remote CW keying from logger program

[Angel Andres]

Hi,

Apologies if this is covering old ground, but I have not been able to find a conclusive answer in the previous posts.

Is it possible to CW key the HL2 using Thetis from N1MM or similar logger via software [ie without using winkeyer or similar]? I do not need the sidetone at the operator side.

I wonder if anyone is using the HL2 for CW contesting remotely and how they might have implemented the remote cw keying.

I have seen solutions using winkeyer remote or com2tcp software, but this requires an additional Windows machine at the HL2/antenna end. 

73 Angel

M0HDF 

[Matthew]

Hi,

About a year and a half ago I wanted to achieve this same thing. Going via external hardware (winkeyer) seemed silly. I ended up modifying linhpsdr to integrate with tlf via cwdaemon, see notes here. I now run remote and have no winkeyer in sight and no PC/rpi at the remote end. I'm probably into over 3000 contest QSOs with this setup now. I do sometimes get a little envious of things like DXlog compared with tlf though.

SparkSDR also supports cwdaemon. However, this somewhat deviates from your question. I don't think any of the Windows contest logging supports cwdaemon. HamLib supports keying and I know that piHPSDR supports keying via this interface, but again, don't think any of the Windows contest logging supports this?

I think Thetis allows keying via serial ports(?), so with a Python script emulating winkeyer and doing some CW timing, it is *possible* to write a script to sit between Thetis (using virtual serial ports) and Windows contest loggers. This of course depends on ability with programming.

I think really someone needs to convince Windows contest logger developers to adapt to modern SDR methods and use a udp/tcp protocol for keying SDR software. Or perhaps something does exist that I am not aware of?

Sorry I can't help directly answer your question.

73 Matthew M5EVT.

[Angel Andres]

Hi Mathew and Christoph, many thanks for the responses.

I just managed to get the HL2 / Thetis to key CW via software from DXLog.net.

com0com setup for 2 paired virtual ports

Thetis -> Setup -> DSP/CW -> Connections Secondary  

Dxlog.net configure interfaces -> setup the paired port as CW keying port.

The PTT line seems to work differently than I was expecting, I have had to setup the CW Semi Break-in delay to 250mS or suitable number for the keying speed to not interrupt the transmission.

Anyhow - happy days as I have now this working for SO2V with the Thetis driver in DXLog.net and remote cw capability as I wanted.

A little PA companion to be built and I will put the HL2 in contest in the coming months.

73 Angel

M0HDF

 

[Roger David Powers]

Hi Matthew and others!

A few questions, if I may, since I'm just starting down some of the paths you are discussing in your email.

For some context, I started in ham radio as a teenager in the 1970s and gained proficiency with CW and really enjoyed using it.  Then having a career took over, but now decades later that's winding down and I'm getting back into ham radio.  I did not have access to home computers in the old days, I could barely afford radios, never mind computers.  All this coupling of computers and radios is new and exciting to me.

So, I'm trying to figure out if you are using just your keyboard to send CW, or if you still have straight key and/or paddles attached to your computer too. 

I'm also trying to decide if I'm okay with just using my keyboard to generate CW, and if there are any unforeseen pitfalls to doing so, and would appreciate any input you and others may have on it.

Given the amount of work people are doing to get USB-based keyers to work, it seems there still are pitfalls? Either that or the paddles and key are seen as mandatory/indispensable?

More background: I am working towards having a mobile HL2 set up for POTA/SOTA use, and am already planning to drive that from a lightweight laptop, and not needing to have paddles and a keyer would be an advantage.  I just haven't experimented with this much yet.  I went to my local club's field day operation a week ago and used N1MM for the first time, and found myself fairly comfortable with just letting the computer generate the CW.  I also recently just made my first CW contact with HL2, northeast USA to France on five watts which was so cool!  For this I used my legacy external keyer connected directly to the HL2.  I have also recently gotten my LOTW signature file and used CQRLOG to sign and upload my first set of QSOs.  I have not integrated CQRLOG with any SDR app, but definitely will be following your info on how to connect it to linhpsdr, and will also try 'tlf' to see how much I like using it.

+++ On Saturday, July 3, 2021, 07:32:27 AM EDT, Matthew <bal...@gmail.com> wrote:

+++ About a year and a half ago I wanted to achieve this same thing. Going via external hardware (winkeyer) seemed silly. I ended up modifying linhpsdr to integrate with tlf via cwdaemon, see notes here. I now run remote and have no winkeyer in sight and no PC/rpi at the remote end. I'm probably into over 3000 contest QSOs with this setup now. I do sometimes get a little envious of things like DXlog compared with tlf though.

+++

Regards,

RDP

[Matthew]

Personally, (for contesting) I am using keyboard macros and if needed (in tlf) ctrl+k brings me a keyboard terminal to send "free hand" cw (typed through keyboard). If I had 30 years of using a paddle at 35 wpm behind me I might take a different approach. I know there are some ops who do very well in contests all weekend using just a paddle. Note, tlf is very much designed for contesting, and designed to be very much driven by keyboard approach. This can take some getting use to, but once you got used to it, you don't need to touch a mouse for hours and I find this approach very efficient.

For more relaxed rag-chew QSOs, I use a paddle connected via a midi interface to linHPSDR. I am following the Teensy keyer project with interest and see this becoming part of my station at some point.

I haven't done any POTA, but I have done SOTA activations. I use a lightweight homebrew rig for this. To be honest, given the range in styles/abilities of chasers, I wouldn't even think about a keyboard based approach for this and I always use a lightweight paddle. The format of a contest QSO is more consistent and better suited to macros.

73 Matthew M5EVT.

[Roger David Powers]

Thanks for the valuable input, Matthew.  I too have been following Teensy.  I'm also going to my first actual POTA event in a few weeks so I'll get to see what others do.  It's nice to be able to do digital modes so there will need to be a computer in the loop somewhere.  It's a club "drive up" event with an option to climb a few hundred feet to do the summit if one is motivated to do so.

Congrats on building your own radio for SOTA work and the impressive string of activations.  It looks like the rig was a cool project and I can see why one would want to keep gear to a minimum if the goal is to do SOTA from Ben Nevis!  My current goals aren't as 'lofty' as those, but who knows, maybe retirement will allow me to do more work on fitness for more challenging tasks.

Regards,
RDP