[TenTec] ORION QRQ Performance (long)

[Bob Henderson]

Duane N9 DG wrote:

> Was WriteLog generating CW via the serial Port? Or was
> a MK-1100 Multi-Keyer being used? The Multi-Keyer was
> designed do alleviate various CW timming issues when
> using trying to use a PC's serial port's RTS or DTR
> line to key CW. The timming of those pins are not, and
> cannot be guaranteed be very precise, RS232 ports are
> not really being meant to be used as a precisely
> timmed switch source. There could be numerous OS
> introduced timming errors as well, all of them quite
> variable depending on the OS and the hardware's
> performance.

and Barry N1EU wrote:

>suspect unless you can monitor it directly.  It would
>be nice to rule that out as a potential source of the
>problem by using an external keying device

Writelog generated the CW using a W5XD Multi-keyer which I rely on for SO2R
control and generation of clean stutter free code.  The Multi-keyer accepts
asynchronous high speed ascii from a com port and generates the cw external
to the computer.  I'm sorry but I should have mentioned that in my write up.
I am convinced that the code produced and used to key Orion is reliable.

I think Sinisa's comment concerning rig temperature probably explains the
experience I had when I first performed testing this morning:

>and found that quality of transmitted CW greatly
>varied with code speed, time between characters/words and
>especially with rig temperature.

Bob, 5B4AGN