[Elecraft] Silly question - what is KEY OUT?

[K2MK]

Hi Keith:

The Key Out relay is only energized during transmission. This is what you 
would want for an amplifier. So for example if you turn your VOX off and 
press your key or paddle, the Key Out relay will not energize. If you turn 
your VOX on it will energize but you will also be transmitting. If you are 
in normal VOX control, the Key Out relay will stay energized longer than 
your key press based on your VOX delay setting. So it won't follow your dits 
and dahs. I suppose if you turn QSK on, the Key Out will follow the dits and 
dahs of your key presses or the internal keyer.

It was mentioned that Key Out is available on the accessory connector. I use 
this output for an antenna relay and it is NOT identical to the Key Out jack 
we have been discussing. First it is a transistor output with limited 
current handling capability. You would need to construct a driver circuit to 
interface to it. Second, it IS present when you are not transmitting. It 
precisely follows the dits and dahs when VOX is turned off. When VOX is 
turned on it has the normal VOX delay applied. I pointed this out to the 
factory and Wayne wrote the following:
"This is how it works at present, but based on customer feedback, I may 
change it".

73,
Mike K2MK