[Elecraft] Hopeless Confused - K3 and Digital Modes

[Don Wilhelm]

Gary,

Let me try to help a bit.  Since you admit to being a "newbie" to 
digital modes, I suggest you just try it before making any purchases or 
additions.

If your main interest is only RTTY, then get a copy of MMTTY, but if you 
want other data modes as well, I suggest Fldigi although there are others.

The easiest is to use the soundcard - if you want to advance to FSK for 
RTTY later, you can do that, but for now, stick with the soundcard input 
and output.  You will need 2 stereo cables - between the soundcard line 
out and the K3 line in, and between the soundcard line in and the K3 
line out.

You will be using the K3 DATA A submode for PSK, and possibly also for 
RTTY - you may want to advance to the features for AFSK A for RTTY 
later, but stick with DATA A to begin with.

At the computer, turn off Windows sounds if you are using your default 
soundcard (I would suggest that to begin with and later determine if an 
additional soundcard would be an advantage).

Set the DATA mode audio input to Line In on the K3.
Set the RTTY mark frequency and shift to the same values for both the K3 
and your RTTY application.

You may want to connect a serial cable between the computer and the K3 
RS-232 port and then tell your software application which serial port is 
connected to your K3 -  that will allow the application to control and 
display the frequency of the K3 as well as provide other control functions.

Initially, use the K3 in VOX mode rather than fooling with any extra PTT 
items - change later if you desire.

Set the K3 into TX TEST and adjust your audio input levels so your 
soundcard output brings the K3 ALC meter to 4 bars solid with the 5th 
bar flickering - this setting is correct for the K3 and differs from 
advice usually found for other radios - the fact is that the K3 ALC 
meter uses the 5th bar to indicate the onset of ALC, the lower bars act 
as a "VU meter" to aid you in setting the proper audio levels.

OK, that is about it - experiment a bit by tuning around and decoding 
signals - you will get the "hang of it" in short order, then try 
transmitting. Fldigi covers many digital modes, and that is why I 
recommend it - as I said, there are other software applications, some 
are more complex and include additional rig control, and you should use 
those if you want those features.

Jump in and give it a try - TX TEST will allow you to experiment without 
transmitting RF - then if you have difficulties, just ask about the 
specifics - someone is bound to help.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/11/2012 4:12 PM, Gary K9GS wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> OK...I decided I need some help from people who have done this before.
> I know this is pretty long-winded and I'd be happy to take this off of
> the reflector if desired.
>
> I had planned on spending this weekend reconfiguring the shack but
> before I started adding cables, changing software configurations and K3
> menu items I better get a plan in place.
>
> I want to explore operating digital modes on the HF bands.  Primarily,
> I'm interested in RTTY and PSK.  Right now, 90% of my operating is CW
> and a little SSB thrown in. DXing and contesting are my primary interests.
>
> I'm pretty computer savvy but my knowledge of digital modes and radio
> interfacing is limited to CW and N1MM/Logger32.
>
> I should note that during the HK0NA operation I did try using the K3
> utility to work them on RTTY.  I was able to receive OK but spend a LOT
> of time trying unsuccessfully to work them.  I was able to transmit but
> I suspect I had something screwed up with mark/space tones in the K3
> set-up.  In the monitor of the K3 I heard "RTTY" tones but had no idea
> if they were the correct ones.  This is what has finally spurred me to
> get all of this figured out.
>
> My current configuration consists of the following:
>
> *PC running XP Pro
> *1 serial port (currently connected directly to the K3 for CAT control)
> *1 parallel port (I used to use this port for CW keying of the K3.  I
> just recently purchased a WK-USB to take over this task.
> *Multiple USB ports (1 being currently used for the WK-USB)
>
> *K3 w/sub-receiver
> *CW QSK using the WK-USB and either N1MM or Logger32 (see below)
> *When I operate SSB I use a Heil headset connected to the front panel
> through a Heil adapter and I use a foot switch for PTT connected to the
> K3 rear panel.
>
> WK-USB for CW keying and a paddle plugged into the WK-USB for sending by
> hand.
>
> For contesting I use N1MM.
> For day to day operation I use Logger32 for logging.  I am leaning very
> heavily towards changing to DX Labsuite, however.
>
> All that said, I'm trying to figure out the highest performance solution
> for adding in digital modes, primarily RTTY but also sound-card modes
> like PSK.
>
> I've been to countless web sites, reviewed postings on this and other
> forums and the more I read the more I am confused with which way to proceed.
>
> I like the idea of using a separate sound-card so that the integrated
> sound-card in my PC can be used with pair of speakers for normal
> computer tasks.
>
> I thought about buying a Signalink USB for the separate sound-card but
> the more I look at this if I ever want to use the sub receiver on the K3
> for RTTY, I'm only 1/2 way there...I would need to buy a second
> Signalink USB USB for the sub receiver.  To do this I would need to run
> separate instances of, MTTY I believe??
>
> I also thought about going the MicroHam/Rigblaster route but before I
> spend hundreds of dollars and still not know if this is a complete
> solution I thought I'd seek some advice.
>
> Then I thought about buying two USB sound-cards with one going to each
> receiver.  A quick look on Amazon shows these ranging in cost from less
> than $1.00 (yes, I saw one for $0.48 today) to over $100.
>
> And then the whole topic of how to best place the K3 into transmit has
> me very confused.  Do I build a RS-232 interface box like the one W3YY
> describes at http://w3yy.com/fsk.htm ?  This would allow FSK RTTY
> operation too which I understand is the best way to go but then I've got
> the problem of needing an additional RS232 port on my computer.  I also
> thought I could press my old parallel-port interface (that I used to use
> for CW keying of the K3) to perform the PTT task but I don't know if
> this is supported by the software applications above (N1MM,
> Logger32/DXLabsuite).  This is probably the area I'm most confused about.
>
> I figure someone out there must be using the same radio, software
> combinations I do and has already figured this out.
>
> Again, thanks in advance for your guidance.
>
>