[Elecraft] Keyboard CW with HRD and DM780

[Jim Sheldon]

Wondering if the original poster is using HRD Version 4.0 or the Beta 5.0 version.  I have never been able to get the Production Release 4.0 build xxxx to work on CW using the KY option with my K3.  I just downloaded and installed the Beta version 5.0 and it works exactly as Julian says.

I don't know why V4.0 won't work and haven't bothered to troubleshoot it very hard as I operate CW "old school" with the paddles and receive by ear so I don't need or use the decoders either in the programs or the K3 itself.

I do like the option of being able to use the computer's keyboard for sending CW as I can certainly KB send CW faster and more cleanly than I can with the paddles, especially above 25 wpm.  For CW, Elecraft's K3 Utility program "terminal" works just fine, but for PSK and RTTY, it's better just for testing the mode and if you can't type fast enough to keep ahead of the buffer, it comes out of transmit.  This sort of negates it for the slow typers using it for QSO's, but at least it will run the K3 in native DATA mode

As a "do doggone near everything" type program, Simon's Ham Radio Deluxe is rapidly becoming one of the best available, especially in the "free" software category.  It supports so many different rigs in the "CAT" control category that I'm sure there will always be some bugs in it, but so far the Beta 5.0 and the K3 seem to play well together.

I've had my K3 since the day before Christmas and am learning something new about it every day so it will probably take me a lot longer than that to get HRD and Digital Master figured out (if I ever do).

Jim - W0EB

>
> I have CW (KY Cmd) working with DM780 here - so here's a quick run
> down of
> how I have it set up.
>
> On the K3 side, CW Mode selected (CW REV actually - so that the
> DM780
> waterfall tunes the right way), I have have QSK set, but it will
> work OK
> with Semi.
>
> On the DM780 side, mode is set to CW (KY Cmd) and, quite
> importantly, the
> "Break In" toggle is set ON - so when you type, the commands are
> sent to the
> K3 straight-away. Just hit the E key when you are inside the text
> input
> window in DM780 and you should get a 'dit' out of the K3.
>
> With the KY Cmd mode it's important to remember that you will be
> transmitting at the pitch you have set up in the K3 - so if you
> want to net
> onto another CW signal, say 650Hz, set up the C marker in DM780 on
> 650Hz and
> you will be right.
>
> There are other CW variants in DM780:
>
> If you use the MCW mode, this is done using audio tones, like PSK
> and RTTY
> and I suspect you would need to be in DATA mode to send CW - advise
> not
> going there.
>
> CW - where you can configure a serial/parallel port to key you rig.
>
> CW (Winkey) - which also requires that you configure a port to talk
> to the
> K1EL Winkey box.
>
>
> I've tried all of these at one time or another and have decided
> that CW (KY
> Cmd) is the answer for me (less clutter on the shack desk).
>
> Send me an email off the forum if you're still having problems.
>
>
> rgds, Julian VK4CMV