Messages

91

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Remote Rig and N1MM ASCII Commands to the K3

« on: 2015-02-19, 03:37:10 »

Checked it out- it appears that the "r" is being sent before the swap is made.  It happens pretty fast, though.  Another observation is that the speed up characters don't seem to be speeding up the "r"- whether they are there are not, the R seems to be sent at the same speed.

I'm also using the RR Winkeyer to key the rig.

92

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Remote Rig and N1MM ASCII Commands to the K3

« on: 2015-02-18, 20:48:10 »

I just tried the command string that you used: 
F3 TU,{CLEARRIT}<<r>>{END}{CATDELAY 3}{CAT1ASC SWT11;}
and got the same result that you did- no VFO swap.  If you check the manual on the CATDELAY macro, the number after the CATDELAY is multiplied by 50ms and has a maximum value used is 20, which corresponds to a 1 second delay- higher numbers will all revert to a max 1 sec delay.

I then tried the Function Key Message:
F3 TU,{CLEARRIT}<<R>>{CAT1ASC SWT11;}
and that did exactly what I think you wanted- zeroes the RIT, sends the R, and swaps VFOs.  I found it works on my system every time, using N1MM+, K3Mini0, Firmware 2.85, baud rate of 38400, Microbit Com1 for radio control.

93

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Dumb Question About FSK in a K3/Twin set up

« on: 2015-02-18, 03:37:34 »

I have an "Encore" soundcard- its in a little white box.  I've also used a Tascam and several other boxes.  I think I paid $20 for this one.  Unless you really get into it, I find an inexpensive sound card, as long as it meets the criteria I outlined above, works just fine. 

94

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Dumb Question About FSK in a K3/Twin set up

« on: 2015-02-17, 03:42:05 »

I have the same experience; either the headphone or the sound card hogs most of the power.  I use an exterior sound card for 3 reasons:
1. I can purchase one with a Line In jack, something that most laptops don't provide (and its a stereo line in, not a mono mike in)
2. I can set it up so that I have a constant audio signal to the sound card, which makes setting levels for proper decode much easier.
3. I can use the sound card volume control to provide audio to the headphones.

Dennis W1UE

95

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Remote Rig Winkeyer and N1MMPlus

« on: 2015-02-13, 15:37:19 »

I just downloaded and installed the Beat 2.85.  I'll be using it the rest of the weekend and reporting back any problems.

96

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Dumb Question About FSK in a K3/Twin set up

« on: 2015-02-13, 03:21:24 »

To go from CW to RTTY I have to make one change in the RR Control setup- Serial ComFSK or ComExtra or Com3 is now Mode 10- Baudot RTTY.  Before it was Mode 8- Winkey.  After much experimentation and a few emails swapped with Elecraft, I found the sound card that is in the K3Mini0 can't be used by MMTTY.  Having done a lot of RTTY contesting over the years, I wouldn't even attempt to use the K3 RTTY Decode or transmit facilities; I stick to MMTTY or 2Tone. 

In my particular case, ComFSK or USBCom3 was seen by the computer as Com6.  This info goes into MMTTY only; on the transmit tab, PTT&FSK are Port Com 6.  On the Misc tab, under Tx Port, Com-TxD(FSK) is selected, and under the USB Port button Limiting Speed is checked.  On the Sound card tab, I select the proper input on my soundcard, in this case Line In. 

When operating RTTY, I try to set up the soundcard for a constant AF level in.  I run the SP jack on the RR Control unit to the soundcard, plug my headphones into the soundcard output, then set the level of the input using the K3Mini0 AF and RF gain controls.  During the contest, I use the soundcard out level control as an adjustment to the loudness in the headphones. 

One other thing- I bought the original cables from Elecraft, but I've made my own since then.  The Y cable on the back of the Remote K3 has one leg for band decoders, and the other for the RR box lead.  The RR Box lead, as supplied from Elecraft, only has 3 connections: On pin, FSK pin, and Ground pin, so those are the only lines that are on the cable I made.  The only connection that both cables have in common is the ground pin.  That 4 "line" mini-phonos is why I use an external sound card; external sound cards are very cheap, and you can choose the card for the inputs you have available.

In any case, its working for me.  First Q was 3Z0R, with 100w, on 40m. 

If anyone needs a copy of my setup files, let me know.  I'll be on limited time in the WPX RTTY as KM1W.

Dennis W1UE

97

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Missing COMFSK?

« on: 2015-02-12, 20:15:27 »

Larry, I agree, there should not be any difference.  I have a K3Mini and a full K3, so I can try it both ways tonight and see if it makes a difference.  I'll only try the full K3 if I can't get the Mini to work right.  UE

98

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Dumb Question About FSK in a K3/Twin set up

« on: 2015-02-12, 20:13:27 »

As I wrote up before, I was able to get RTTY working no problems.  Yes, the audio from the RR Control Unit was fed to an outboard USB sound card, and I had MMTTY receiving and transmitting RTTY without any problem.  With the WPX RTTY this weekend, I will hook it all up tonight and let you guys know what I had to do to get it to work, assuming I get it to work.   The only setting I know I will have to change in my setup is the USB Com 3 to RTTY instead of Winkeyer, but there may be others.   Dennis W1UE   Now, back to raking the snow off my roof before the next storm gets here!

99

General discussion forum / Re: No SSB Audio

« on: 2015-01-24, 19:51:14 »

Problem solved.  I didn't really find a problem, but I opened up the Remote RRC, wiggled the strapping wires, put it all back together, and it then worked.  My assumption is that one of those wires wasn't making contact, and my moving it caused the contact to be made again.  Thanks for the suggestions.

100

General discussion forum / No SSB Audio

« on: 2015-01-22, 19:11:14 »

Up until recently, I could transmit SSB using my RR setup.  Now, I can't transmit SSB; a different Control unit at a different location also can't transmit SSB.  I've checked that the correct cables from the RR remote unit was plugged into the correct jack on the remote K3, and they were.  I connected a different microphone to the remote K3, and it transmitted SSB no problem. 

Is there any method of applying audio to the Remote unit on site, to test out the Remote unit?  Any particular ports to check on the remote router?  Any other guidance in what may have changed?  As I said, it did work, but now it doesn't.

Dennis W1UE

101

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: Remote Rig Winkeyer and N1MMPlus

« on: 2015-01-10, 02:27:00 »

Mike-  I have had this happen to me several times in different configurations.  It sounds like a conflict among virtual serial port programs.  Do you have any other programs on your computer that create virtual serial ports?  Some programs to check for are the Microham virtual serial port creator,  Microbit, VSPR, N8VB, com0com, or even a USB to serial converter.  What happens is that the methods that the different programs use to create the virtual comports are not compatible; the communication from N1MM goes out to the Winkey, but the end info doesn't come back.  Another way to test if that is the problem is to hit the ESC key when it doesn't release the PTT (sometimes you have to hit it twice)- if that then restores the function keys, it is most likely a virtual serial port problem issue.

The solution: eliminate all the virtual serial port creators with the exception of the one you want to use (Microbit).  It often isn't enough to not use the program; you often have to uninstall it from the computer.  If that solves your problem, then you'll know that's the problem.

I spent several hours today trying to get the Winkeyer emulation in the RCC to work with no luck.  I couldn't get the Winkey emulation to be saved; I could change it, but when I went to Apply it the Com2 always came back as "parallel to Com0".  I could get it to save as Com1, but then I couldn't get radio control for N1MM.  I finally had to resort to an outboard USB winkey.  BTW, setup here is a K3 Mini 0 Control Unit to a Remote K3. 

Dennis W1UE

102

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Re: N1MM keying/RRC/K3

« on: 2014-08-18, 18:58:05 »

Yes, you will need some kind of keyer like a Winkey to key at the remote site.

We use the setup that you described when we do a Multi-op contest operation, and we need the log to be present at the remote site for all to use.  If someone is doing a single-op effort remotely, we use N1MM on the control computer and send the keying out via the Remote Rig boxes.  Then the log stays at the Control computer.  Just depends on how you want to do it.

Dennis W1UE

103

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / K3 RTS/DTR CW

« on: 2014-08-05, 03:09:48 »

I'm going to the Remote site tomorrow.  I've been looking at what's available in firmware at the RR Box there, and I don't see any clear way to do this.

My desire is to key the K3 via the rear panel KEY jack connected to the Remote Rig box when I want to use the Remote Station, and to key the K3 via the RTS/DTR lines via N1MM when I am using it locally.  In this manner, I don't have to switch any cables when going from Remote to Local usage.

How can I set up the Remote Rig box to do so?  I think I see how to do it at the Control end, but I want to do it at the Remote end and I don't see the firmware options that will allow me to do so.

Dennis W1UE

104

Configuration, RRC 1258 / Re: How to setup for N1MM and Winkey operation?

« on: 2014-07-05, 22:04:15 »

Steve, in Sept 2012 I wrote a reply in this forum about using N1MM and Remote Rig.  The two do work together, and they work well together.  Rather than repeat it here, find the reply and you should be able to get it going.  Dennis W1UE

105

General discussion forum / Re: Rx stream hiccupping about every 10 seconds

« on: 2014-07-05, 21:59:18 »

John, I was having problems similar to yours.  We finally went to the Internet provider- in this case Comcast- and complained.  They, of course, said there was nothing wrong with their Internet service to us, but the problem suspiciously disappeared.  Now, we only seem to have the problem on Sunday mornings, starting about midnight local time.  Another suggestion that I tried and seemed to reduce the dropouts, was to change the audio quality on the "Radio Settings" tab to
"0"- it was set to "2".  It results in poorer quality audio, but after awhile I got used to it.  Dennis W1UE