[Elecraft] Straight key and microKeyer II not working together

[Don Wilhelm]

Rich,

Check for a bad cable on the Begali.  With your ohmmeter, check the 
resistance between the tip and sleeve of the cable plug while the key is 
closed.  It should be zero ohms or very close.

There is nothing in the K3 that detects one brand of key closure from 
another brand, so your problem has to be in the cabling somewhere.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/25/2014 3:11 PM, Rich wrote:
> The Bencher BY-1 works, the Begali Spark doesn't. The Begali is set up 
> with a stereo connecter, tip and sleeve.
>
> I'm trying to use a Begali Spark straight key and a Bencher BY-1 
> paddle plugged in at the same time (I only use them one at a time) via 
> a Y cable.  I understand that this should work, but I'm missing 
> something.
>
> The Bencher is connected to my microKeyer II which is normally 
> connected to the K3 back panel Key jack. This works FB.
>
> Then I inserted a stereo Y cable into the system between the K3 Key 
> jack and the microKeyer II and connected both keys (Begali stereo into 
> one female end, and the microKeyer II key plug into the other).  The 
> Bencher works, the Begali doesn't.  I reversered the keys and the 
> Bencher still works, the Begali doesn't.
>
> Works means that I hear dits and dahs and see power out.  Doesn't work 
> means I hear dits and dahs but no power out.
>
> I used a different Y with the same results.
>
> I verified that the Begali is set up with tip and sleeve connected.
>
> The Begali does not key power when plugged into the K3 Key jack alone.
>
> I must have a setting wrong or something, but I'm missing the detail.  
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>