[Elecraft] K2/10 I Idiom Press CMOS4 Keyer Conflict

[David Dietrich]

Hi Vic,

Yeah, that is kind of my thoughts after doing some headdesks.  Looks like I might take a trip to Radio Shack and get another one of those cables and some stereo plugs.  I happen to have a cheapy-creepy stereo plug that I am going to use to experiment with the connections before I build.  I might end up making two cables, as I also have the SCAF-1 audio filter.  I discovered that you need stereo plugs if you are going to connect the input to the SCAF-1 to the headphone jack of a rig.  Ahhhhh...The things one learns through trial and error.

73,

David
KC9EHQ

On Feb 25, 2013, at 09:22 PM, Vic K2VCO <k2vco.vic at gmail.com> wrote:

You MUST use a stereo plug in the K2 key jack. A mono plug will short the 'ring' 
connection to ground, which will key the rig. In HAND mode, either tip or ring will key 
the K2 when grounded.

On 2/25/2013 7:15 PM, David Dietrich wrote:
> Hello Don,
>
> I hope you are well. You are a huge help to all of us in the Elecraft and QRP community.
>
>>> Do you have the plug from the CMOS4 wired correctly?
>
> I believe so. I bought a 3' cable with RCA Male plugs on both ends, cut the cable in 
> half, and then soldered an 1/8" mono to the cut ends. I did make sure to wire the 
> center wire to the tip of the mono plug and the outer ground wire to the shell/lower 
> shaft of the mono plug. I am going to Ohm things out just to make sure.
>
> My only other thought would be to use a stereo plug instead. If that is the case, I 
> might need to go to Radio Shack and get another cable and some stereo connectors this time.
>
> Thanks & 73,
>
> David
> KC9EHQ
>
>
>
> On Feb 25, 2013, at 07:59 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>
> David,
>
> Do you have the plug from the CMOS4 wired correctly?
> There are only 2 lines to connect. The "hot" line should go to the tip and the ground 
> line from the CMOS4 should connect to the shell. No connection to the ring on the plug.
>
> Be certain that the ground from the CMOS4 is wired to he shell of the plug.
> Either wiring the ground from the CMOS4 to the tip or wiring to the tip and ring (rather 
> than the shell) will cause the behavior you have mentioned.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/25/2013 8:18 PM, David Dietrich wrote:
>> Please reply direct, as I use digest mode and may not get the reply until later.
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a K2/10 and an Idiom Press CMOS4 keyer that I would like to use together. I have 
>> everything connected properly, the K2 set to "Hand" for the input device, and the the 
>> cables I made are properly fashioned and not shorted. HOWEVER, when I go to send (on 
>> either side of my paddles) the K2 goes into total key-down, and the only way to stop it 
>> is to turn the rig off OR disconnect the CMOS4. The CMOS4 doesn't seem to be 
>> malfunctioning. When I just have paddles connected to the K2, and use the internal 
>> keyer, everything works fine. Also, when I have the K2 set to "Hand" and the paddles 
>> connected, everything works fine. I am not sure if the problem is with the CMOS4, K2, 
>> or both. I know the CMOS4 works properly since I have been using it since 2008 on my 
>> ICOM with nary a problem. Any ideas/input would be appreciated. If the problem is in 
>> the CMOS4, I'll E-mail Rob at Idiom Press, but I figured that I would start here.

-- 
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/