[Elecraft] K3 choppy CW

[Ed K1EP]

At 2/26/2009 08:05 AM, R. Kevin Stover wrote:
>Everybody should be using a Winkey to key CW.

Why?

>Some people will deny that keying directly from an serial port
>controlled by windows causes keying errors. When we ran DOS, the
>applications could have unfettered access to the ports. You could also
>easily harness the system clock and use it rather than the OS to supply
>the timing for CW.  It was easy to background a process like sending CW
>knowing you had control of the port when you needed it. Not so with
>Windows98 and up. XP is especially bad.
>
>Ever had an application or the OS grab a hold of a USB, serial or
>parallel port and not let go when the application or process terminated?
>It never happened in DOS.
>
>One question for the doubters. If a winkey like device isn't necessary
>to send properly timed CW, why do several hardware manufacturers, Micro
>Ham, US Interface, Rig Expert, and nearly all general and contest
>logging applications support it? Just to make K1EL rich?

Because many hams today like to buy neat gadgets, many times without 
understanding what they do.  I key my K3 direct from my XP PC using 
the serial line.  I run speeds in the 30+ wpm.  I can achieve rates 
of over 200+ Q/hour, and I have a very good UBN record.  Applications 
support it because the interfaces are out there.  There are 
situations in which you may actually need such a device, but a 
properly outfitted PC can support direct keying.  I use N1MM, CT, 
DxBase and other programs with no problems.  Just because something 
exists, doesn't make it necessary.  Existence is not proof of 
necessity, and I don't even play a lawyer on TV.  Everyone is free to 
decide for themselves what is necessary for their particular situation.