[Elecraft] ERR KEY

[Don Wilhelm]

Dennis,

All the reports of this error message seem to be related to the use of 
N1MM+, so if you have not done so, I suggest you ask the folks at N1MM 
support about it.

Yes, that message should only occur if the key line or PTT is shorted 
during a power on sequence.
So my question is "What is N1MM+ doing to activate that message?" There 
may be some situations where the K3 firmware and N1MM programming is at 
odds with one another - at least it seems that way.  I have not 
experienced anything like that.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/28/2016 6:09 PM, Dennis wrote:
> I wrote earlier today about what triggers the ERR KEY error on the 
> screen of the K3.  I have had several suggestions about what it is, so 
> I'll reply to them generically.
>
> The contest this past weekend was an SSB contest.  The ERR KEY message 
> (and not ERR PTT) appeared 40 or 50 times.  Yes, there was a cw keying 
> line attached to the radio, but it was never used.
>
> The CONFIG:PTT-KEY in the K3 menu is OFF-OFF.  The radio control part 
> of the N1MM+ software had DTR and RTS both off.  None of the PTT via 
> hardware options was checked.
>
> I happen to be using an SO2R Box, but others that have told me they 
> are having the same higher incidence of ERR KEY messages
>
> The ERR KEY message seemed to be associated with use and stopping of 
> the Dueling CQ function of the N1MM+ software.  The Dueling CQ 
> function would be stopped by entering something in an EW.
>
> Both radios were connected to the computer via real Com ports.  No USB 
> to Serial converters were involved.
>
> I have been told by at least 6 other ops that they have seen an 
> increased incidence of ERR KEY messages.  I don't know what firmware 
> they are using, but I know I am using 5.38.
>
> The ERR KEY seems to be related to PTT timing, but I'm not totally sure.
>
> If I could find other reasons why the K3 was producing that error, I 
> may be able to come up with a fix, either in software,  in someone's 
> firmware, or in some setting within the K3 Config menu or N1MM+. Right 
> now, the only definition I have of the ERR KEY concerns shorting the 
> keying line when the rig is turned on, which definitely is not the 
> case here.
>