[Elecraft] K3 How to get MMTTY to work with K3

[Jim Brown]

On Thu,4/9/2015 1:59 PM, Richard Gillingham wrote:
> I’ve been trying to get MMTTY to work with my shiny new K3.  I can get the ‘Line out’ to deliver audio to MMTTY and it will decode FB, but nothing I’ve tried yet will get the K3 to transmit.  VOX on, etc., etc..
>
>
> Suggestions Please.

Things to check. Windoze mixer, select the sound card you're using, make 
sure it's panned to the center. I don't have Win 8.1, but I do have Win 
7. It's not easy to bind Balance.  Here's how in works in Win7. First, 
click on the Speaker icon on the task bar. Then click on Mixer. Then 
click on the icon in the top left corner for the sound card you're 
using. You should see Speaker Properties. Click on the Levels tab. The 
Balance tab is on the right in that window.

Also, check Windows output level (not turned below about half), plug 
headphones into the output, transmit with MMTTY. You should hear the 
RTTY tones.

Check that MMTTY and the K3 are set for the same RTTY tones and baud 
rate. Default is 2125 Hz, 45 Baud.

Check that you are NOT using a serial port for PTT (in MMTTY).

Check the VOX Gain.  Check the Line In Gain -- in digital modes, the Mic 
Gain knob becomes the Line In Gain. Make sure that you are in VOX mode 
on the K3.

The "right" level for cleanest signal should give 4-5 bars of ALC.

Make sure that you are in AFSK mode on the K3.

> Oh yeah, Win 8.1
>
>
> And next comes FLDigi…
For that, set the K3 for DATA A.

> Must I get yet another gadget to put between the computer and the K3?

No, just a cable wired correctly. See the manual.

BUT -- a better sound card can improve weak signal decoding a LOT, 
especially for other digital modes like JT65 (and probably PSK31).

See http://k9yc.com/USB_Interfaces.pdf   I wrote this a year ago and did 
the research a few years before that. The specific sound cards I talked 
about are all discontinued, but are available on EBay.  If I were doing 
it today, I would look at the ASUS Xonar U5, which N8LP recommends for 
use with his NaP3 software.  This piece also includes a tutorial on 
setting levels.

For a better decoder, check out 2Tone, which WinWarbler integrates 
nicely with MMTTY. Serious RTTY contesters are using multiple RX 
windows, one running MMTTY, one or more others running 2Tone with 
different decoding algorithms.  RTTY is prone to errors from 
noise,fading, and QRM, so having decoders with different algorithms 
gives a better chance of getting calls and exchanges right the first 
time with no need for a repeat.

73, Jim K9YC