Winkeyer Emulation

Lewis Cheek

Anyone using Winkey emulation with current version with success? I tried using it when version 1.6 was released and ended up going back to my hardware WinKeyer USB.

Thinking of giving it another try, but if it still has bugs then perhaps I should wait for Maestro roll out.

Lew N4CO

Bob G W1GLV

Don't wait for Maestro, you'll be old and gray.

km9r.mike

I have been using it w/ N1MM+ and thurs Sprint cw events. I have had zero issues and am contemplating selling my Winkey usb hardware. I have been using that Winkey usb for 4 years and it never once gave me an issue.

Dudley-WA5QPZ

Louis,

Did you create the WinKey port in SmartCAT? 

Lewis Cheek

I did, from what I recall cw was not smooth. Hoping for comments from someone using it daily.

km9r.mike

How can it be used daily ? Is that not what CWX is for ? I only use Winkey for contest logging programs. Most rigs like flex (cwx) have their own keyer.

Lewis Cheek

Last time I added a port with SmartCat, it took Tim to get rid of it. I'm a bit leery of generating another and not being able to remove it. I use DXLABS and Winwarbler for my logging software.

Lew

km9r.mike

Understand. Well if it helps I also use N1MM+ for wed cw ops events and Fri, Sat and Sun for long cw tests.  I too prefer 100% reliability. Repeating an exchange is wasted time if due to poorly sent cw.

DH2ID

I regularly use this setup for CW with my Flex6k5 and Win7pro64bit:
Flex6k5+CAT WKport+MiniDeluxe+HRD DM780 WinKeyer+SDRBridge+CWSkimmer on 48k DAX IQ
That works like a charm, no problems at all.
73, Alex DH2ID

ctate243

Lewis right now the winkeyer emulation works well in a number of popular programs, and not so well in others.  There are a number of programming challenges in this but they are being worked through and I am confident that most will be worked out as bandwidth allows.  for instance in N1MM logger + is fairly rock solid. in Wintest the timing is off. But their keying method is different.  So the net net is if your particular pogram is not working well, it probably will in the future but for now stick with the hardware keyer.  Chris N6WM

km9r.mike

That explains the difference, however, why is the Winkey usb hardware more compatible with different 3rd party programs ? I assumed the emulation and the hardware would be one and the same.

ctate243

Well it will likely get there in future revisions.. or at least close. As far as I understand there are a number of nuances involved.. its more complex(the processing of the command sets) than one would think outright. There are various Winkey command sets with different versions as well.. v1, v2, v3 etc.  I discovered in testing 1.6 (and you can test this yourself this is all release stuff now) that wintest for instance requires a positive response from the winkey that causes a timing issue.  its actually unique to Wintest as far as I can see.  the flex emulator does not like it.  N1MM does not require that positive response thus sends smoothly.  We also note in the release an intermittent truncated first character sidetone..(not the actual sent code) also can be confusing to the operator.  So there are a number of items that flex cw operators are hoping the team can look at soon..  Its really a monumental step forward to have this stuff stock as part of the radio.. its a first.  and with all V 1.0 there is room for improvement.  Flex has a fantastic team working so many things through.. it will fall into place.  Patience with newer technology is key.. and workarounds in the beginning make sense.  dont sell you hardware keyer yet.. Im hoping we can both sell ours at the same time :-). 

km9r.mike

K1DBO

I've used it with N1MM+ and, like others have reported, it's rock solid.

I've been trying to get it to work with DM780.  I've have very limited success... or rather, just a bit better than complete failure.  It seems that others are reporting success with DM780 but not me.  I'd love to know what I'm doing wrong or what others are calling success.

The problem I'm seeing is that the "send" function never completes when I type into the text window.  Macros work often enough though.  But if I hit "send" and start typing it will send what I type.  Hitting ESC (as the message at the bottom of the window suggests) stops the sending but the "send" button never resets.  So I cant send a second message.  If, however, I hit the "test" button on the WinKeyer dialog, the test message will send and the "send" button will reset.  Close, sure... but not quite good enough.

Ken - NM9P

I am using it on a frequent basis with N3FJP's ACLog.  It works pretty well for my DXing and NPOTA hunting.  I occasionally have a glitch, usually caused by ACLog not being in focus, in which case the Function keys activate the text stored in CWX, instead of the Macros in ACLog's CW/Winkeyer routine.  The other glitch is that sometimes there is a delay before it starts sending.  I have traced this to a failure of ACLog and the FLEX Winkeyer emulator to initialize the connection.  After the first transmission, the transmissions are timely.  I can also solve this by going into ACLog's Setup>Transmit>CW>Winkeyer tab and clicking the "Open" winkeyer button.  Then things work smoothly.  You set up the text for the Macros in ACLog's CW setup tab.

I have also used the Flex Winkeyer emulator with N1MM+ and was pleased with its performance.  Though I am not a "Power Contester" on CW...just a mid-level S&P'er.  I haven't used the "keyboard Mode" though, only the editable macros in N1MM.

Ken - NM9P

Jerry Wilk

Having the exact same problem with HRD send not resetting.  No fix as of yet I assume.

Mal G3PDH

The Winker works perfect for me, using it with N1MM+ running under Windows 10.

Jerry Wilk

Did get Winkeyer as emulated in SmartSDR working with N1MM+ under Windows 8.1 with no difficulty.  First time user of N1MM, now I have to figure out all the other attributes of the software as explained in its 800 plus page manual.

ctate243

Once again its important to understand that the Winkeyer emulation currently has some limitations and seems to be selective as to what programs it works with at this time.  I currently keep a hardware winkeyer handy.. for now..  for applications that are still requiring remediation. We will get there eventually but in its current form there are some challenges.  I will be the first to sell off my hardware winkey when we get to that point, I am looking forward to simplifying my cable situation and leveraging the one stop shop.  It will require revisions of the SSDR/ SSDR cat for this to be fixed. however keeping a log of what does not work for you could possibly help the flex programming team. This is what I am doing.  The N1MM keyer integration is working quite well now.

DrTeeth

It is indeed a quite a daunting tome for a logging program.

Jerry Wilk

Winkeyer works on the DM780 except now the send key stays on and will not release in the latest version of DM780.  Have you had this problem?

Monk - K5HP

Ken,

Would you be so kind as to expound on the settings etc. for AClog and the creation of Winkeyer port etc.? I would love to reduce the number of contraptions on my desk.

Thanks
Monk

Jose Luis Roca

Hi Elmer

I am trying to use DM780 to produce CW and I am trying also to connect my FLEX with CWskymmer. Reading your messages I guess you can help me to do that. I really don´t know how could be my HDR and DM780 and FLEX configuration to do that. Thanks in advance.

Jose Luis
LU3VC
73

Jose Luis Roca

Hi again Dudley . You know I am using right now SmartSDR version 1.9.13 and I guess you don´t need any more winkey hardware because tehre is an emulator inside . In order to use DM780 I opened a new port WinKey and in the configuration of DM780 I selected WinKey and I tried to key and it works. I heard the pulses (dash-dot) on the speakers but without pitch. Perhaps I don´t know how I must configure WinKey app. If you know that tell me please. 

Jose Luis
LU3VC