Thanks Scott! I don’t have the Winkeyer mini, but what I can see from its user manual, the mini is not capable of working in stand-alone way, it has got no external power connection and must be plugged to the computer by the USB cable. It seems it can do RTTY encoding though, having the newest chip installed but I’m not sure if only from the computer-generated characters or from the paddle too (probably not). As it comes to my bigger Winkeyer USB configuration for the IC-705, it’s pretty straightforward in the stand-alone mode, it’s just important to follow pretty extensive user manual and learn which characters sent from the paddle switch what function on the keyer :). 73! Linas LY2H
That is one interesting feature. I have a KX3 and have sent PSK via the paddles on it. Neat feature. I was so disappointed when I found out that Icom only provided sending RTTY via canned messages. I already have a Winkeyer so I am set to go. Thanks for sharing that most interesting bit of information. That is great news! Barry, KU3X
A radio like the 7300 should have the ability to send rtty and psk31 with a Bluetooth or wired keyboard, in fact all modern radios should, in my opinion, have this feature.
contesting in RTTY is very quick and perform very well, I've done a couple RTTY contest and it's quite fun, only run with macros, click callsign and exchange then you can go to next station but requires software, not through radio RTTY interface, it is not well design to respond quickly to station...
@@Aleziss You are right! That might be an inconvenience for some hams... It would be best of all if the keyboard connection feature would be installed in the IC-705 as it is in IC-7600. I don't think it would be too difficult or expensive for Icom. But we have what we have :) 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H true or mouse control so you can click call sign and it would fill the other station call sign in the macro ! I think 7610 has mouse and keyboard support but does not support such control over rtty macros unfortunately !
Nice tip, thanks! To preclude having to go to the radio's memory buttons you could automate the other parts of a QSO on the WinKeyer itself and then you'd only have to enter the other guy's call then hit a memory button on the keyer (I think that keyer does that?). 73 - Dino KLØS
Thanks for the tip Dino! Yes, the Winkeyer has got some memories of its own, so it is possible, if needed to run a pre-recorded message from there too. 73! Linas LY2H
Interesting video, Linas. I was unaware of the ability to work RTTY with the WinKeyer/CW paddle. The IC-705 may also be able to send RTTY on the fly with an external keyboard, as my IC-7610 can do this. I hit F12 on the external keyboard and the IC-7610 starts a RTTY warble, and I can type my message on the fly using the keyboard. Then you hit F12 again, and the TX stops. You also can send the pre-canned macros (#1 through #8) by hitting F1 through F8. I suspect the IC-705 might also be able to do this, as well. Maybe try that and post a second video if that works. I have been using RTTY with the Icom radios (no computer) for over a decade now, so it's good to see your video here. Thanks for posting this and 73! de WX0V
Thanks for the good info, dude! IC-7610 is a superb radio, I wish I had one! Well, I have tried the keyboard to the IC-705 connection via the OTG USB cable to no avail… It’d be great if anyone had a success with this and could write a comment here. It’s a pitty and shame on Icom :) that such a fantastic functionality is installed in the IC-7610 but not in IC-705… Having in mind the wide spectrum of wireless connections available on the 705, It could also have a BT keyboard connectivity and enable usage of these tiny BT keyboards! So these are our dreams… 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H I totally agree...no reason why Icom did not incorporate that function into the IC-705...still seems to be a great radio (I have not worked with one yet), but on-the-fly RTTY and other functions via a keyboard would be an easy add-on, I think. Great channel, Linas...73! de WX0V
It's not possible AFAIK. But would be nice. Even Yaesu FT-DX10 that has direct keyboard connection only allows you to edit the macros by it. Sad. Of course that would be great - having a small BT keyboard on a summit and work RTTY. I have come up with another idea, trying to share it to Icom, but without success... My idea was that there might be a wildcard in macros, that would get replaced by the counterpart's callsign after touch-selecting it from the received/decoded text. One would just click on it, there might be a zoom dialog such as it is when you tune by clicking in the waterfall. With two clicks, you can tune to a signal, the same way you could pick a callsign that would then appear in the transmitted text, such as "% de LY2H, UR 599 TU" expanding to "II2WRTC de LY2H...". Having that, adding a QSO numbering facility that the CW macro keyer has, tjen you might be able to operate simple QSOs and most RTTY contests. A pity thet haven't implemented it.
Hello Don, thanks for watching! Unfortunately, I have no possibillity to fabricate and sell cables commercially. May be some companies do. In case it is difficult to get the specific TRS-to-RCA male cable ready made, the best way would be to make one at home. Please find below my two affiliate links with possible solution. The only thing you need to do then is to solder the 3.5mm stereo TRS connector onto the RCA pigtail’s open end. The RCA ground would go to the TRS connector’s ground and RCA’s central pin would go to the Tip on TRS. I can’t make drawings here in the comments section but when the cables made, one cable should connect to the PTT1 connector on the WinKeyer and the SEND/ALC jack on the radio. The other cable goes to the KEY1 on the Winkeyer with the RCA end and to the KEY jack on the radio with the TRS end. Stereo 3.5mm TRS connector: amzn.to/38Oc4By RCA Male Plug to open wire pigtail set of 2: amzn.to/3LPStj1 Hope this helps! 73! Linas LY2H
Thanks for watching! How abt DIY Paper Clip key? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Oj43VmKNcJw.html :) It is difficult to advise , a lot depends on your personal preferences. There is a great variety of manufacturers, big and small, cheap and expensive. So it might take some googling for you :). I think, it is important to know for yourself if you'd like a dual- or single- lever paddles. Dual is more widely spread and it's ready for the "iambic" keyers. Single -lever are simpler to operate, may be cheaper, but no iambic operation ( in case you already started learning the iambic way and gonna keep on going that route). Another important criteria is the construction of springs in the paddle: the magnetic system is more reliable and more fun to operate on compare to mechanical springs. Last, but not least - there is always a straight key! It's the cheapest option probably ( but not necessarily) and is often recommended for beginners, but I have a bit different opinion. I think, the best way to start learning the code is with a paddle as close to your real equipment situation as possible. Like, if you have a nice modern rig with the automatic keyer built-in, why would you refuse this comfort of operating a good internal keyer and transmitting properly shaped Morse characters and go for the straight key?! I wouldn't :). Hope, this helps! Have fun learning! 73! Linas LY2H
Linas, thank you for this great Video 😀. I wondered how to do standalone RTTY QSOs with the IC705 for quite a while. Like you I was astonished that the IC705 features RTTY-memories but no way to send a callsign in standalone mode. I do not have Winkeyer USB, so I have a question regarding the wiring. Is it correct, that both PTT (-> IC705 "key" socket) and FSK/RTTY (-> IC705 "send/alc" socket) signals are connected to the tip of the respective 3,5mm TRS plug? I found the TinyFSK keyer (an Arduino based TX-only RTTY keyer) project and would like to give it a try…
Thanks Henk! The pinout on the radio side is like this: 1. the PTT signal which puts the radio into transmit should go to the SEND/ALC socket on the IC-705 , the TRS 3.5mm plug is needed for that with Tip-to-ground action. 2. The FSK RTTY signal should go to the KEY socket on the IC-705 with the signal sitting on the Tip of another 3.5mm TRS plug. In both cases only 2 pins (Tip and Ground) are employed, Ring is free. It turns to be that the same KEY connector on the IC-705 in the RTTY mode starts switching the internal synthesizer of the radio in accordance with the FSK RTTY algorithm generated , in my case, by the Winkeyer. As it comes to the TinyFSK it sounds like a fun project! Mortty is one of the elegant commercial incarnations of it. But I’m not sure TinyFSK would work in a stand-alone mode, if that’s what you want. It is designed ,as far as I can see, for being used together with the computer and some kind of software capable of generating the RTTY code. It could be some of well known logging programmes, or it coud be just a “dumb terminal” generating simple ASCII characters for the Arduino. Whatever way, you will need the KEY jack on the IC-705 :)! Good Luck! 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H Thank you Linas - I wanted to be sure about the pinning before I fry the IC705 🙂. Yes, TinyFSK is a TX-modem only. I just uploaded it to an Arduino-Uno and played around with it (no TRX attached). You can send Letters via serial port (rather USB in my case) to it and the software converts it to RTTY marks and spaces. It does not work in stand-alone mode, but it might be a good starting point for further development. I attached a PS/2 keyboard and an LC-display to an Arduino in another project a while ago. So instead of feeding the TX-buffer from the serial port, one could also type in letters directly - that's my idea. Of course - if I was a CW-wizard like you, I would prefer a Begali paddle for that job. That has more style for sure…
@@Henk660R Your idea of connecting a PS/2 keyboard and the LCD straight to an Arduino sounds fantastic! Could you please share this project? I’d be very thankful!
As a little project i used a simole microcontroller with simple display and bluetooth keyboard...using civ commands i can change tje contents of the macro buttons on the fly but for the cw keyer. I just cant find a civ command to.change the contents of the rtty macros. Any ideas?
Hello, thanks for your comment! Sounds like a very interesting project many people would love to know more about! Unfortunately, my own knowledge of CI-V commands is pretty limited :)), I always thought the "CI-V Reference Manual" by Icom would turn me the right direction if I ever decide to go deeper into that :). So, isn't the info on p.16-18 any useful? Also, anyone else of this channel's viewers/readers have any ideas on this very interesting topic? Let's share it! 73! Linas LY2H
Hello, the K45 is a different product by K1EL. It would certainly display any transmitted characters on its own display in the format they are generated by the keyboard. So, for reading a decoded RTTY signal you would need to look at your radio’s display and at K45’s display , for controlling what you are sending. Why not :)… 73! Linas LY2H
Hello! From what I know about the IC-7610, this is such a fine radio that it has got the decoding AND encoding RTTY/PSK31 functionality built in it and could be easily realized by just connecting an external keyboard straight to the one of the USB ports on the radio, no computer needed. So, actually there is no need for the CW-to-RTTY work-around in order to get the RTTY encoding without the PC. If you still interested in specifically this way of generating RTTY with the help of Winkeyer, then please check the Advanced User Manual of your radio for the RTTY operation, as I don't own this radio ( yet :)) and don't know all the connectors and ports installed. It could be, and it's just my guess, that the CW port double-functionality similar to the IC-705, could be also preserved in the IC-7610. Owners of this radio reading this, please say what you think! 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H Thank you so much for your reply. I do understand what you explane. In addition to IC-7610, I also have IC-705 for portable operation. so I try it with IC-705. Thank you again dear Linas, See you on the air. 73
Hi, I believe that this is only feasible if you do an activation such as flora / fauna sota pota etc. or if you answer individually to a station but not in contest To manage a contest like the wpx rtty one, the pc is necessary, how do you know if you have connected a station, when you have connected many stations , it is very difficult to do a search manually, the error escapes us ..write everything by hand and then have to insert the qso manually for the log, it is long and inconvenient, susceptible to errors when copying It is convenient to insert them directly into the PC as you make the connections, see if there are duplicates, so you avoid them, in the end you are beautiful that you have the log ready for everything, both to import it into your station log and to deliver it to the contest committee .. Peace and well 73
Hi Stefano! Thanks for the comment which I totally agree with! I never said contesting without a computer is a good idea :). The video is about the hidden feature of IC-705 which enables to use the RTTY in the casual QSO/DX-ing style. The same feature as in the Elecraft radios or IC-7610. As it comes to contesting, no contest is imaginable nowadays without the computer in any contest, even SSB or CW :) I personally like and use the N1MM logger for the last 20 years or so. The Winkeyer BTW, can be used with great success with this or other loggers. Piece and well! 73! Linas LY2H
