[TenTec] QSK or not?

[Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP]

Yes, you are correct, but when you add the terribly expensive external
circuits, the amp no longer attempts to follow CW keying with its internal
relay.  The Ameritron amps can only run clean QSK with a $500 add-on, which
my experience has been, are not real reliable.  My experience is based on
personal use for a few years, and knowledge of experience of several other
members of my contesting club.

If you want to run QSK at more than about 10 wpm, it would be better to
purchase an amplifier with a high speed T/R relay.  There are plenty of them
on the market.  

I personally switched to a QSK Technologies amplifier.  In fact I bought two
of them.  Never had any problems with them.

Today I only have an older Ameritron (clone), the SB-1000, and I just don't
run "full" QSK.  For contests I set the timing such that I can hear between
words.  IMO, there is no tangible loss of functionality compared to full
QSK.  
For normal non-contest QSOs I run about 1 second hang delay, which helps me
keep what little bit of sanity I still have left.

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Brian
Carling
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 5:03 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] QSK or not?

Yes, but I think a lot of radio amateurs using good QSK Rigs like the Tentec
have managed to convert their amplifiers for QSK operation by adding a
circuitboard like the QSK 1500 or the QSK5.

I realize that is more than just a simple homebrewer undertaking.

Best regards - Bry Carling



> On Mar 20, 2014, at 11:51 AM, "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP" <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
wrote:
> 
> It's not quite that simple, at least not always.
> 
> "IF" your amplifier has a very fast T/R relay, such as a vacuum relay, 
> then you are correct; a few simple switching transistors and a tiny 
> relay will do the trick.  But that only works when the main T/R relay 
> is fast enough to follow CW keying.
> 
> If instead you have an amplifier whose T/R relay needs 20 mS to 
> switch, AND you connect the hand-shaking just as the Ten-Tec keying 
> loop normally works, the CW is not going to be very smooth.  Timing 
> will get screwed up.  The open-frame relays are just too slow to do 
> that.  The only way to make them work is to have hang delay such that they
don't need to follow the keying.
> The Ten-Tec hand-shaking does not do this.
> 
> And then if you have to work with hang delay, you don't need the 
> complexity of the hand-shaking.  You just need sufficient pre-dit 
> delay and adjustable hang delay - but you sacrifice true QSK.
> TRUE QSK?  
> You never had it in the first place because you did not buy a QSK
amplifier!
> 
> No matter what you feed a mule or how you treat it, it will never be a 
> race horse!
> 
> (On the other hand, not everybody needs or wants a race horse and 
> mules are wonderful animals!)
> 
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
> 
> -------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> bcarling at cfl.rr.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] QSK or not?
> 
> I have to wonder why some guys will spend $500 for an external 
> accessory to do QSK with their linear amplifier.  The system in my TT 
> 422 is so simple. A couple of simple boards and a relay.
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec