HL2 and OpenCWKeyer K3NG Winkeyer

[Alan Hyde]

Hi everyone

I cannot get this keyer to work with my HL2. I think it is a problem with my firmware configuration. Has anyone got this working who can share their configuration please? 

I have the keyer communicating ok with the computer. My problem is the PTT line does not appear to be working. Can't get the HL2 to TX. I have a single wire cable from the 3.5mm audio jack tip to tip. When i ground the tip the HL2 does switch to TX.

I think i have these options set correctly so the TX line goes LOW on transmission?

#define ptt_line_active_state LOW

#define ptt_line_inactive_state HIGH

I have a feeling i need to change some other PIN settings?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

regards Alan VK2ATW 

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Alan,

I have used the K3NG firmware successfully with the HL2. You can see my fork here:

https://github.com/softerhardware/k3ng_cw_keyer

And it was for this keyer:

https://github.com/softerhardware/CWKeyer

Does the HL2 go into TX mode but just not generate a CW tone? If so, do you have your software set to CW?

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Alan VK2ATW]

Thanks Steve

The HL2 does not go into transmit mode. I can hear my winkeyer "keying" but it is not controlling my line to the HL2. I am using the OpenCWKeyer. On first glance you have 1 or two different options selected in your K3NG software so I will investigate those. 

73, Alan

["Christoph v. Wüllen"]

If you connect a Keyer to the HL2, you do not need the PTT line.
Applying key-down/up is enough.

However, you cannot directly connect the Arduino pins to the
Key/PTT jack, you need a switch (e.g. a 2N7000) in-between,
since you must "connect" the lines to Gnd.

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Hermes-Lite" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to hermes-lite...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/31adc5f2-6e73-401f-9f94-4e2a5e0a183en%40googlegroups.com.

[Alan VK2ATW]

Thanks Christoph. I’m very inexperienced with this hardware stuff. Here is the schematic of the Keyer i am using. It looks to me like it provides the necessary switching  .https://github.com/ok1cdj/OpenCWKeyerMK2/blob/master/opencwkeyermk2v30-sch.png

Regards Alan

[V85NPV]

Hello ,

Accoording the K3NG CW Keyer , for the Arduino output to key your Hermes Lite , you will need this kind of design :

-You need to allocate the Arduino out pin editing the keyer_pin_setting.h file . For this example this is pin 12 

- for the schematic provided as an example :

# define tx_key_line_1 12       // (high = key down/tx on)

Enclosed , you will find the all schematic for the CW keyer (UN7FGO Credits).

I am using this keyer from UN7FGO Gennady for years now and working perfectly with the Hermes Lite . You can find the overall project here including the GERBER Files you can purchase from EASYDA.COM : https://oshwlab.com/UN7FGO/K3NG_KEYER_V2

73s Didier

["Christoph v. Wüllen"]

The hardware is OK. It has two opto-couplers for Key and PTT.

I do not have experience with the particular brand (TLP627)
but since they are of Darlington-type with a very large
current transfer ratio, they should be OK for "driving"
the HL2.

Please so the following experiment:

- plug in a 3.5 mm stereo audio cable into the HL2 Key/PTT
jack and start the radio as usual

- connect the shield of the "other end" of the audio cable
with the tip for 1 second, and then repeat this experiment
connecting the shield to the tip for 1 second.

In the ring case the radio should go transmit, in the tip case
it should go transmit AND emit a CW carrier.

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/b3c83a6a-25db-45fd-9792-8c88ce9a7d60n%40googlegroups.com.

[Alan VK2ATW]

Thanks Didier. I wish i understood circuits better to work out the differences. Your suggested circuit doesn't look very different to the one i am using - your Nano pin 12 goes to a transistor with collector connected to the tip of the audio plug. The circuit i am using is the same and also uses pin 12 on the nano.  could be wrong but i'm thinking i have the firmware incorrectly configured. 

Thanks for recommending your solution

73, Alan

[Alan VK2ATW]

Christoph

The test worked correctly as you described.

regards Alan

[G4ZAL]

Christoph said...

- connect the shield of the "other end" of the audio cable
with the tip for 1 second, and then repeat this experiment
connecting the shield to the tip for 1 second.

Something not quite right there!

Shouldn't it be ?

- connect the shield of the "other end" of the audio cable
with the tip for 1 second, and then repeat this experiment

connecting the shield to the RING for 1 second.

Nigel

G4ZAL

[Alan VK2ATW]

Hi Nigel,

I assumed Christoph made a typo...I tested as you described and all worked ok.

Thanks Alan

["Christoph v. Wüllen"]

Then you probably have not defined the correct Arduino pins
for key-down and ptt, or the opto-couplers are defective.

- make sure the keyer firmware uses D11 and D12 for
key and ptt

This is quite easy to measure, but it implies that you
have a volt-meter with a small tip.

Measure the voltage at D11 and D12 of the Arduino nano.
It may be easiest to measure the voltage at the "hot"
end of the resistors R5 and R6.

If you make a "key-down" with a suitable keyer software
(you can go to very low wpm and send a string of dashes,
if everything else fails) you should see

- 0V when key-up
- 5V when key-down

You can also verify PTT (but this not as important here) but
to this end you must configure the keyer in a special way
(such that it does PTT). So first experiment first.

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/4a76a854-dd24-4c4f-a52c-f546c3a1d216n%40googlegroups.com.

[Alan VK2ATW]

Christoph

Thanks for ongoing help. Here are results:

1. Have Pin 11 defined for TX  (#define tx_key_line_1 11 )

2. Have pin 12 defined for PTT (#define ptt_tx_1 12)

3. When transmitting the radio goes into TX and i get a 5V square wave on P11 - same duration regardless of letter sent

4. No output is seen on pin 12 - it makes no difference if i select PTT on or off in my sending software

5. I'm not seeing any carrier being sent - just the TX activated on the HL2

Regards Alan

[Alan VK2ATW]

OK it's working. Thanks everyone for your help. It came down to the firmware settings in the K3NG software.

For the record the settings that are critical for the HL2 are:

keyer_settings_opencwkeyer_mk2.h

#define ptt_line_active_state HIGH

#define ptt_line_inactive_state LOW

#define tx_key_line_active_state HIGH      //HIGH

#define tx_key_line_inactive_state LOW   //LOW

#define ptt_input_pin_active_state HIGH   //LOW

#define ptt_input_pin_inactive_state LOW   //HIGH

keyer_pin_settings_opencwkeyer_mk2.h

#define tx_key_line_1 11      // (high = key down/tx on)

#define tx_key_line_2 13

#define ptt_tx_1 12              // PTT ("push to talk") lines

#define ptt_tx_2 13             //   Can be used for keying fox transmitter, T/R switch, or keying slow boatanchors

In the software for sending you do not need PTT activated.

Thanks again to everyone for helping me narrow down the issues.

cheers Alan VK2ATW