[SEDXC] VP6DX and RTTY with K3

[Don Nesbitt]

A quick report for those interested in the Elecraft
K3.

I worked VP6DX on 30 meters using the K3's built-in
RTTY encoder/decoder.  Power was 100 watts output (the
rig barely got warm) to my ladder-line fed "sort of"
40 meter dipole. Pretty amazing to me!

Yes Bill (N4NX), I did copy your RTTY Q with them -
very nice!

RTTY in the K3 is a fairly rudimentary implementation
but it does work and works well!  NO external
computer, cables, decoders, isolation gizmos, etc.
needed.  It's all internal to the K3!

Yes, all the isolated ports are there if you want to
use all the external stuff: TNC, computer, etc. - but
- if you want to keep it simple, you can!

The decoded RTTY scrolls across the screen where VFO B
is normally displayed.  It goes by fairly quickly so
you have to pay attention. There is no way to save it
or replay it!

You have to use the internal keyer to send your
message using paddles.  What you send is also scrolled
across the VFO B area as you send it.  If you are
sloppy with the paddle, you will quickly learn not to
be as the decoder is quite non-forgiving!

You can put "canned" messages in the CW memories and
then just hit the appropriate memory key to have the
message sent via RTTY.  This is what I did when I
worked VP6DX.  I have had other Q's where I just used
the paddles.

While there is what appears to be a keyboard
connection on the bottom of the rig, it is used only
by the factory and DOES NOT allow for an external
keyboard to be used for RTTY.  This MAY BE implemented
in the future.

PSK31 can also be decoded at this time and scrolls
across just as RTTY.  The transmit function for PSK31
has NOT yet been implemented.  It will be in a future
software release.

Frankly, I'm not a fan of digital modes (other than
CW) but this is pretty cool!

I'll bring the K3 along to our meeting on Wednesday
(20th) in case anyone who has not actually seen one
"in the flesh" would like to see it.  NO, I don't work
for the company!  '73 es gud dxing -- Don N4HH

BTW: Apparently the K3 is now at the top of the heap
according to Rob Sherwood.  

See:  http://www.sherweng.com/table.html



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