== Connecting and configuring the Elecraft K3 or K4 for PSK, RTTY, CW, and Phone operation ==
de '''''Rich, VE3KI'''''
=== Connections ===
1. an audio cable from the transceiver's '''Line Out''' jack to the sound card's '''Line In''' jack (an external isolation transformer is not necessary, as it's built in to the transceiver)
1. an audio cable from the soundcard's '''Line Out''' jack to the transceiver's '''Line In''' jack (an external isolation transformer is not necessary, as it's built in to the transceiver)
1. a [[PTTMechanism|PTT connection]], which can use any one of three possibilities (see Note 1 below):
a. [[PTTMechanism|PTT]] via the '''Xcvr Ctrl App''' option on the '''PTT''' tab of !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, with Commander configured to accomplish RX-TX switching by asserting the '''RTS''' or '''DTR''' hardware signal line on its primary CAT serial port without an interface circuit. and with '''PTT via CAT''' disabled (See Note 2 below for configuration instructions)
a. [[PTTMechanism|PTT]] via the '''Xcvr Ctrl App''' option on the '''PTT''' tab of !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, with Commander configured to accomplish RX-TX switching by sending CAT commands, or
a. [[PTTMechanism|PTT]] via the '''RTS''' or '''DTR''' option on the '''PTT''' tab of !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, which enables !WinWarbler to accomplish RX-TX switching by asserting '''RTS''' or '''DTR''' on a separate serial port through an external interface (note that !WinWarbler cannot use the same serial port as is being used by Commander for CAT control)
1. !WinWarbler can transmit CW via the transceiver without any external CW interface; on the '''CW''' tab of !WinWarbler's '''Config''' window, set the '''Keying Mode''' panel to '''Xcvr Ctrl App''', and enable the transceiver's '''VOX''' function.
* If this method is used, the ''Esc'' key cannot be used to interrupt a macro message in progress
* Alternatively, an [[CWConnection|external CW interface]] can be used. !WinWarbler does not support hardware CW keying directly via the '''DTR''' or '''RTS''' line on the transceiver's serial port as described in the transceiver Owner's Manual.
1. a [[FSKConnection| FSK connection]] (if FSK RTTY operation is desired)
=== transceiver Configuration ===
The transceiver's factory default '''Line In''' level is 0, which prevents transmission in either PSK or AFSK RTTY. To set this level to a reasonable value,
1. set the ''''Mic Sel''' menu item to ''Line In''
1. set the '''Microphone Gain''' to 20
=== PSK Configuration ===
For PSK with !WinWarbler, the transceiver should be in ''DATA'' mode, ''DATA A'' submode. In !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, under the '''PSK''' tab, I have the '''Receiver modulation''' and '''Transmitter modulation''' panels set to ''BPSK USB'', and the '''transceiver mode''' panel set to ''Data-U''. The '''optimal offset''' is set to ''1500'', which is where the transceiver's filters are centred in DATA A submode. The '''default !TxPwr''' should be set to 50 watts or less in PSK mode to avoid IMD due to clipping on peaks.
* [[SettingAudioInputLevel|Set the Audio Input Level for PSK operation]]
* [[SettingAudioOutputLevel|Set the Audio Output Level for PSK operation]]
=== AFSK RTTY Configuration ===
For AFSK RTTY, the transceiver should be in ''DATA'' mode, ''AFSK A'' submode.
In !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, under the '''RTTY''' tab, set the '''Modulation and transceiver mode''' panel to ''AFSK LSB'', the '''Xcvr mode''' to ''RTTY'', the '''Mark offset''' to ''-2125'', and the '''Optimal Offset''' to ''2210'' (that's with the transceiver's Pitch control set to 2125 in AFSK A. For other pitch settings, set the '''Mark offset''' to the negative of the Pitch and the '''Optimal Offset''' to Pitch+85). If !WinWarbler's '''Mark offset''' and '''Optimal Offset''' are not consistent with the transceiver's Pitch setting, the transceiver's internal filter may prevent RTTY audio from being transmitted.
On the '''General''' tab of Commander's '''Configuration''' window, set the '''RTTY sub-mode''' to ''AFSK''. In contrast to PSK, there is no need to restrict the transceiver's power output in RTTY.
* [[SettingRTTYAudioInputLevel|Set the Audio Input Level for RTTY operation]]
* [[SettingRTTYAudioOutputLevel|Set the AFSK Audio Output Level for AFSK RTTY operation]]
=== FSK RTTY Configuration ===
For FSK RTTY, the transceiver should be in ''DATA'' mode, ''FSK D'' submode. In !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, under the '''RTTY''' tab, set the '''Modulation and transceiver mode''' panel to ''FSK LSB'', the '''Xcvr Mode''' to ''RTTY'', the '''Mark offset''' to ''-2125'', the '''Optimal Offset''' to ''2210'' (as described above for AFSK RTTY), and the '''FSK Control''' to the serial port you are using for [[FSKConnection|FSK keying]]. On the '''General''' tab of Commander's '''Configuration''' window, set the '''RTTY sub-mode''' to ''FSK''. With the transceiver's ''DATA'' submode set to ''FSK D'', you may need to ensure that the transceiver's FSK speed is set correctly (''45 bps'' is the normal setting for amateur RTTY). In contrast to PSK, there is no need to restrict the transceiver's power output in RTTY.
* [[SettingRTTYAudioInputLevel|Set the Audio Input Level for RTTY operation]]
=== Notes ===
1. Do not use both CAT control and '''RTS'''/'''DTR''' [[PTTMechanism|PTT connection]] methods in parallel. Some transceiver owners who have done this have reported that their radio sometimes refuses to switch from TX to RX when both methods are used simultaneously, leaving it hung up in transmit. A single PTT mechanism is sufficient and avoids this possible ''race condition''.
1. To use [[PTTMechanism|PTT]] via '''RTS''' (or '''DTR''') on the transceiver's serial port,
a. On the '''General''' tab of Commander's '''Configuration''' window, check the '''Suppress CAT''' box
a. On the '''Ports''' tab of Commander's '''Configuration''' window, set '''RTS''' to ''TX''
a. On the '''PTT''' tab of !WinWarbler's '''Configuration''' window, set the '''Port''' to ''Xcvr Ctrl App''
a. Set the transceiver's '''CONFIG:PTT-KEY''' menu item to ''RTS-OFF''
1. The transceiver can be directed to transmit CW, report decoded CW, transmit RTTY, and report decoded RTTY via CAT commands. Commander and !WinWarbler can be configured to use this capability, permitting [[transceiverCWRTTYXcv|CW and RTTY operation without external interfaces]].
=== Additional Topics ===
* [[TransceiverControl|Getting Started with Transceiver Control]]
* [[TransceiverConnection|Connecting a Transceiver to a PC]]
* [[Operation|Getting Started with CW, Phone, PSK, and RTTY Operation]]
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