[Elecraft] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM through microHAM USB CW Keyer

[Gary, VE1RGB]

Two direct requests for copies of the following procedure constitute a real
flood of interest in this topic (well, in my books anyway).          

The attached email was the result of me stupidly volunteering my K3 for FD
again this year in the same breath that I boasted about the ease with which
one could implement K3  rig control and rig keying with logging programs,
specifically N1MM.  Never having tried to implement rig keying here at my
fixed station, that was a mistake on my part. .  Looks easy, but not for me.
It took me all day with the assistance of Joe, W4TV, and Richard, VE3KI plus
a couple of local guys, to keep me focused on the important issues to come
up with the following  which, as they say, works for me.  NOTE:  Configuring
the K3 is trivial; my challenge was getting everything to talk to each
other.

I have not yet summoned the courage to close all the programs and shut down
the equipment for fear that I will never be able to recreate success.

73,

            Gary, VE1RGB 

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From: N1MMLogger at yahoogroups.com [mailto:N1MMLogger at yahoogroups.com] On 
Subject: [N1MM] K3 Rig Keying/Rig Control with N1MM and microHAM USB CW
Keyer

Joe, Richard, et al:

Let me be quick to point out that what follows may not
necessarily be either correct or optimum.  There are a couple of settings
that are candidates  for deletion from the procedure.  But I can tell you it
does work
with K3 #095 V3.11/2.15, microHAM USB CW Keyer #120 with Router 4.0.5, and
N1MM V9.3.1.

1. The K3 was connected to the laptop by an Elecraft USB-to-serial adapter
cable which, upon first use, was assigned COM Port 12.

2. Using Device Manager (Properties/Port Settings/Advanced), I manually
reassigned its default COM Port to a low number that N1MM could handle (COM
7).

3. The microHAM keyer is connected to the laptop with its supplied interface
cable from the USB port on the keyer to a vacant USB connector on the
laptop.

4. The keyer is also connected to the K3 Key In line by a cable from the
phono CW jack on the keyer.

5. The K3 is set to 38,400 Baud and the Config Menu PTT-KEY settings are
OFF-OFF.

6. microHAM USB Device Router was used to create a new virtual port. I
chose COM 4.  This step seriously confused me because the new COM Port
showed up in Device Manager, not under Ports (COM & LPT) as do virtual ports
from LP-PAN
bridge, but as a new line item called ELTIMA Virtual Serial Ports. 

7. Router Ports settings, top-to-bottom, are: none; none/DTR; none/DTR; COM
4.
I do not know why it says that COM4 is "Open at 1200 8N1".

8. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is selected to COM 4/none, with the CW box
checked, and is set to DTR Always ON; RTS Always OFF.   This is the port
through which rig keying signals, initiated by the logging program, are
generated by the microHAM keyer and sent to the K3.  Also, the Winkey box is
checked.

9. N1MM Configurer/Hardware is also set to COM 7/Elecraft K3/38400 n81/
DTR-RTS OFF-OFF.  COM 7 is the rig control port.

10. N1MM Configurer Winkey Pin 5 is selected to Function PTT.  Don't ask
why.

With N1MM, I now have:

1. Keying via the paddles, speed controlled by the pot;

2. Keying via keyboard, speed controlled by the pot; 

3. Messages on the Function keys that I can change under N1MM;

4. Rig control; and

5.  Control over keying characteristics via the Router control panel.

Here's what I learned:

1. I still do not like computers nor, for that matter, rig
keying.

2. This configuration will not work if one does not first turn
on the router;

The Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be very appreciative of
the contributions of those here on the N1MM reflector who pleasantly kept
after me until, like the proverbial monkey, I managed to strike a sufficient
number of keys and make a sufficient repeated number of mouse clicks that I
eventually wrote N1MM K3 Rig Keying for Dummies.

I now have the station on battery power in case the mains fail,
and I'm working on a plan to get all the hardware, still connected and with
all software running, from here and now to Field Day, without every having
been shut down. After Field Day, I'll start examining some of the above
settings to see whether or not they are relevant, then I am disabling rig
keying and going back to contesting by hand, which is where the real fun is
for me.

Thanks a lot, guys.  Really.

73,

Gary, VE1RGB