[TenTec] Let's talk QSK linears

[Ten-Tec Inc.]

Ten-Tec currently manufactures three (four, including the limited Titan Gold)
QSK-capable linear amplifiers.  There has been some confusion over what will and
will not key a QSK linear, as QSK.  Though this sounds basic, I'd like to
point out that *any* transceiver will work with our linear amplifiers in "PTT"
(non-QSK) CW mode.  This is how you can determine what will or will not work 
with our amps, if you want to run full break-in CW.

Our own transceivers use a QSK keying loop.  We use a jumper across the TX OUT
and TX EN jacks on the back of our more recent rigs to close the QSK keying
loop,
when not keying a linear amplifier.  Hooking TX OUT to IN and TX EN to OUT on
the linear completes the QSK loop for QSK keying of an amplifier.  Some of our
older transceivers (Corsair I comes to mind) did not have the QSK keying loop
as a feature but can be modified for full break-in amp keying. 

The Japanese transceivers are a little more tricky.  Yaesu figured out recently
that the QSK keying loop is a desirable attribute and has it present in the
FT1000D, FT1000MP, FT900 and FT990 transceivers.  Accessible via one of the DIN
connectors on the back of the transceiver.  These rigs will run full break-in
with our amps.  Neither Icom or Kenwood uses a QSK keying loop in their
transceivers and cannot directly key a QSK amp in QSK mode. 

There is an option though:  You'll note I said that they cannot "directly" key
our linears in QSK mode.  The way around this is to plug your handy electronic
keyer into the IN jack on the amplifier, run a line from OUT to the KEY IN 
jack on your transceiver and voila, you're running QSK CW.  The QSK performance
will be slightly degraded but still very useable.  This can be done with any
transceiver, even a QSK-capable one.  The key point is that if you own a rig
that has no QSK keying loop, you will be unable to key a linear full break-in
with the rig's internal keyer or with any device plugged directly into the key
input on the transceiver.  You could still use the linear in standard "PTT" mode
for CW.

73,
Scott Robbins, W4PA
Ten-Tec, Inc. 
   


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