[Elecraft] How do you get N1MM to send CW to the K2?

[Don Wilhelm]

I would like to point out that Vic's solution will require an extra wire 
in the "special cable" that is constructed for the K2 to com port.  The 
normal cable carries only the RXD and TXD signals (plus signal ground) - 
there is no wire for DTR (or alternately RTS).  While Vic's solution can 
work (and work as well as any DTR keying from a computer), it is not 
something to be attempted by those unfamiliar with the internal K2 
signals present at the DB-9 connector nor those unfamiliar with RS-232 
signal lines and the "one transistor keying interface".

If you understood and followed all of that, yes, you can do it too - but 
if you did not understand those skimpy instructions, be aware that you 
can damage you K2 if you do not understand the signals involved.  This 
is not a modification that can be installed "willy-nilly", it must be 
done with care to divorce the normal K2 signals to the DB-9 connector 
and add the keying circuit.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/15/2011 11:01 PM, Vic K2VCO wrote:
> What I did with my K2 was disconnect the ALC input line to the DB9 and use that for DTR,
> since even if I did operate SSB I would not use ALC!
>
> I connected this pin through a 1k resistor to a the base of an NPN transistor, grounded
> the emitter and connected the collector to a pair of diodes which go to the dit and dah
> lines of the K2's key input.  Then I turned the autodetect feature ON in the K2, and set
> N1MM for DTR keying.
>
> The radio works normally with either a paddle or a straight key as well as the computer,
> and no extra wires or keying interfaces to the computer are required. It was very easy to
> hook up, and it was possible to route DTR through the same connectors from the KIO2 to the
> Control board and onto the RF board.
>
>
> On 11/15/2011 7:45 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
>> You will have to use a different com port on the computer which goes to a
>> level converter circuit.  That in turn will need to go to the K2's key
>> jack.  There is no way with a K2 to use RTS or DTR for PTT and CW keying as
>> on the K3. DTR and RTS are not recognized on the K2, with those pins in the
>> DB9 jack used for proprietary purposes, including the K2's internal bus.
>>
>> There are also issues with direct keying from a PC, usually irregular
>> spacing or what some call "jumpy" CW.  This is caused by a PC's
>> multitasking.  A lot of us, including myself, have gotten around all of
>> this by using a Winkey box, or a utility box that embeds the Winkey chip.
>>    Microham devices embed the Winkey chip.  N1MM can be told to look for a
>> winkey device on the end of a com port, and will properly drive it.  The
>> box in turn provides the correct interfacing to key the K2's key jack,
>> including for some of these boxes a pair of transceivers in SO2R.
>>
>> 73, Guy.
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM, TI2/NA7U<casey at tomochka.com>   wrote:
>>
>>> CAT control seems to be working from N1MM to my K2, but I always get an
>>> error
>>> about an incorrect CW port when I try to use the CW function keys. The
>>> manual isn't clear on how this connection is made. Can CW be sent via CAT
>>> or
>>> do I need a special cable/circuit to accomplish this? The default port is
>>> 3F8 btw.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Casey, TI2/NA7U
>>>
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