[WriteLog] Problems with CW keying

Sun Feb 22 10:53:20 EST 2004

I would like to share the replies I received regarding this problem.
Thanks to those below who replied. I really appreciate the quick and thoughtful responses. The CW keying problem seems to be fixed. Now, I will rebuild my interface box and include some ferrites. I will assume the lockup is caused by RF. Since my qth is a 5th wheel trailer, I really don't have much of a ground. Got to work that out.
 ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: Dinsterdog at aol.com 
 To: k7jj at arrl.net 
 Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 9:25 AM
 Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Problems with CW keying
 Under Port settings in XP, change device manager to "try not to use an interrupt"
 Add in the writelog file.ini.file the line CW_ON_PIN=1 under ports.
 KK9A gave me these tips and they worked with no further problems-
 73 Paul N0AH
 Hi Dave
 I had the same problem with the cw stuttering. I was running a 233MHZ 
 computer with windows 98. The cause was other programs running. I would close 
 all programs and stop processes that were running in the background before a 
 cw contest. I now have a 2.4GHZ Dell and do not have the problem.
 As far as the transmitter locking up. I have a FT-1000MKV. It did the same 
 thing. I have a electronic keyer in parallel with the computer keying output. 
 It seems the RF would somehow get into the electronic keyer and lock the rig. 
 It happened mostly on 80 and 160. I had to turn the rig off to get it to 
 stop. Turning the keyer off did nothing. I did some grounding and used some 
 ferrit chokes and it doesn't seem to happen anymore. I am also using an 
 optoisolator for keying the rig via the serial port. It is the circuit in the 
 Writelog manual.
 I hope that this helps, or steers you in the right direction.
 Charlie
 WA3IIA
 Try putting in a 300 ms delay in the PTT line. Setup|Ports and then one of
 the CW keying dialog boxes has a place for the delay. Sometimes the radio
 and computer is too fast with each other.
 Scot Herrick
 See K9JY's WriteLog User Support Site at:
 http://www.k9jy.com
 mailto:scot at k9jy.com
 Dave I had a similar problem with my IC-746 and found it to be that I had
 make the following changes in the ports section of setup 
 Com port # commPTT OFF 
 CWPTT set to command rig on Com port and set PTT to CW delay to 20msec 
 CW keyer type should be PC generates 
 Hope this helps 
 Please let me know 
 Cheers n Beers
 Nick 
 2E0MLR