[Elecraft] Just Starting in Digital Modes

[Barry LaZar]

Mark,
     I think you have the basics. My view is that you can run an 
integrated station better on a PC. That is what most of the good 
software is written for. I use HRD 6 as my basic logging software and 
N1MM+ for contesting. The difference aren't all that great between what 
you have and what I run. There may be one exception. N1MM+ integrates 
with Fldigi as it's FSK interface. I don't know if your contesting 
software does the same. If it doesn't, switch over. You should feel 
comfortable with N1MM as it plays quite similarly to W3FJP.

     I don't use the PX3. I use Win4K3. However, the important thing is 
that you can see what is happening and react faster than if you had a 
second receiver, IMHO.

     I use the KX3 and just love it for contesting. One addition you 
might want to make is to add a Winkeyer to your collection of stuff. It 
is an external keyer that can be keyed by your contesting software or 
just used as your main keyer. In contesting, you set up your macros on 
the software and just click on a button or hit a function key and your 
radio starts to send that information. It really cuts down on your 
fatigue and increases your Qs rate. All of the rest of it is just 
practice. Get into as many contests as you can. You will make 
adjustments to your operation as you gain experience, but everyone does.


73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Mark Tosiello" <tkddruid at gmail.com>
To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: 12/29/2015 11:04:09 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Just Starting in Digital Modes

>Hi,
>
>As a ham since 2006, I've been working pretty much straight phone and
>hand-keyed (paddled) CW. I've recently been bitten by the 
>DXing/Contesting
>bug, and this has led me not only to work very hard on my CW skills (a 
>mode
>I really, really like but which I'm still a novice at), but to take an
>interest in exploring the digital modes.
>
>I've recently built both the KX3 and PX3 kits with ATU and Roofing 
>Filter,
>and I'm blown away by the quality of this little radio and its visual
>sibling. I DO have the cable kit.
>
>I'd like to ask for both recommendations on Windows or Mac software to
>begin working with (fPSK, RTTY and CW at least), and for fairly 
>entry-level
>step by step instructions (a link is fine) as to how to get the entire 
>mess
>cabled.
>
>Currently, I've got the KX3 and PX3 connected in standard fashion, a 
>Heil
>Headset/Mic attached to the phones/mic jacks, and one of several keys 
>(K8RA
>paddles, J-38 key, Begali Camelback, Vibroplex Original Chrome Deluxe)
>connected to the Key jack. Acc1 from the PX3 is connected via KX3 USB 
>cable
>to my laptop.  I have a Win 7 laptop (which I MAY upgrade to 10, it's 
>an
>old Core 2 Duo) with headphone in and out and lots of USB ports and an
>early Mac Pro Tower (1.1 2006 model) running Lion. My understanding is 
>that
>the stereo cables from my cable set connect KX3 mic in with Laptop
>Headphones Out, and Laptop Mic in with KX3 headphones out. One thing I
>wonder is if there is another way to listen to the signal (CW or other)
>while still seeing the decode/waterfall on the computer.
>
>I do have Fldigi and the Free version of HRD. My contesting (logging)
>software is N3FJP. I have no problems with Rig Control via USB, but I'm
>having trouble getting connected to any sort of software which supports
>digital mode or CW deode and getting other than gibberish.  I know I'm
>doing something wrong.....LOL
>
>Thanks all, and all help and digital "Elmering" will be appreciated! I 
>did
>purchase Fred Cady's wonderful KX Line book, which is where I started.
>
>73, Mark
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