[Elecraft] KX3 - RMS Express USB Data Mode

[Keith D Jones]

I got my KX3 and KPA100 this past February and have a lot of fun so far with
it.  I've been pretty frustrated the past few days trying to get
satisfactory RMS Express performance using both Pactor 3 and Winmor.

 

I built a cable for my Navigator and quickly had it working with the KX3
choosing the USB Data mode in the Radio Setup (K3 radio choice).  I quickly
made a connection and sent a small message.

 

The past few days I have been trying to get my SCS PTCIIex Pactor 3 modem
hooked up.  I built a cable and rebuilt it 2 more times!  The problem that I
kept getting was a connection and either very slow and error (ARQ Repeat in
RMSE and error light on TNC) or a disconnect after unsuccessful handshaking.
Since I could connect I thought that maybe there was a problem with the
cable.

 

I checked with Elecraft and they felt good about my settings, Mic Bias On,
Mic Gain 12 (4 solid 5th ALC bar flickering).  I used the USB Data selection
in RMS Express and that set the radio to DATA A.  FL2 would show (I have the
roofing filters).

 

The poor performance continued, then by error I found that I had hit the
mode button and gone to USB not DATA A - it worked great!  Later changed
back to DATA A and it was slow, hit Mode and it sped right up and the error
conditions largely eliminated.  Transferred a 31K file in 3-4 minutes.

 

Back to a try with Winmor and the Navigator.  With DATA A mode I gave up on
the 31K file after 17 minutes.  Trying in regular USB it took 6.6 minutes -
about twice P3, more or less what I would expect.

 

So I am totally confused about DATA A mode - using both sound card (Winmor)
and TNC.  I haven't had the opportunity to play with other digital modes as
yet, but wonder whether the DATA A mode is advisable.  Am I missing
something?

 

Keith, N4KDJ