[Elecraft] K3 - KDVR
Lu Romero
lromero at ij.net
Thu Oct 15 15:35:36 EDT 2009
Well, as a Fall back redundancy option, granted, its a
consideration.
However, it is no problem to record on the fly using N1MM
when you either run the mic line through the sound card (as
I used to do) or split from a mixer (as I do now with a
cheap Behringer EuroRack mixing board). You just hit TEST
on the K3, hit CTRL-Shift-F1 on the computer and record the
new frequency into your message. For example, "W4LT
listening this frequency and 7.090". to check it, just hit
F1 and it will play back. Re-enable TX by hitting TEST
again. This way you actually hear it through the radio
monitor.
Regarding the levels and editing, none is needed. The level
should not be any different than the level you are
transmitting with, because, well, youre transmitting through
the soundcard as well as recording! Editing is simple, you
dont like what it sounds like, re-record it by hitting
CTRL-Shift-F1 till you are happy with the result.
Computer audio RF issues should have reared their ugly heads
when you were doing setup before the contest, not during
one. The beauty of K3 is that you really dont need an
interface at all... The transformers are built in. With K3
and MicroKeyer, you double buffer the i/o lines with
transformers on both sides... I have NEVER experienced RF
issues with either MK or MK2 (I own one of both), in fact,
using a admittedly "dirty" OCF dipole, the MK's actually
REMOVED the little bit of RF I was getting into the audio
with my old Kenwood TS850 and that antenna.
Frankly, computers do break, but so do radios. The only way
to have full redundancy is to bring at least two of each
part... That gets expensive.
So how much are those five nines worth to you?
-lu-W4LT-
----- Original Message Follows -----
From: "Andrew Faber" <andrewfaber at ymail.com>
To: "David Gilbert" <xdavid at cis-broadband.com>,
<lromero at ij.net>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - KDVR
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:19:40 -0700
>As an example of use of the K3 DVR, in March I was
>operating ARRL Phone froom P49Y. When operating split on
>40m you have to change your listening frequency every so
>often. Although I generally use prerecorded messages for
>CQs, in that case it was easy to just record a new message
>in M1 on the K3 announcing the updated listening frequency
>, then send it from the keyboard. Having the K3 DVR was
>very useful in that context. Also, if you are ever having
>computer audio issues, perhaps due to rf pickup, sending
>the messages directly from the radio does bypass all those
>problems. So I think it's a good fall-back option.
> 73, andy ae6y
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Gilbert" <xdavid at cis-broadband.com>
>To: <lromero at ij.net>
>Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 11:07 AM
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - KDVR
>
>
>>
>> I've done all that as well (or at least most of it), but
>> it takes a moderate amount of time for me to check and
>> edit the recorded audio files to make sure they sound as
>> close to my normally transmitted voice as possible (same
>> volume, etc). I've heard some truly horrible examples
>during contests where the voice file and the real-time
>> voice sounded so different that you'd swear it was a
>> different person. I even had one contact with a station
>> where the recorded voice was from a man and the operator
>was a YL! Any confusion that sort of thing causes just
>> slows the QSO rate.
>>
>> I don't own a KDVR (yet), but one of its potential
>> advantages would seem to be the ability to quickly set up
>> voice memories for a new contest that sounded exactly
>> like your normal mic voice without any additional
>>editing.
>> 73,
>> Dave AB7E
>>
>>
>>
>> Lu Romero wrote:
>>> Gents:
>>>
>>> Im trying to understand the need to even *consider* a
>>> KDVR module.
>>>
>>> I use N1MMLogger, and have for over 4 years now. I can
>>> record, not only messages, but numbers and letters and
>>> phrases into the computer (pre-air processor, using my
>>> air mic) and off air audio, up to the limiting amount of
>>> storage that my computer's hard drive has (zillions and
>>> zillions of messages, hours and hours of QSO's!).
>>>
>>> The Logger software can parse the letters and numbers.
>>> It sends, not only pre-canned signal reports, but
>>> dynamic callsigns and serial numbers live. If I choose
>>> to, I dont even have to talk at all in a SSB contest
>>> (ever work Jamie, NS3T? You worked a DVK!).
>>>
>>> Not only this, but with the "Enter Sends Message"
>>> feature of Logger, I input the callsign and hit the
>>> enter key, and the software sequences the correct
>>> function key for the QSO step automatically. It even
>>> logs the Q when done and sends QRZ for the next one.
>>>
>>> In multioperator situations, I can have all the
>>> operators using the station record the messages and when
>>> they take their shift, they press CTRL-O, put in their
>>> callsigns, and the software will load the Logger's DVK
>>> with their own personal voice message files
>>>automatically.
>>> Although I use a MicroKeyer 2, K3 makes interfacing to
>>> the computer as simple as plugging in the soundcard line
>>> out into line in on the back of the radio and plugging
>>> the soundcard in (not really needed, but useful if I set
>>> Logger to record each QSO) into the line out of the K3.
>>> So, worst case, you need a USB to serial adaptor for CAT
>>> and two 1/8 inch stereo cables for audio I/O.
>>>
>>> If I ever want to go portable or operate at another
>>> station with my K3, I take my MicorKeyer 2 and the K3
>>> interface cable with me. Then, one single USB cable is
>>> all that is needed to interface the computer to the
>>> MicroKeyer 2 for full DVK, CAT and all other feature
>>> functionality in SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK, along with any
>>> other soundcard based mode I desire to use (The
>>> MicroKeyer 2 has its own built in sound card).
>>>
>>> By the way, N1MM Logger is Freeware.
>>>
>>> I own lots of options for my K3, but KDVR is not one of
>>> them. Is there any compelling reason to even *own* this
>>> accessory, other than having a computer-less environment
>>> which, in today's contesting environment, is not going
>>> to be very competitive (unless your QTH is P5, Mt. Athos
>>> or something exotic)?
>>>
>>> Lu Romero - W4LT
>>> K3 S# 3192
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Message: 8
>>> Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:22:23 -0700
>>> From: "Andrew Faber" <andrewfaber at ymail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - KDVR
>>> To: "Brett Howard" <brett at livecomputers.com>, "Barry
>>> Pfeil"
>>> <barrypfeil at sbcglobal.net>
>>> Cc: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>,
>>> Fred Jensen
>>> <k6dgw at foothill.net>
>>> Message-ID: <002701ca4d03$a893f570$f200000a at BC.local>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
>>> charset="iso-8859-1";
>>> reply-type=original
>>>
>>> Brett,
>>> As I see it the advantage is that you can send
>>> messages from the keyboard
>>> (particularly useful if you have an SO2R setup with the
>>> radios spread
>>> apart). Furthermore, you can integrate the message
>>> sending into the normal
>>> message sending functionality, like message repeating
>>> and hitting ESC to
>>> stop it. I do that with my logging program, CQPWIN, and
>>> find it's more
>>> convenient than continually using the radio buttons. I
>>> do have to have the
>>> program calibrate the length of each message first, to
>>> be able to do the
>>> repeating properly. It works fine.
>>> 73, andy, ae6y
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Brett Howard" <brett at livecomputers.com>
>>> To: "Barry Pfeil" <barrypfeil at sbcglobal.net>
>>> Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>;
>>> "Fred Jensen"
>>> <k6dgw at foothill.net>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:30 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - KDVR
>>>
>>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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