[Elecraft] Vacuum Relays and 30 WPM QSK

[Dr. William J. Schmidt]

Pin diode rf switches are preferred today.  You can even get the QSK-5 kit from Ameritron if you can't make your own.   Good to 2500 watts and infinite speed. 


Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ
 
Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC
Staunton, Illinois
 
Owner – Operator
Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ
Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I.
Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com

email:  bill at wjschmidt.com
 

> On Feb 27, 2017, at 10:28 PM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
> 
>> On Sun,2/26/2017 3:04 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
>> But even though the K3 is cycling TX/RX very fast the 8410 is not banging
>> the vacuum relay to death trying to follow 30 wpm dits. 30 wpm QSK*does*
>> significantly shorten relay time to failure. Contesting, I've worn some out
>> in less than a year.
> 
> I own three very nice vintage Ten Tec amps that use vacuum relays. All of them came to me used, and I've replaced those relays in each amp at least once. After a few rounds of that, I stopped running QSK with those amps. :) I'd like to hear from others having experience with vacuum relays and QSK at contesting speeds. I mostly work between 28 and 32 WPM. The original equipment relays were Jennings, and I've mostly used Gigavac as replacements. I haven't had to replace one since giving up on QSK about 8 years ago, but I really would like to run QSK. Have I made the right decision to avoid it when running with a vacuum relay?
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to bill at wjschmidt.com