+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 23:12:23 +0200 From: Mario Lorenz Subject: [Elecraft] K2 PSK31 using VOX ? Hello list, as I am now in the process of choosing one of the multiple sound card adapter/decoupler designs to run PSK over my K2, I wonder if I need to care about the PTT line at all, or wheter I just could have the K2 switch to transmit automagically using the VOX ? Any experiences here ? Regards, Mario - -- Mario Lorenz Internet: Ham Radio: DL5MLO at OK0PKL.#BOH.CZE.EU +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 21:21:52 -0400 From: "Bob Lewis \(AA4PB\)" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 PSK31 using VOX ? My experience has been that the K2 VOX will *not* work with PSK31. By the time you feed enough audio level to the K2 to reliably key the vox you will be driving the transmitter into ALC action and have too much IMD. A simple NPN transistor circuit will key the K2 just fine. I built one into the shell of the 9-pin "D" connector that connects to the computer serial port. I use a simple resistive pad to set Tx and Rx audio levels for my lap top - no transformers and no isolation required. You may or may not get away with that, depending upon the grounding scheme, power supply, computer, etc. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 12:41:33 -0100 From: "Julian" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 PSK31 using VOX ? My experience of using VOX included wondering why the radio was transmitting automagically, until I realised it was sending the Windows start-up music and error sounds over the air! After that, I knocked up a simple transistor switch for the PTT line PDQ. That wasn't with the K2, BTW. I found the K2's VOX to be too insensitive to switch to transmit with the audio level set low enough to give a clean signal. I needed a bar or two of ALC before the VOX would come on. There are interfaces now, that have VOX switching built in, presumably because serial ports are becoming as extinct as the dodo. So I guess if you must do it, dedicate the computer to radio use and turn off all Windows sounds, including error beeps. - -- Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, K2 #392) Homepage: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo Mario Lorenz wrote: Hello list, as I am now in the process of choosing one of the multiple sound card adapter/decoupler designs to run PSK over my K2, I wonder if I need to care about the PTT line at all, or wheter I just could have the K2 switch to transmit automagically using the VOX ? Any experiences here ? Regards, Mario +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 21:51:39 -0400 From: Brian Murphy Subject: [Elecraft] Re: PSK31 and Tigertronics SignaLink Hello Ron, I have tried the Buckscommco "RASCAL" interface--it only costs $25 and works great, Everything and I mean everything is included and it ships overnight! It includes opto isolators, isolation transforms and a level control. I ordered the Kenwoood 8 pin version for the K2. What a deal! http://www.packetradio.com/ Brian N4YTL _______________________________________________________ Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 11:35:48 -0400 From: Ron Herman Subject: [Elecraft] Tigertronics SignaLink Anyone tried using the Tigertronics SignaLink interface box for PSK31 with the K2? I couldn't get enough audio out of it. It apparently attenuates the computer output too much. I modified the circuit slightly to reduce this attenuation. The problem now is that to trigger the built in PTT circuit, the audio level is starting to cause ALC action in the K2. I've used a Rigblaster and it works fine. The SignaLink also works fine with the Icom 756. - - -------------------------- Ron Herman from NoWeare NH. K1PDY rherman at gsinet.net +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 00:24:52 -0700 From: "John Clifford" Subject: [Elecraft] RE: PSK31 Help Hello Don, I started running PSK31 on my K2 by making up a mic cord from a RS 8-pin mic connector to a shielded cable that ran to a 1/8" audio plug. Start with the Volume control for your sound card at 0. You can use VOX to enable transmit. I set my K2 up into a dummy load and then started transmitting a 'CQ' macro in HamScope, and then adjusted my soundcard output volume (via the Volume Control) high enough to enable sufficient sound volume to 'trip' VOX mode on... and then put it a click higher so that I wouldn't get intermittent transmission due to a threshold problem. Worked fine with my desktop computer and with one of my subnotebooks, but not with others. The reason this wouldn't work with all computers was because of grounding problems. But, this is an easy way to try PSK31 for the price of a 1/8" plug and a mic plug, and a little time to put everything together. Using this setup, I have chatted over most of the US and to Japan and New Zealand. I recently decided to buy a RigBlaster NOMIC to get rid of the ground problems with some of my computers, and it works very well. Rather than buy their cable, I took a 6' RJ45 Ethernet cable I had lying around and cut it in half, soldering up the pins appropriately and then configuring the jumpers as needed for my K2's mic configuration (Kenwood). Making something up rather than buying everything made me feel a little more like a homebrewer. The reason I didn't buy a kit is because I couldn't see saving $7 and I liked the form factor and quality of materials of the NOMIC... it's about the size of a pack of cigarettes and has a solid aluminum case. If you really want to make up your own soundcard interface, you can find all of the parts you need (as well as a kit) at http://www.packetradio.com/psk31.htm. The really enterprising homebrewer could build this board into his K2 and run a cable to a mini-DIN connector in the back. I chose the NOMIC because it was extremely small (for portable use), gave me the ability to use a serial port to control the transmitter and to key CW with, and didn't require an external power supply. I've thought about taking the circuit board out of the NOMIC's enclosure and putting it into a DB-9 switchbox with an 8-pin plug added, and then I could use the mic if I wanted without having to unplug anything, for a price far less than the regular RigBlasters but with the same features as the new Rigblaster Plus. Check out the Elecraft website's Builder's Resources page for more ideas on what other (way more talented than I) K2 builders have done for digital modes. These guys are a pretty clever bunch. Hope this helps, - jgc John Clifford KD7KGX Heathkit HW-7, HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9 Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2 ...waiting for KPA2 & KAF2! ++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:07:30 -0400 From: "Bob Lewis \(AA4PB\)" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RE: PSK31 Help With my K2 (before the ALC modification for PSK31), by the time I had enough volume from the sound card to trip the vox it was driving the Tx into ALC action and causing poor IMD performance. I found it impossible to use vox and maintain good IMD on PSK31. A simple NPN transistor keying circuit removed the need to use vox. I have not tried it since making the ALC modification. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 17:19:49 -0400 From: "Bob Lewis \(AA4PB\)" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Troubleshooting insight My experience has been that the level of audio drive required for the same RF output power on the K2 changes from one band to another. The higher frequency bands require more audio drive than the lower freqency bands. On SSB this is automatically compensated for by the ALC action. On PSK ALC causes high IMD so you must always operate below the level that causes ALC action. This means that you must reset your sound card output level each time you change bands. ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 22:26:39 -0700 From: "John Grebenkemper, KI6WX" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KSB2 modifications for PSK Eduardo; My understanding is that the resistor value changes and capacitor value change will be incorporated in the next revision of the KSB2 kit. I don't believe that Wayne is planning any other changes. Putting a 5.6K resistor across R1 is my idea to avoid clipping in the NE602 if you have plenty of mike output, or you use PSK31 and want to leave compression enabled. Don't do it if you have a low output mike because you might not have enough drive to get full output on the higher frequency bands. Except for PSK31, doing this change is not very critical because any out of band audio intermodulation distortion will be removed by the SSB filter. - -John KI6WX - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eduardo Jacob" To: Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 6:12 AM Subject: [Elecraft] KSB2 modifications for PSK > I will begin mounting soon the KSB2 module. I have read the modifications > proposed by KI6WX, they seem to be fully approved by Elecraft, I also read > some days ago that somebody stated that these mods will be included in new > versions of the board, so the question is: should I directly make the mods > to my board? I also understand that in the general case the addition of a > 5.6K resistor across R1 is not recomended. > > Regards > > Eduardo/EA2BAJ #2061 +++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 07:08:29 -0400 From: John R Kirby To: crmabbott at mediaone.net, qrp-l at Lehigh.EDU Subject: [107309] Re: PSK 31 question Message-ID: <20010921.070838.-247243.0.n3aaz-qrp at juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit First, disable ALL radio "speech" processing (VOX, CLIPPER and etc). Second, There is a "half power " (the antenna tuner meter will work), "two tone" (data vs no data) test that comes with most PSK31 software that must be run. The two tone half power test provides a SSB technique for data (audio) level adjustment from the PC sound card to the radio input port. At the radio voice input there may be two choices for input, 1) the MIK port and 2) the LINE port . . . I suggest, use the LINE port else an external attenuator (also shown in the PSK software HELP file) is required if the MIK port is used else the radio may be overdriven. I run PSK31 with NO interface between the radio and PC, I use LINE ports on both the radio and PC. I will be glad to answer any 'other' specific questions . . . PSK31 is an O U T S T A N D I N G QRP (weak signal) mode. Enjoy . . . John N3AAZ FM 19 xa On Thu, 20 Sep 2001 16:03:13 -0400 "Charles Mabbott" writes: >Have a friend of mine who said when he is running PSK31 >that he cannot run full power. Must dial the rig back to >10 watts or less. > >If he runs full power is burns up rig. Not sure what >PSK device he is using > >Rig and antenna system work fine without PSK in between. >Any ideas? I will pass information along to him. >Thanks in advance, > >======================= >Chuck Mabbott >AA8VS >42 19' 52" N 83 28' 32" W >Grid Square EN82gh >Home Page: http://aa8vs.dhs.org:81/aa8vs >FP-113 MI-QRP#1212 Firebirds #2117 SOC #445 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 17:15:43 -0500 (EST) From: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] On Tue, 25 Sep 2001, Frank Nockemann wrote: > the sondcard was connected only to the mic-connector and he > told me, that on his icom-transcievers (ic 725) the mid-pin > of the connector is use for rx-nf. also on our club-trx > (icom 735) things are so! > > now my question: is there any standard for usin this pin > for rx-nf. i use my icom hm-103 with an optinal adapter > from western jack to 8-pin mic-connector, so i am not sure > this pin is not used on this mic. > > mni tnx for the upcoming answers an hoping my options will > asap Frank, I assume that "rx-nf" means receive audio (lost in the translation). If so, I am not aware of a standard for the 8-pin connector, but even if it was, you would need to get receive audio to the Microphone connector. Since the headphone jack is on the RF board in the K2, I couldn't come up with a way to do that without wiring between boards, which is a bad idea given the boards are supposed to come apart. The document at http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/PSK31_2.PDF details the hookup using the Mic connector and headphone jack. You can build the voltage divider networks inside the covers of the jacks. That same document includes details on using an opto-isolator chip for push-to-talk, but I chose a simpler (smaller) circuit using a 2N2222 transistor, which I built inside the shell of a DB9 connector. Details of that circuit can be found in AE4JY's WinPSK user guide. http://www.qsl.net/ae4jy/files/winpskuser210.pdf So my interface consists of a cable with Mic and headphone plugs on one end, and two plugs for the computer audio plus a DB9 to Com1 for PTT on the other. Works FB and there is no box. I usually use a "Y" adapter on the headphone jack, providing me a place to leave my headphones connected. The only problem (insignificant to me) is if you drop the PSK program, PTT is keyed so you have to make sure you pull the Mic plug. 73, Dave K9DC, K2 #2211 ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 07:11:15 -0400 From: "Mark J. Dulcey" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] gingrich2 at tigger.dcg.org wrote: > I assume that "rx-nf" means receive audio (lost in the translation). If > so, I am not aware of a standard for the 8-pin connector, but even if it > was, you would need to get receive audio to the Microphone connector. > Since the headphone jack is on the RF board in the K2, I couldn't come up > with a way to do that without wiring between boards, which is a bad idea > given the boards are supposed to come apart. Receive audio is already present on the front panel board, and can easily be routed to the microphone connector, if you have the KSB2. Without the KSB2, you don't have the header connector on the front panel board that is needed to route the various signals to the jack. ++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 18:02:03 -0400 From: "Don Wilhelm" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Hi all, If you want to see my method of routing headphone audio to the microphone connector, you may want to take a look at the 'Switchbox' article on my website http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr The way I did it, simply removing a pigtailed jumper wire from the microphone configuration pins on the front panel board will allow the boards to separate. 73, Don Wilhelm - Wake Forest, NC W3FPR home page: http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/ QRP-L # 485 K2 SN 0020 mailto: w3fpr at arrl.net - ----- Original Message > > ... you would need to get receive audio to the Microphone connector. > Since the headphone jack is on the RF board in the K2, I couldn't come up > with a way to do that without wiring between boards, which is a bad idea > given the boards are supposed to come apart. > ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 11:45:48 -0500 From: Dave Gingrich Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Filter question At 09:55 9/30/2001 -0500, Rich Lentz wrote: >While using on PSK noticed a phenomenon. With the Waterfall display on, >when I switch to a lower band width filter the track of the received signal >shifts about 20 Hz. Re-do the BFO alignment procedure and match the pitches as you change bandwidths as you go through the procedure. If you cannot match the pitches by ear, you could try the procedure while watching the waterfall, or with spectrogram running. You should be able to get it set where it doesn't change at all or no more than a couple of Hz. Might take a couple of passes through the process. Very important to PSK to get this right, if you want to transmit and receive on the same frequency. ===================== Dave Gingrich, K9DC ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 10:31:23 -0700 From: Phil Wheeler Subject: Re: AW: [Elecraft] K2 - Filter question If you are using Version 2 of the firmware, check rhe manual re RTTY mode: http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K2_rev_2FW_rev_B.pdf "RTTY/Data Mode and Fine RIT User-selectable RTTY/Data mode with four independent crystal filters. Also includes a new FINE RIT feature for use with narrow-band data modes (e.g., PSK31) where RX/TX shift has to be minimized. Allows you to match one wide and one narrow filter to within about 3 to 5 Hz (typical)." Phil ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 10:58:20 -0600 From: "George, W5YR" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - PSK31 - Dell Laptop Lynn, pull up the soundcard mixer panel for laptop, go to the RECORD section, and check out the slider, etc. settings. You probably have something set up by default that is inappropriate for what you are doing. You typically have to select whether you are using MIC in or LINE in, etc. and set the output level. Adjust things such that you have a faint background on the waterfall with just receiver/band noise being received. DigiPan is great software and is especially good for your first venture into PSK31. The program MixW 2.0 was written in collaboration with Skip Teller, the author of DigiPan, and is similar in operation. But, it implements many more digital modes, has a logger, and more features including remote control of your K2 or other transceiver. Best setup procedure is to monitor the soundcard output with a scope to make sure that the output is clean and not overdriven or clipped, etc. Also, look at the K2 R0f output envelope with DigiPan in IDLE mode putting out a two-tone signal. Look again for signs of flat-topping or other distortion. Good luck is this is your first venture into PSK31. It is a great qrp mode. 72/73, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe SOC 262 Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better! Icom IC-756PRO #02121 Kachina #91900556 IC-765 #02437 lbailey at aep.com wrote: > > I'm getting ready to try my K2 on PSK31. My last digital mode was Pactor > w/the AEA PK232. > > I downloaded Digi-pan but I don't get the blue waterfall on my Dell > Latitude Laptop running Windows 2000.....I do get it on my HP Desktop at > home. Anybody know what I need to do to get the sound from the rcvr thru > the mic/line input to the program? > > Also....any special advice for running PSK31 on my K2. > 1) Xmit connections from laptop to K2? > 2) Rcv connections from K2 to laptop....mono or stereo?....I assume mono? > 3) PTT or VOX? > 4) Make the SSB mod? > 5) Other software recommended than Digi-pan? > 6) Anybody know what I need to do to get the sound from the rcvr thru the > mic/line input to the program? +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 15:48:30 -0600 From: lbailey at aep.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - PSK31 - Dell Laptop Bingo....got it working about 2 hrs. ago. I was in MixW, configure menu, & I pulled up the sound card settings. I thought I the check boxes were for "mute"....they were for "select" & I selected microphone which is the only input I have when the laptop is stand-alone & the waterfall came to life. I'm gonna hook it up the "big" antenna now (as opposed to the 10' short wire) & see how it really works. Guess Digipan may work, too. Thanks! Lynn, K5AVJ >If you go into the "Configure" menu and click on "sound card settings", does >MixW tell you the sound card type? Mine says "ESS Maestro". Also, the sample >rate needs to be set - try 11025. There needs to be a number defined for >sample rate or it will not work. >73, John, K1JD +++++++++++++++++++ RE: Adjusting K2's Signal Power for PSK31 when changing frequencies........ --------- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 09:33:55 +0000 From: "Julian, G4ILO" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 as main station? I use a software approach for this, not hardware. I leave the Windows mixer output panel on the desktop so I can adjust the audio level with the mouse. To make it easily accessable, create a shortcut on the desktop containing the command "C:\WINDOWS\SNDVOL32.EXE /p" . - -- Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, K2 #392) Homepage: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo "bob baxter" wrote: I haven't found that they change considerably from band to band -- maybe from 80m to 10m. However, I replaced the fixed resistor in my transmit interface with a pot and, when I change bands, it just takes a couple seconds to re-adjust the output to just extinguish the first ALC bar. Bob Baxter AA7EQ Bisbee, Az. ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 05:33:33 -0500 From: Dave Gingrich K9DC Subject: Re: [Elecraft] PSK At 23:30 11/27/2001 -0500, John wrote: >I just installed the KSB2 SSB adapter and it seems to be working fine. I >also bought the MH2 microphone. The mic comes with a resister to install >between pin 1 (AF) and pin 6 (5v) of the mic connecter on the front panel. I >assume the resister is to supply power for the condenser mic element. My >question is, does this have any effect on PSK operations? Has anybody done >much digital work with the K-2? John- I do some PSK with my K2, and there was no impact when I added the resistor for my MH2. It also had no effect on my ability to use my previous Alinco microphone, which was dynamic and did not require the resistor for power. ===================================================== Dave Gingrich, K9DC - Indianapolis, Indiana USA K2 #2211, K1 #931, QRP-L #2376, ARS #1109, CCIE #6748 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 13:01:26 -0500 From: Jim Wineteer Subject: [Elecraft] RE: elecraft-digest V1 #6 Hi David, Could it be your compression is on? In that case you would have pwr-out and alc, but you would be so unlinear that you would be unreadable. I hope that's it. Jim - -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-digest [SMTP:owner-elecraft- at qth.net] Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 10:51 AM To: elecraft-digest at qth.net Subject: elecraft-digest V1 #6 Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 10:42:47 -0500 From: dmaliniak at penton.com Subject: [Elecraft] Help getting started with PSK31 using K2 I'm having trouble getting started with PSK31 using my K2. So here I am asking for help. First... receive is OK. In fact, I'd tried receive months ago and that's FB. Very simple and straightforward. Computer is an IBM T20 Thinkpad with Crystal SoundFusion sound card. I'm running Digipan version 1.6d. I see signals in the waterfall, I tune them with the cursor(s) and I see decoded copy in the windows. But on transmit, no one answers my CQs and no one seems to hear me responding to theirs. You can blame my antenna if you like (W3EDP end-fed wire), but I just worked Arizona, North Dakota, Utah and whatnot with less than 1 W yesterday on 15 meters CW (Holiday Sprint) using that same wire. I don't think the antenna's the problem here. I've tried on 20 and 80 meters, mostly... don't see much PSK activity on any bands but those. What I did for a lashup on transmit was to follow the .pdf file on the Elecraft site by WA7SPY. Pretty simple stuff (not that I couldn't screw it up). I went with a manual PTT for now and that seems to work fine. I did make one change, though, in the AF line. Glenn has the voltage divider using a 10k and a 1k resistor while the Digipan help file (and other resources I found on line) recommends a 100k/1k divider. So I went with that, figuring I'd err on the side of caution. Maybe I'm knocking down the audio out of the sound card too much? I wonder if audio is getting from the computer into the AF line at all. How can I check this? I know I'm transmitting *something*... the wattmeter(s) say so. I am also somewhat baffled as to exactly how to adjust sound card output for linear operation. But I have no way to monitor my own signal (assuming there is one to monitor). I've been trying to transmit running anywhere from 3 to 5 W. I am using USB mode on the transceiver and set things up using the recommended PSK31 calling frequencies Glenn had in his file. So... long winded, I know, but I'm stumped. I've futzed around with this for three nights now and am getting frustrated. Anything obvious I might be missing here? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 72, David, AD2A Glen Rock, NJ K2 #265 (and before anyone asks, yes, I do have a SSB adapter installed!) ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 13:02:07 -0500 From: "Bob Lewis \(AA4PB\)" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Help getting started with PSK31 using K2 I'd say that your 100K resistor is too large. The K2 already has a 1K resistor on the input so you end up with 100K:500Ohm or a 200:1 voltage ratio. I use a 15K series resistor and NO parallel resistor, depending on the K2's internal 1K resistor to be the other part of the voltage divider. That's a 15:1 voltage ratio. The 10K:1K with the internal 1K makes a 10K:500Ohm or a 20:1 voltage ratio which should also work +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 12:46:54 -0600 From: "Randy Moore" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Help getting started with PSK31 using K2 David, I'm no expert on this, but I have been able to get PSK31 to work on my K2. I adjust my sound card level by watching the RF output and ALC on the K2. I set my RF output control on the K2 to 5 w. (That may be a bit conservative, but it keeps the heat sink toasty warm, but not hot.) Then I put my PSK software into transmit and set the sound card level so that the RF output LEDs just bump the 5 w level. Then I switch the K2 LED display to ALC and readjust the sound card level to make sure I'm not showing any ALC action (that may be too conservative too - I've seen some say they let one ALC LED light up). Then I get on the air and things seem to work. After you make a contact, get someone to check your IMD while you're not sending anything. Good luck! 73, Randy, KS4L K2 #337 +++++++++++++++++++ ate: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 17:02:27 -0800 From: "John Clifford" Subject: [Elecraft] Help getting started with PSK31 using K2 * Are you sure you're getting audio into the K2? Perhaps your cable is not wired to match your mic header on the control board. You might want to see if you can get audio out of the cable by detaching it from the K2, hooking up a couple of wires to the appropriate pins and connecting those wires to a set of headphones or a small speaker, and listening for the distinctive warble of your PSK audio. You might also want to re-verify that your mic header is configured correctly to get audio from your cable into the K2. * Can you operate SSB successfully with your K2 (using a mic)? IOW, have you successfully transmitted using SSB before? Given that your cable is configured ok, have you ever operated SSB successfully? (You didn't mention this in your post.) If not, then perhaps the problem is in the SSB card. If so, then keep on going.... Assuming that both of these are true, can you see any ALC/RF indication on the K2's meter when you transmit? Set your power to 1 watt and, transmitting into a dummy load, see if you can make the ALC indicator (switch to this mode using the RF/ALC button) by turning up the volume on your sound card. This is a quick test to let you know that you are getting audio into the K2 from your computer. If all of this works and you still can't make QSOs, then find a local ham and arrange to have him listen while you transmit, and see if you are actually transmitting a signal. Of course, you could always run to Radio Shack and pick up a $49 portable shortwave receiver and use it as a station monitor. Hope this helps, - jgc John Clifford KD7KGX Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9 Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2 ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 13:47:43 -0800 From: Phil Wheeler Organization: Outstanding To: cyr999 at extremezone.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and PSK setup suggestions? I used PSK-31 with my K2 long before I added the KIO2 to the rig. I'm not sure what utility the KIO2 would have for PSK-31 .. but I've not given it much thought :-; Best freeware is Digipan. MixW2 is a commercial version with more bells, whistles and modes. BTW .. there are some articles at the website re K2 and PSK-31, including a useful mod. http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/application_notes.htm#PSK31 73, Phil +++++++++++++++++++++