94 ELECRAFT
Message Memories
The K2 provides nine CW message memories of 250 bytes each.
Playback features include message repeat and 1-level chaining. CW
messages can only be recorded using a keyer paddle connected
directly to the K2's key jack. Set I N P to P D L n or P D L r .
To record a message: Hold
R E C , and when prompted tap a
numbered switch (#
0 -8 ) to select one of the nine message buffers.
The display will then show REC 250, indicating that 250 bytes of
storage are available in this message buffer. This number will count
down toward 0 as long as you are sending. Whenever you stop
sending, up to two standard-length word spaces will be inserted. To
stop recording, tap
M S G . If you do this before starting to send, the
original message contents will not be lost.
To play back a message: Tap
M S G , then select a message buffer
(#
0 -8 ). Message play can be canceled at any time by hitting M S G
again or by tapping the keyer paddle. To listen to a message
without transmitting, use T E S T mode (
V O X switch).
Auto-Repeat: Any message memory can be auto-repeated when
played. To auto-repeat, tap
M S G as usual, then hold the desired
numbered switch (#
0 -8 ). The message will then play back
continuously until you tap
M S G again or hit your key or paddle.
The buffer # will flash at the end of each transmission (e.g., B 6 ).
Note: You cannot change the frequency with the VFO knob during
a repeating message, but you can use RIT (if enabled) to listen
above and below your receive frequency between calls.
Setting the Auto-Repeat Interval: The length of the pause
between messages during auto-repeat can be programmed using the
R P T menu entry (0-255 sec.). Long delays are useful for beacons.
Message Chaining and chain/repeat: While a message is
playing, you can tap #
0 -8 to chain a message onto the end of the
current one. The buffer number will be displayed twice: once when
you hit the numbered switch, and again when the chained message
starts. To chain a repeating message onto the current message,
HOLD rather than TAP the numbered switch (i.e., use #
0 -8 ).
Chaining is useful during contests. For example, you might set up
message 5 as "QSL 73" and message 6 as "CQ TEST DE N6KR."
You could then hit
M S G 5 6 at the end of a QSO to sign with the
previous contact, then begin a repeating CQ.
CW Reverse
CW Reverse allows you to listen to CW using the opposite
sideband. Sometimes this can eliminate or reduce interference from
a strong station without reducing the strength of the desired signal.
To switch to the opposite sideband, hold the
C W R V (CW reverse)
switch. A bar will appear above the mode letter C on the LCD. (Use
S P O T first to stay on frequency when you switch to CW reverse.)
Sidetone Pitch and Receive Offset
When you change the sidetone pitch using the S T P menu entry,
you’re also changing the CW receive offset. The two always match
within approximately 10 Hz. This ensures that when you listen to
other stations at same pitch as the sidetone, your transmitted signal
will be right on that station’s frequency.
To see how the receive offset tracks the sidetone pitch: Use
S P O T
to tune in a station at your current sidetone pitch as described
earlier. Then use S T P to change the pitch. As soon as you exit
the menu, you’ll notice that the station you were listening to has
also been shifted to the new sidetone pitch.
Changing the sidetone pitch does not automatically re-adjust the
BFO frequencies in relation to the crystal filter passband. So if you
change your sidetone pitch, you should use C A L F I L to manually
optimize the BFO settings.
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