[Elecraft] K3 choppy CW

[Jim Brown]

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:24:30 -0500, Ed K1EP wrote:

>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.

YES!  I'm a very active contester, and I've never used anything but 
serial port keying when using a single radio from a single computer. CW 
sounds just fine at any reasonable contesting speed. The ONLY time I've 
ever had choppy CW is running TWO radios from the same laptop computer 
on two ports. It worked, but it was choppy in the way, and to about the 
same degree, that ZM1A was choppy last weekend. That's a limitation of 
how the logging programs send CW. So I broke down and bought a WinKey 
-- ONLY so that I could run SO2R. There is NO GOOD REASON to buy a 
WinKey to run one K3. 

There is also no good reason to use expensive interfaces (or 
transformers) to connect your computer to your radio. All you need are 
properly wired cables and simple bonding between the chassis of the 
computer and the chassis of the radio. See 

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf  (Power Point)  and 

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf (text to go with it)

73,

Jim Brown K9YC