[WriteLog] Control and Sending Problems

[Gary AL9A]

Mike,

Sounds like you're using Windows to do the keying.  That's an annoying, and 
unfortunately, persistent condition with Windows doing the CW keying chore. 
The problem stems from conflicts within Windows as it tries to manage 
everything else on the computer.  Inevitably there comes the time when you 
want Windows to send your CW and it has several other things it is doing in 
the background at that particular instant.  The result is distorted, choppy 
CW being sent.  By the time you hit Esc and then resend the conflict within 
Windows is over and the message goes out clean.  Then, at some random future 
point, it happens again.  The only sure solution is to quit using Windows to 
send CW and go to an external keyer.

The latest flurry of activity with a CW distortion problem on the reflector 
was kicked off by me.  I have a microHAM Microkeyer II with a WinKey chip 
that was sending some random pauses in the midst of a CW message.  No 
garbled or distorted code, just a slight pause or hesitation in the midst of 
the message.  Some messages consistently showed the problem, others did not. 
I'm running the latest version,10.84D, and Wayne pointed out that there was 
a new ini command added to that version that offers WinKey users a way to 
adjust the buffer time.  It was noted in the release notes when 10.84D came 
out, but I, as well as others, missed the heads up.  Since adding the new 
buffer command to the ini file my WinKey equipped MK II is back sending 
flawless code.

So, the decision is yours.  Continue to suffer random glitches with Windows 
sending CW or opt to add an external keyer to avoid the problem.  Personally 
I highly recommend the MK II - I've never regretted the cost and the support 
is outstanding.

73,
Gary AL9A


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Almeter" <w4mja at yahoo.com>
To: <writelog at contesting.com>
Sent: April 11, 2011 10:07 AM
Subject: [WriteLog] Control and Sending Problems


Hello All, I'm curious if anyone has had a similar issue to what I'm 
experiencing: Last summer, I suffered an EMP, which took out the serial port 
in my station computer, as well as the RS232 in my FT1000MP. I repaired the 
FT-1000MP, and opted to use a USB to Serial adapter for the computer to 
accomplish rig control and CW sending. The problems: Every about 5 or 6 CW 
messages, the CW being sent will become distorted (ill-copyable). Hitting 
the ESC button seems to solve this, but it comes right back after a few CW 
messages. Currently I'm running WL 10.73, so I think I'm immune to the new 
problems with CW distortion...
Setup: FT-1000MP Writelog V 10.73Windows XP Pro HP A600Y
73,

Mike

W4MJA
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