[Elecraft] K3(S) QSK Operation

[Mark E. Musick]

Yes, Scott the KSYN3A does solve some of the CW keying issues.

>From the Elecraft website Spare Parts and Mods page:

FASTER CW BREAK-IN AND MORE ACCURATE CW ELEMENT TIMING is listed as one of the advantages of upgrading to the new SYN.

>From the QST review:
The new synthesizer has its own microcontroller to offload the main microcontroller during transmit-receive switching, resulting in less jitter in transmit-receive timing, making high-speed CW cleaner.

Also, see KSYN3A FAQ on the Elecraft website order page. 

7. How does the new synth affect CW operation?   a. The KSYN3A switches faster than the KSYN3, which allows us to more precisely control CW timing. This means less "jitter" (timing variation) at high CW speeds. Many CW operators who had been using "QRQ" mode (CONFIG:CW QRQ=ON) for CW in the 35-60 WPM range will now be able to use normal CW mode (CW QRQ=OFF), meaning they no longer give up RIT and SPLIT when using fast CW. Receive recover times also improve. Note that we recently introduced a variation on CW break-in signal processing called   "NEW QSK" (selected by tapping '3' in the CW WGHT menu entry). This eliminates audio T/R artifacts heard with the original algorithm ("OLD QSK"), at the expense of some slowing of receive recovery (by purging the DSP's "pipeline"). Installing a KSYN3A speeds up receive recovery for both the OLD and NEW QSK settings.

73,
Mark, WB9CIF    

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of K9MA
Sent: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 2:25 PM
To: Bob Wilson, N6TV <n6tv at arrl.net>; Elecraft Reflector <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3(S) QSK Operation

Thanks, Bob.

Yes, closing PTT allows sending at high speed.  I rarely send at over 35 wpm, but I guess I can just turn on the PTT when I do.  (I have an actual switch for that purpose. Remember those?) Firmware is up to date.

It doesn't sound like the KSYN3A will solve this problem, though, whatever its other merits.  I've never found the phase noise of the original to be an issue, so it's hard to justify the expense.

73,

Scott K9MA


On 9/6/2017 01:51, Bob Wilson, N6TV wrote:
> The 37 WPM jitter issue is actually related to VOX timing (with either 
> QSK or semi-breakin).  If you hold the PTT line closed while 
> transmitting, via a foot switch, software-controlled  PTT, or an 
> external keyer like a WinKey with a PTT output, you can send as fast 
> as you like, no CW jitter, but you give up QSK and semi-breakin.  This 
> works whether you have VOX ON or OFF.
>
> For more details, see this post from about 4 years ago:
>
> http://lists.f5mzn.org/pipermail/support/2013-November/083384.html
>
> The new KSYN3A synthesizer is highly recommended though, especially 
> for QRQ CW.
>
> Also, what firmware version are you running?
>
> 73,
> Bob, N6TV
>
> On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:19 PM, K9MA <k9ma at sdellington.us 
> <mailto:k9ma at sdellington.us>> wrote:
>
>     I just learned of the "37 wpm" problem with the original K3
>     (non-S), which I have.  I just verified that, indeed, above 37 wpm
>     the cw gets all messed up.  This seems to occur whether in QSK
>     (Break-in) or PTT mode.  The problem seems to go away, at least up
>     to 50 wpm, in the QRQ mode.
>
>     A possibly related issue is the slow QSK recovery.  In the normal
>     QSK mode, one can just hear between the dits at 16 wpm.  In QRQ
>     mode, that goes all the way up to 18 wpm.
>
>     Does the new synthesizer ala K3S solve either of these problems?
>     If not, is there another solution?
>
>     73,
>
>     Scott K9MA
>
>     -- 
>     Scott  K9MA
>
>     k9ma at sdellington.us <mailto:k9ma at sdellington.us>
>
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--
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us

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