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I received my Aurora today and getting nowhere.

K2BLA
K2BLA Member ✭✭
in Aurora

Howe do I connect an external keyer? I learned from somewhere that I can do that with the "key" jack. But how do you disable the internal keyer? My keyer works with several radios and switching my paddle is not a good option.

Best Answers

  • K4WAX
    K4WAX Member ✭
    Answer ✓
    I am no expert but I did see this section from the SmartSDR User Guide. When I received my Aurora, I spent the evening looking through the Guide and it was immensely helpful.

    23.5 HOW TO CONNECT AN EXTERNAL KEYER USING THE FSK/KEY INPUT ON
    THE ACCESSORY CONNECTOR
    In CW mode, the FSK/Key input on the rear panel accessory connector (pin 4) can be used as a straight
    key input. This is useful if you wish to attach an external keyer, such as a K1EL WinKeyer, microHAM
    microKEYER, or another contest-oriented interface. This input is always active and is not affected by
    the FLEX-6000 internal keyer settings. It’s therefore possible to use both the external keyer, and the
    internal keyer at the same time.
  • Rich - N5ZC
    Rich - N5ZC Member ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Al,

    In SmartSDR click on settings then the phone/cw tab. I 'believe' you need to disable Iambic then a straight key or external keyer will work using the key jack on the back of the rig.

    Rich - N5ZC

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator
    Answer ✓

    @K2BLA , Rich is correct, if you plug a set of paddles into the KEY jack on the back of the rig, you will want Iambic enabled (blue). If you plug a keyer or a straight key into the KEY jack, then you want Iambic disabled (grey).

    image.png

    As K4WAX mentioned, you can also wire a jack to pins 4 and 5 of the ACC connector for a keyer and/or straight key connection. A great way to do it is to plug a set of paddles into the KEY jack and a straight key into the ACC jack. That way you get the best of both worlds without having to change any settings to go from one to the other. Note that the ACC jack does not do anything with the Iambic setting, that is only for the KEY jack.

Answers

  • K2BLA
    K2BLA Member ✭✭

    Thanks guys. I figured it out shortly after I posted. But I do appreciate the help. At least it confirmed what I figured out was correct.

    Now a new and strange situation: If I turn on my computer that "runs" the Aurora and the "RF deck", at the same time and start the SDR, it receives just fine and can also xmt OK on CW. If I start WSJT-X, the CAT control doesn't find the Aurora and crashes. If I close the SDR and restart the computer, without turning off AC power or shutting down the Aurora and then bring the SDR back up everything works fine.

    I can simply make this my regular power-up routine, which I have been doing but it is annoying.

    I have been working a lot of CW and FT8 on HF and 6m with great results.

    Al, K2BLA

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