[Elecraft] Odd K3 behavior when P3 used

[KB9WMJ at wi.rr.com]

Howard at Elecraft figured this out.

You must set the "Transmit Timeout" on the P3 to 0 (zero).  You do this by 
pressing Ctrl-Alt-S on the USB keyboard plugged into the P3.  The default 
for this value is 3000

It is listed as "The length of time an idle signal will be transmitted in 
RTTY and PSK modes after the last character is sent.  The timing is in 
milliseconds and ranges from 0 to 90,000"

Again, this only occurs if you are using the "Text Messages" with a P3, and 
then switch to another type of keying like a paddle or straight key, or any 
device like a K1EL keyer attached to the key or paddle ports.

What the "Text Messages" allow you to do, is map any key on the USB keyboard 
to be a CW Macro.  I use the F keys on a USB keyboard to be canned messages, 
and then switch to my paddle for other things I need to send.  You can set 
this to work on SSB as well, as you can configure any key to be a Macro as 
well, and play one of your Voice memories by pressing a key on the USB 
keyboard.

Since this setting in the P3 has nothing to do with CW, I hope there will be 
a fix in a future firmware release.

Keith
KB9WMJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <KB9WMJ at wi.rr.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2014 12:12 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Odd K3 behavior when P3 used


I am having a strange issue since I installed my P3.

If I use one of the P3 Text Message keys to send CW(any memory) and then
switch to my paddle (plugged into paddle jack), or even my K1EL keyer
(plugged into Key jack) there are 2 glitches when I start sending CW.  This
occurs every time.

Lets say I set my key speed on the K3 set real slow to 8WPM.  If I press a
key on my USB keyboard to send CW, it sends normally.  If I continue to use
the keyboard everything is perfect.  If I switch to my paddle, and lets say
hold the Dah in.  I get the 1st Dah with a 1/10th second pause, and then the
1st Dah continues, and then the second dah comes and it does the same thing.
Everything after that will be perfect.

The same hold true if I'm using my K1EL instead of the paddle.  There will
always be 2 pauses.  The K1EL is setup as a straight key

Once those 2 pauses happen, they never happen again, until I switch back to
any P3 text message.

Also, it does not matter how long I wait after using the P3 memory to switch
to my paddle.

Keith
KB9WMJ