[Elecraft] K3 Internal Keyer and Serial Contest QSO Numbers

[Dick Dievendorff]

N1MM is free, and has the largest following.  I'd start there.  There are
enthusiastic supporters of several logging programs.  Each has something
that makes it arguably superior in some way.

I use a single USB to serial adapter for serial communications (frequency
information and control), CW keying and PTT.  The N1MM logging program
wiggles the RTS/DTR leads (part of the RS-232 connector) to assert PTT and
send CW.  The K3's PTT-KEY menu item allows me to choose RTS/DTR as an
external key.  I connect the paddle to the Iambic paddle jack of the K3.
The contest sending (calling CQ, sending the normal exchange, including
incrementing serial number) is done by pressing keys on the computer
keyboard.  When I need a fill or want to say something special to a friend,
I reach for the paddle.  There are two speed controls in this scenario,
which can be helpful or a hindrance, just be aware of it.

I have in the past used a K1EL WinKey chip, embedded in some other device,
from microHAM or a US Interfaces Navigator, to generate CW.  If I am using a
reasonably recent computer and am not interrupted by "other" programs
(anti-malware scans, disk defragmentation, automated backup, Windows Update,
or "do you want the latest Java update" in the middle of a contest), I've
found the computer keying via the serial port is fine.  In years past I
remember late in the contest that the program would bog down and send
erratically as the log filled and there was more dupe checking and whatnot.
That hasn't been a problem with recent generation computers. 

73 de Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: Dauer, Edward [mailto:edauer at law.du.edu] 
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2013 19:20 PM
To: Dick Dievendorff
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Internal Keyer and Serial Contest QSO Numbers

Thanks, Dick; I will loom into those you've suggested.

KN1CBR

On 9/1/13 7:33 PM, "Dick Dievendorff" <dieven at comcast.net> wrote:

>Many of us use a contest logging program, such as N1MM, Writelog, or 
>WinTest, that keep a contest log as well as CW keying, including serial 
>numbers.
>
>I use the paddle and internal keyer for occasional transmission in the 
>contest, outside the normal contest exchanges.
>
>62 de Dick, K6KR
>
>On Sep 1, 2013, at 13:15, "Dauer, Edward" <edauer at law.du.edu> wrote:
>
>> New K3 - still learning about it.  Apparently the internal keyer 
>>cannot do serial increments for contest QSOs which require such . . . 
>>or at least I couldn't find any reference to it in the manuals or on the
web.
>>Is that correct?  The K3 won't do increments itself?  Or have I just 
>>missed something?
>> 
>> What sort of solutions do others recommend, other than adding an 
>>outboard external memory keyer?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Edward Dauer
>> KN1CBR
>> 
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