How to do keyboard CW with TS-480?

[VE3VEE]

Occasionally, I take my TS-480 control unit to work, but I would prefer to stop taking with my CW paddle as well. What are my CW options? Is there an easy way to set up TS-480 + RemoteRig for keyboard keying and/or memory keying?

73 Marvin VE3VEE

[dj0qn]

Marvin,

There are basically two ways to do that:

1) Use any PC based program that uses CAT and has keyboard support for CW. I have used TRX-Manager for this while traveling, but I am sure that there
     are more comfortable programs available for this specific purpose. Obviously, you need to make sure you have COM2 setup for CAT first.

2) Use an external keyboard device/keyer through the RRC. You will find directions on how to do this on pages 94, 95 and 231 (appendix B) in the RRC manual.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[W1UE]

Marvin
You can also use the Winkey Emulator in the RR box, and use a program such as N1MM+ to generate the messages.  N1MM+ gives you canned messages via the function keys, and also has a method (Ctrl-K) to type and send via the keyboard.  There are many programs that will do that for you.  Dennis W1UE

[VE3VEE]

Mitch & Dennis,

Thanks very much for your help. I like the idea of using the built in WinKeyer, but I think in my case I may not be able to use it because I don't have my Radio-RRC's COM1 and COM2 connected. (I use a Lantronix RS-232 server for CAT, rotator, etc.)

I have tried to understand the manual, and I'm pretty sure, but not 100%, that without the Radio-RRC's COM1 or COM2, I will not be able to use the built-in WinKeyer. Could you please confirm this?

73 Marvin VE3VEE

[dj0qn]

Marvin,

No problem,  the Winkeyer emulation is done by using a USB virtual serial port (COM3/COMEXTRA). Just plug your USB cable in and use the COM port that Windows allocates.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[VE3VEE]

Mitch, my mini-USB port on my Control-RRC has a physical damage and it is unusable. But I think I'm going to buy a second Control-RRC. Thanks!

73 Marvin VE3VEE 

[VE3VEE]

Thanks guys for your help. I ordered a new Control-RRC (to replace my existing one with the broken mini-USB port. I picked it up from the post office less then two hours ago. I quickly configured it for my TS-480 and then I did as Mitch suggested: I set Control-RRC COM3 to mode 8 - Winkeyer, I used the USB cable, Windows created COMExtra which I used now in 3 different pieces of software to test CW keying. It works. I'm a happy camper 

Thanks Mitch and Dennis.

73 Marvin VE3VEE

[VE3VEE]

Hmm, now how to set up PTT? Is there a way, via RemoteRig, that when software sends my CW it also controls my PTT?

[VE3VEE]

Disregard my last question about PTT. I just needed to play with it a little bit longer to get the PTT to start working, and then I also needed to read my TS-480 manual to figure out how to add a little bit of a tail delay to the PTT. (It seems like the Winkey's own delay settings have no effect on anything.).

ALL is OK now and I'm now looking forward to testing this in some CW contest soon.

73 Marvin VE3VEE

[VE3VEE]

I just want to add a bit of info in case it may be of help to someone reading this. Win-Test software is able to send CW via CAT without the need for the RemoteRig's built-in WinKeyer. This, at the moment, seems to be the most convenient way of doing it for me. I'm now able to do everything I want without any cable between my laptop and my Control-RRC box. I'm a happy camper! 

73 Marvin VE3VEE