Advanced Operating Features
Text Decode And Display
The K3S can decode CW, PSK31 or PSK63, and
RTTY. Decoded text is displayed on VFO B. In
data modes, you can use the internal keyer to
transmit PSK and RTTY signals (pg. 36).
Decoded text can also be displayed on an SVGA
screen connected to a P3 Panadapter, or using K3
Utility’s Terminal feature.
When text decode is enabled, rotating the
RIT/XIT offset control doesn’t display the offset.
CW Text Decode Setup
To set up CW text decode:
• Set MODE to CW.
• If a special VFO B display mode is in effect,
cancel it by tapping DISP.
• Hold TEXT DEC , then select CW 5-40
(lower WPM range) using VFO B. Below the
CW icon you’ll see a T (text decode enabled).
The TX ONLY setting decodes only CW you
send (internal keyer), so the T does not appear.
• Adjust the threshold (THR) using VFO A. Try
AUTO or 1 - 6 (also see tips below). Tap CWT
to exit text-decode setup.
• You’ll probably want to turn on CWT as a
tuning aid (pg. 36). This also enables auto-spot.
CW Text Decode Tips:
• SPOT (or auto-spot) a signal first, then tune
slowly until recognizable words appear.
• Noise or fading may result in invalid character
decodes, causing asterisks (
*
) to appear. In
difficult conditions, reduce WIDTH to as
low as 50 Hz (100-200 Hz for faster CW).
• To optimize text decode, use manual threshold
settings. Start with THR 5. With CWT on,
adjust the threshold so that the CWT bar
flashes in sync with the received CW signal.
• To decode very fast CW, use CW 30-90.
Received CW Speed Display:
Received CW speed (from about 10-70 WPM) can
be displayed using the WPM CHK setting. The left
end of the display shows WPM, e.g. 20w CQDX.
DATA Text Decode Setup
To set up text decode for DATA modes:
• Set MODE to DATA. Then hold DATA MD
and select either AFSK A, FSK D, or PSK D
mode using VFO B.
• Use VFO A to choose a data rate for AFSK A
/FSK D (45/75 bps) or PSK D (31/63 bps).
• Tap AFX to exit the data-mode display.
• For AFSK A or FSK D, hold PITCH and
select the desired mark/shift setting. The lowest
mark tone selection (915 Hz) may be more
pleasant to listen to than higher tones. (The
pitch for PSK D mode is fixed at 1010 Hz.)
Tap SPOT to exit the pitch display.
• Hold TEXT DEC , then select ON using VFO
B. Below the DATA icon you should now see a
T, showing that text decode is enabled.
• Adjust the threshold (THR) using VFO A. Start
with THR 0. Higher settings prevent text
decode on weak signals or noise. Tap CWT to
exit text-decode setup.
• You’ll probably want to turn on CWT as a
tuning aid (pg. 36). This also enables auto-spot
(applicable to PSK but not RTTY).
DATA Mode Text Decode Tips:
• Use FINE tuning with PSK D. SPOT (or
auto-spot) a signal first, then tune slowly in 1-
Hz steps until recognizable words appear.
• If you call CQ using PSK31/PSK63 mode, keep
RIT on so you can fine-tune responding stations
without moving your transmit frequency.
• In difficult conditions, reduce WIDTH to
the per-mode minimum (typically 50 Hz for
PSK, 200 Hz for narrow-shift RTTY).
• In AFSK A and FSK A modes, the RTTY
dual-tone filter may help (DTF, pg. 34).
• RTTY text may shift to figures due to noise.
If you assign CONFIG:TTY LTR to a
programmable function switch, you can tap it
to quickly shift back to letters.
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