[Elecraft] K3 - KDVR

[David Gilbert]

For contesting, it is WAY more effective to be able to control the DVR 
from N1MM than from the front panel of the K3.  It's tiring and wastes a 
lot of time to move your hand back and forth between the keyboard and 
the rig multiple times for every contact.  For example:

1.  move hands to K3 to press M1 for CQ or M3 for "thanks/73"
2.  move hands to keyboard to type callsign of next caller
3.  move hands to K3 to press M2 for report; wait for acknowledgment and 
report
4.  move hands to keyboard to type report
5.  repeat

Requests for repeats add additional motions.

When I bought my K3, I specifically did NOT buy the DVR because I didn't 
think it could be controlled from the logger.  Now that I know 
differently I'm seriously considering buying one for the same reasons 
described by N6ML below.

73,
Dave   AB7E



Brett Howard wrote:
> What makes this easier than just using the radio?  Seems to me that
> its just as easy to press M1 as F1...  Also now that VOX can now stop
> tx of a DVR message stopping it is as simple as pressing nearly any
> button or beginning a transmission.  Heck ESC would probably also work
> if you initiated w/ M1 if it works when you press F1.
>
> BTH
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM, Barry Pfeil <barrypfeil at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>   
>> Hi Fred.  The answers to your questions are mostly "yes".  Read the following from Iain in response to my query on the NCCC reflector.  I'm sure Iain would answer more specifics if you need them.
>> 73, Barry, K6RM
>>
>> ----- Forwarded Message ----
>> From: Iain MacDonnell - N6ML <ar at dseven.org>
>> To: Barry Pfeil <barrypfeil at sbcglobal.net>
>> Cc: NCCC Reflector <nccc at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:05:35 PM
>> Subject: Re: KDVR
>>
>> Hi Barry,
>>
>> Yes, I was using the KDVR3 for "voice keying" - really I only used it
>> for my CQ(s). N1MM doesn't explicitly support use of the KDVR3, but it
>> does allow you to send arbitrary commands to the K3, so I use the
>> commands that emulate pressing the M1-M4 buttons. I was pleasantly
>> surprised yesterday when I instinctively hit the Escape key to
>> interrupt my CQ when I thought I heard someone calling, and it
>> actually worked! I'm really not sure why it works - there may be some
>> hidden magic that sends a stop command to the K3 on hitting Escape. I
>> have yet to inquire about that.
>>
>> Anyway, here are the messages I use for this... theoretically this
>> should work for SO2R, but I haven't really tested that thoroughly (I
>> only have one K3 at home)...
>>
>> F1 CQ,{CATA1ASC K31;SWT21;}{CATA2ASC K31;SWT21;}
>> F2 Exch,{CATA1ASC K31;SWT31;}{CATA2ASC K31;SWT31;}
>> F3 Thanks!,{CATA1ASC K31;SWT35;}{CATA2ASC K31;SWT35;}
>> F4 {MYCALL},{CATA1ASC K31;SWT39;}{CATA2ASC K31;SWT39;}
>>
>>
>> The main benefit of this is that it avoids all of the hassles of
>> getting the audio routed through the computer working right and
>> sounding decent - instead you just plug your headset (or fav mic)
>> straight into the radio and go. Message recording is done with the
>> buttons on the radio. Listeners should be unable to distinguish
>> recorded vs live audio, other than by the repetition.
>>
>> A possible down-side is that N1MM doesn't know when the playback of a
>> message ends - in fact it doesn't even know that a message is being
>> played. Things like repeating (or, worse, dueling) CQs could be a bit
>> tricky.
>>
>> For something quick and easy, it works quite well...
>>
>>     ~Iain / N6ML
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 1:48 PM, Barry Pfeil<barrypfeil at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>     
>>> Hi Iain.  I believe it was in your NAQP "soapbox" comments where I saw
>>> something about having N1MM interfaced to the K3/KDVR.  If not, trash this
>>> and let me know.
>>>
>>> If so, I was wondering how you were using the DVR.  Since I don't have the
>>> KDVR option and N1MM allows one to record messages on the same computer it's
>>> running on, I have always used that method.  But I can see where recording
>>> the messages inside the K3 might have some advantages.  Is that what you
>>> were using the KDVR for and, if so, what are the pros and cons of this
>>> method?
>>>   TNX es 73,
>>> Barry K6RM
>>>       
>> ____