[Fourlanders] 6 Meter Contest Update

[Jim Worsham]

Hello everyone.  I just wanted to give you all an update on contest
preparations for 6.  Without going into all of the details of learning the
ins and outs of a new rig I was able to get the K3 and computer setup and
working today.  I made several contacts on 6 and was able to confirm that it
works and sounds great!  I was even successful at getting WSJT to run with
it.  There are a couple of remaining issues though:

 

1.	The version of Writelog I am running is 10.67B dated May 2008.  Not
really an issue but I suggest that everyone verify that they are running
this version of Writelog.  The K3 worked with it just fine by selecting K2
in the menu and setting the baud rate.
2.	There is no jack on the front of the K3 for a CW paddle proving
again that no rig is perfect.  This is going to make plugging different CW
paddles in difficult.  Unless you want to use my Bencher I suggest that you
hard core CW guys come up with a spare paddle that you can all live with and
bring that to the mountain for the 6 meter station.

 

In the category of things every rig should do, the K3 allows you to set a
delay between the time it keys an external power amplifier and the K3
transmits.  The delay can be as much as 100 ms to allow the relays in the
amplifier to settle.  This means that Bob doesn't have to worry about me
toasting the TR relay in his amplifier and no sequencer is required.  Why
Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood don't do that in their rigs is beyond me.  It is an
obvious and most likely easy thing to do (software).  Anyway, I am going to
leave everything together and continue testing for a couple of days.  If
anyone wants to hear the K3 on 6 just let me know and I will get on the air
with you.

 

73

Jim, W4KXY

 

It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart
you are.  If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong.

Richard P. Feynman