[TenTec] Re: Orion qsk and 425

Sat Aug 14 11:35:33 EDT 2004

Bob, thanks for your help. I presume that you have two amps and that's 
why you're using both ext t/r relays?
I was using settings similar to yours except I was using 100% QSK delay 
and 20% amp ext t/r setting. I've increased the amp delay to 50% and 
there is clearly less relay clicking. I'm pretty sure that 20% worked OK 
in the past, and I wonder if this setting may have changed with version 
1.371? I still think that the 100% QSK delay is too short at speeds 
less than about 20 wpm.
I also have PTT in CW set to KEY, but I really wasn't sure what this 
setting was doing. I went back to the revision description and I now 
think I see: it allows me to use pin 3 on the AUX I/O (and/or pin 3 of 
the front panel mike connector) to send CW from a computer. Frankly, I 
didn't understand that at first. I now use DX4WIN from an LPT port to 
send CW via a transistor keying interface, and I wonder if using the AUX 
I/O would allow me to eliminate that interface? Is that what you're doing?
I also do not operate QSK and have not seen any problems in using v. 
1.371 with the 425. However, I did notice that overshoot you were 
talking about but wasn't sure whether it was happening with earlier 
revisions or not.
I'm not sure what you mean by "for my pc I let it just run in cw."
Thanks for your input. (BTW, I don't know how I missed your first 
reply. It may have gotten caught in my ISP's spam trap.)
73, Joe
bob finger wrote:
>Hi Joe: and I sent you an answer directly.
>>I'll try again as I do not have the original message I sent. Plus I am
>copying the reflector.
>>I use the ptt outputs of the Orion. Menu sets for Orion are:
>>menu = tx = keying loops 1 and 2 off; ext t/r delay 1 and 2 at 50%
>mernu=cw=cw qsk delay 70%; ssb = cw jack ptt off; ptt in cw as key
>>for my pc I let it just run in cw, and I can use either ptt or vox in ssb
>>This way the Orion works as normal in cw with a bit of delay at the end but
>not enuff to harm anything. It keeps the relays in the 425 (and in the
>alpha 78) from following keying. I do not use qsk at all with the Orion and
>the amps. I can also hit the footswitch and lock the key for tuning. It is
>very easy using N1MM logger. I type in cw, then hit the footswitch to tune
>and then type lsb/usb to go back to ssb if I started there.
>>The Orion and 425 work together (or did with early firmware!) I have not
>tried it with 1.371 and know others are having difficulty with the 425 and
>Orion using 1.371 firmware. TT is working on the problem.
>>The other problem with Orion and 425 is output power overshoot. If I am
>running the 425 right at the high edge ie grid current at about max then the
>first dit or two will overshoot and overdrive the 425. I have to turn the
>Orion output power down about 5 watts to keep that from happening. The
>difference in output power is minimal so no big deal. Without the grid
>overdrive led tho, one would never know it was happening. I have a grid
>overdrive protection circuit built in, and it can trip the amp off....so I
>am careful to set the output power of the Orion before keying the amp. I
>have to set the Orion ouput on 160/80cw to 25 watts and on 40 cw to 40 watts
>to avoid initial overdrive. (I use the alpha 78 on the high bands)
>>IMO real qro qsk can only be had by using a separate tx/rx and rx antenna.
>No clicking/clacking or anything else. The only other solution is a pin
>diode switch, but that is another set of challenges. The Ameritron qsk
>switch does work quite well but is very susceptible to transients on the
>feedlines. The only time I would want true qsk is traffic handling, and I do
>not do that anymore!
>>Hope this helps. 73 bob de w9ge
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