bill at ng3k.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> From: Bill Feidt <bill at ng3k.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Configuring N1MM to send CW
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 5:45 AM
>> Barry Pfeil wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> VE3KI's explanation is absolutely correct, but I
>>>       
>> would add a 
>>     
>>> CAUTION that once you have this arrangement set up, be
>>>       
>> careful to boot 
>>     
>>> your computer and N1MM BEFORE turning on your K3 or at
>>>       
>> least before 
>>     
>>> enabling transmit.  This is because some of the
>>>       
>> start-up "processes" 
>>     
>>> seem to key the radio when you wouldn't want it to
>>>       
>> be keyed.  I'm using 
>>     
>>> a USB-to-Serial converter and that may makes things
>>>       
>> worse (or better?).
>>
>> Thanks to all who responded to my question.  The good news
>> is that with VE3KI's 
>> assistance I was able to get N1MM CW working using the
>> Elecraft USB to Serial 
>> cable as the only connection between my computer and the
>> rig.  The quality of 
>> the generated CW was fine; no stuttering or halts.  The bad
>> news is that, for me 
>> at least, N1MM is very unstable when CW keying is activated
>> in the software. 
>> Periodically, and under circumstances I don't
>> understand, the "CW IF" 
>> application starts consuming more and more CPU cycles until
>> it hogs almost 100% 
>> of available cycles and the computer hangs.  And sometimes
>> when I click one of 
>> the N1MM "send CW" buttons, nothing happens. 
>> This is always a harbinger of a 
>> near-future computer crash.
>>
>> Also, I have to activate N1MM before turning on the K3.  If
>> I do the opposite, 
>> the K3 momentarily sends a CW signal and N1MM crashes.
>>
>> Rich (VE3KI) suggested that I might try reverting to
>> version 8.12.7 of N1MM. 
>> I'll do this and, if the results are favorable,
>> I'll report back.
>>
>> Following suggestions made here, I've also subscribed
>> to the N1MM reflector and 
>> will report the current problem over there (where it
>> probably belongs).
>>
>> Again, thanks for everyone's input.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Bill/NG3K
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