[SCCC] CW Keying Interface

[Jeff Kincaid, W6JK]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for all of the input.  I got more than I bargained for.  :)

CT doesn't do CQP either (doesn't dupe properly), so I've been using CQP WIN for that.  But I'm unable to find any other reason to abandon CT.  I'm also still using DRDos and WordStar..

'JK

--- On Tue, 5/28/13, Dennis Vernacchia <n6ki73 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Dennis Vernacchia <n6ki73 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SCCC] CW Keying Interface
To: w6jk at arrl.net
Cc: "SCCC Reflector" <sccc at contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 9:09 PM

Jeff,

Re: your nifty MosFet isolator board.....the answer to your question is, YES,
but only typically needed  for only the contestors still using CT DOS & Old gear !

BTW, If you do graduate to a Windows based program with a newer computer that has NO serial ports and only has USB ports to connect your devices to, and you use USB to Serial Converters - be sure to use ones that are "FTDI" and NOT "Prolific" chipset related !!! ( There have been issues with getting the Prolic ones working reliabluy or sometimes, working at all from previous experience and sage advise from some well versed programmers !


Some of us Computer Luddites have graduated to using 
WINTEST , which is really like using CT on Steroids but unfortunately
even though it is most likely the easiest of the WINDOWS based 
contest logging programs to learn and use ( ie N1mm and Writelog are much harder to learn and use and eat up more computer resources like memory and processor power I have been told and sometimes experienced ), WinTest it is still gonna frustrate you with issues in the learning curve AND in the middle of a contest when the program or an attached device or function ultimately fails ! 

( The manual in Wiki-pedia form will drive you nuts trying to find a key word that you think is connected to your problem, so get a copy in PDF form which will be easier to do a search - ah my kingdom for an ALT-H simple function/list !)

( With CT DOS version - just reboot in 10 seconds and try again ! Not so with
these Windows based programs ! ) 

Unfortunately, support is now slim to none for CT DOS and CTWIN never was a solution and still has shortcomings that have kept me from using CTWIN.


Be advised that WinTest does not do ALL the USA domestic contests like CQP for instance and only Texas QP is supported. The explanation I get from the WinTest Power Users is that WinTest was written by 2 French hams who cut their teeth on CT DOS and that they were/are more concerned with a European market.

( Why did they write the program to handle Texas QSO Party which has like 200+ counties and,.... CA QP ....- the PREMEIR state QSO party,..... got left twisting in the wind...go figure !!!
(Maybe the 2 French programmers have well heeled friends in Texas that send them FREE cases of Filet Mignon every year ??? ;-) 


73, Dennis N6KI

P.S. - This was Not sent from my STINKIN i Phone !

P.P.S. - Bob, where's the link to all the pix you took in Visalia ???
( Samsung Galaxy IV is on my horizon come mid June ! ;-) ! )


 

 





On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 12:11 PM, Jeff Kincaid, W6JK <w6jk at arrl.net> wrote:

As something of a Luddite, I'm still using CT for logging here at W6JK, which uses the DTR line on a COM port for CW keying.  I hear tell that other guys don't even have COM ports any more, which is frankly pretty shocking over here.  :)  Anyway, since I got the FT-102, and later, the FT-736R, I've been switching interfaces all the time because the older rigs (FT-101, various Swans & Nationals)


 all have negative keying voltages while "modern" rigs are positive.  It's especially annoying when I want to use the Swan Too Drifty (250c) and the FT-736R on the same weekend. 

 Does anyone else have these problems?



IR makes a nifty FET-output optoislator that cures this problem.  5 mA from the DTR line will switch 200 Volts of any (or variable) polarity up to 130 mA.  That would seem to cover most any rig I'm familiar with.  I've designed a circuit board that solders directly to the pins of a DB9F connector and fits in the standard plastic shell, and am building up some prototypes.  Is there any demand for this sort of thing these days?




Jeff W6JK. 

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