[Elecraft] KX3 using CW key as PTT switch for voice

[Josh Lehan]

On 10/21/2012 08:05 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> You can use the tip contact of the ACC2 jack as a PTT input. Set
> MENU:ACC2 IO to "LO=PTT".

I noticed this myself in the menus.  Thanks for the tip!  Works great as
PTT in voice modes.

However, this doesn't work for CW.  If I use the key in CW mode, while
it's still plugged into ACC2, it does the same thing as pressing the
"XMIT" button: it puts the radio into TX mode, but doesn't actually
transmit anything on the air.  Strange.

In CW mode, I have to unplug the key from ACC2, and then plug it into
KEY, and then it works normally, transmitting at full power.  No
problems there at all, the key works great.

So, the radio does have the ability to work with my straight key in all
modes, which is good to know.  However, it's awkward and cumbersome to
have to plug it into a different jack when changing modes, especially
considering it's the same piece of hardware.

I tried a Y-adapter as a workaround.  Unfortunately, no luck.  I get
really strange behavior when the key is plugged into ACC2 and KEY at the
same time.  I often get "stuck key" syndrome, where the radio gets stuck
in TX mode, and doesn't get out of TX until powered off!  Probably a
race condition between the radio detecting the ACC2 state change and the
KEY state change?

Really looking forward to a future software release that allows the use
of the CW key as a PTT switch in voice modes.

As others have said, it would also be nice to have a further option to
use the CW key to transmit CW in voice modes (at whatever frequency
corresponds to the selected sidetone pitch), as well, not just to act as
a PTT switch.  Hope this all is feasible.

> You can plug your key directly into the ACC2 jack if it has a 2.5-mm
> stereo plug. If not, you'll need an adapter like the one supplied as
> part of our KX3 accessory cable kit.

Nice, didn't know there was an accessory cable kit!  Getting decent
3.5mm to 2.5mm adapters is surprisingly difficult, especially trying to
find right-angle adapters.

Josh
K6JSH