[TenTec] QSK with QSK-5PC

[al_lorona at agilent.com]

Tommy,

I never understand you. You start off by dismissing the 'figure of merit' concept, then you conclude by giving various figures of merit for various amplifiers! I'll take the latter and pretend that you didn't say the former.

Thank you for these very useful numbers.

I will disagree with you, however, and say that why should QSK go out the window just because I am using an amplifier?

Al


> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tommy
> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 2:10 PM
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] QSK with QSK-5PC
> 
> 
> 'Figure of merit' ? I don't think so. The primary purpose of an 
> amplifier is to amplify. QSK in an amplifier is a sometimes added 
> luxury.
> 
> I think if you would get same Ten Tec manuals and study the 
> schematics, you would understand how the Ten Tec QSK system works. 
> It is the amplifier that keys the transceiver and the amplifier does 
> not key the transceiver until all of the amplifiers relays are 
> closed. Most Ten Tec amplifier vacuum relays have a closure time 
> spec of 6 milliseconds.
> 
> In my opinion, the Alpha 87A, which uses PIN diodes for T/R 
> switching would have to be the quickest amplifier with QSK. The Ten 
> Tec line of amplifiers are no slouches. Even though they are not 
> guaranteed to run QSK over 40 wpm, my Titan 425 handled 120 wpm 
> quite well and my Titan 3 handles up to 80 wpm quite well. As for a 
> 'really' good high speed QSK radio, my opinion is the Corsair II and 
> the Icom IC-781, with the Omni 6 and the Omni 6 Plus coming in a 
> very close second.
> 
> Tom - W4BQF
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <al_lorona at agilent.com>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 4:45 PM
> Subject: RE: [TenTec] QSK with QSK-5PC
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >
> > Depends on the amplifier's relay close delay time, doesn't it? 
> > That
> > assumes you're using the QSK loop and the amp relay is keying
> > the rig.
> > So, in this case, it would be a fixed value depending on the
> > individual
> > amp.
> >
> >         73,  Duane
> 
> Hi, Duane. Well, you've got an interesting point. If it's a fixed 
> value, then as my CW speed increases, the relay delay time becomes a 
> bigger and bigger percentage of my inter-dit time, and at some speed 
> that will cease to be QSK.
> 
> This brings up a point. Maybe a figure of merit for an amplifier 
> would be the maximum speed at which you can still hear in between 
> dits.
> 
> I wonder which amp/rig combination is the fastest one out there 
> right now? I was hoping that the QSK aficionados would have already 
> run through every amp on the face of the earth and rated them 
> according to this figure of merit.
> 
> Al  W6LX
> 
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