John,
A couple of questions:
1. Do you plan to work CW or only SSB?
2. If CW, will you use it with your Hercules or some other amplifier?
3. If another amplifier, which make and model (due to relay switching
timing)?
There are several so called "soft key" solutions on the market.
Some sell them, others (AD5X) suggest ways of home-brewing.
Basically what these do is use a big hefty transistor to switch the amp.
That way there is no danger of blowing the Eagle's internal open collector
switching transistor.
However unlike the Orion or Omni VII, the Eagle has no post-dit delay or
"hang" delay.
So if you try to key an Ameritron amp without the optional QSK switch, all
hell breaks loose inside the amp.
In that case it is best to buy the Model 318 Amp Keyer.
But it uses a relay so it does add about 3ms delay to the switching time of
the amp.
I threw that relay out and just used the built-in open collector transistor
of the 318 to switch Ameritron amp. but with the added advantage that I got
adjustable hang time. Now it is nice and silent.
However I doubt there is time enough to sort this before you operations next
week.
If you're interested in my mods to the 318, it is on my web, here:
http://www.dj0ip.de/downloads/
(It is file no. 4 on that page.)
73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John Farler
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 5:10 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] A real post and question
OK kids - (I used to be a school principal) Let's quit the arguing about
how many angels will fit on a pin, and make this the civil discourse it
should be, especially with all the good tech's here. John Henry has taken
on the SW project, and I dont care too much about lab comparisons, which, in
my view, have Gone to an absurb level that will not probably be noiced on
the air.
My problem is that I will ACTUALLY BE OPERATING during the KY WEEK COMING UP
TUE AS A W1AW/4 CENTENNIAL STATION. I have my regular station and SW setup
(Omn 6+ and Hercules II.) I took the TT deal and got an Eagle, which just
came in and I haven't had a chance to even hook it up. If I learn enough,
I'd like to get it on the air some.
I know it will switch SOME linears through the accessory jack, but would
like more isolation and more current head room on the switching lead,
without losing the necessary delay. I'm thinking the circuit might not be
very complicated. Question is: Has anyone made such a gadget, or should I
just get the TT Accessory?
Thanks,
73,
John, K4AVX
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