[Elecraft] K3: Contesters using N1MM voice keyer versus K3DVK

[Fred Jensen]

On 9/3/2011 6:55 PM, Buck k4ia wrote:
> The advantage of the N1MM voice keyer is that it will automatically send
> the next message depending on where you are in the logging sequence.
> You can also go so far as to record individual letters and it will
> string them together to "say" callsigns and incremental QSO numbers.
> Its a lot of work to do that trick but it can be done.

Yes, a LOT of work and it doesn't sound all that good.
>
> If you use the K3DVK, you have to take your hands off the keyboard to
> punch a button on the front panel of the radio and your number of
> available messages is much more limited.

Well ... not really so.  The K3DVR has a number of advantages, the 
largest by far is that when you play your messages recorded with your 
microphone, they sound *exactly* like you're live, down to whatever 
background noise you have in your shack.  Level, compression, and TX EQ 
are identical to your mic audio.  A large number of recorded CQ's and 
exchanges in SSB contests are more or less unintelligible.  Usually way 
over driven, way too much compression, and restricted audio spectrum. 
Such is not the case with the K3DVR.

You don't have to take your hands off the keyboard if you are using N1MM 
or any logger that allows you to send CAT commands to the radio.  Check 
out Iain's tutorial at [www.dseven.org/ar/n1mm-kdvr3].  Basically, you 
just program a K3 command that emulates tapping one of the "M" buttons.

A very minor problem, which goes away once you realize it, is that the 
logger doesn't know when the voice message is finished.  It just sends 
the command and thinks it is done.  In most SSB contests, I've found the 
only useful message is my CQ.  The one exception is ARRL Sweepstakes, 
where I record the "Uniform Kilo Six Delta Golf Whisky five three Sierra 
Victor."  I step on the footswitch, say "hiscall NUMBER xxxx," hit the 
F-key which sends the exchange and VOX keys the radio.  I can release 
the footswitch whenever.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org