Hmmm....

For CAT control or for digital/soundcard interface?  You need one for each.  I think the FT-950 has a standard DB-9 serial port for CAT control. The other end depends on your computer.  Could be a serial port or a USB port.  USB would require a USB to serial converter cable(Buy one with FTDI chipset not Prolific) to enhance your odds of success. 

Since you are wondering about the Yaesu cable, I am thinking you mean for digital work.  But, more info is needed, like what is your soundcard interface?  Also, I don't know which port on the FT-950 is used...RTTY or PACKET or what...?  You may be able to buy a less expensive cable from someone like TigerTronics just to get out of your rig to usb and go from there...

Hope I am helping point your somewhere!


Lance

Thanks Gang,

I got it.  AM reception was great, so I just keep staring at the rig.  Remember it is my elmers FT-2000 not my FT-450...but
close enough that I suddenly noticed the notch filter!!!  It was on and cranked down.  So, I turn it off and BAM, CW and
RTTY signals decode and all is right in the world. 

Whew, back to normal. 

73
Lance
NR0U

Thanks Tanakasan,

I will check this out.

Lance
NR0U

Signalink USB.  However, when I shut all that down, the rig sounds like crap...I now suspect that something is set wrong on the rig and that is the source of the problem.

Long story short...trying to help my elmer with digital.  FT-2000 and HRD(DM780). He can decode PSK, although looking at his waterfall, signals are not as clear and concise as my station(FT-450 and HRD).  He cannot decode RTTY or CW.  So I go over there and start poking around.  I confirm PSK decodes OK and decide to look at some CW signals just to investigate a bit...

The CW signals on the water fall are horrid and have tons of NOISE and appear distorted.  Looks nothing like on my waterfall where CW is simply a clean line of dits and dahs.  It also sounds like shit.  I operate CW, he does not.  You could hardly copy this.  Sounds like a woodpecker on a 2x4 and like it is overwhelming the speaker or the receiver with distortion.  S-meter is not pegged, volume is not too high, so I am a bit stumped.  I am not too familiar with his rig, but it is similar to mine and I cannot figure out why it sounds like crap(this is with all digital software shut down, just pure radio cw...)...

Not sure how else to describe this to you.. I have a DM780 screenshot showing the signal, but not sure how to attach in this forum...

Any thoughts from the FT-2000 guru's?

Thanks,
NR0U

N0BLT - I'm a regular cw guy at an intermediate level...FWIW, here is your list cut down by what I hear on a regular basis.  Seriously though, you don't need to memorize some of this stuff...much of the modern texting jargon is normal(maybe they got it from ham radio?) and people will shortcut just about anything.  Some of this is not really stuff you need to memorize...if someone is talking about EU or JA, you know as a ham that they are talking about Europe and Japan...you already know this...

AGN -     Again
ANT -     Antenna
<AR>    End of message
BK -     Break, Break in
<BT>    Separation (break) between address and text; between text and signature.
BTW -  By The Way
CONDX - Conditions
CPI -   Copy
CQ -    Calling any station
CU -    See You
CUAGN - See You Again
CUD  - Could
CUL -  See You later
CW -   Continuous wave
DE -     From, This Is
ES -     And
FB -     Fine Business, excellent
FER -   For
GA -     Good Afternoon
GD -     Good, Good Day
GE -     Good Evening
GM -    Good morning
GN -     Good night
GUD -   Good
HI - The telegraph laugh; High
HW -   How, How Copy?
JA -    Japanese Station
K -       Invitation To Transmit
KN    Go only, invite a specific station to transmit
LID -     A poor operator
OM -    Old man
OP -    Operator
OPR -  Operator
PSE -    Please
PWR -   Power
RIG -    Station equipment
RTTY - Radio teletype
RST -   Readability, strength, tone
SASE -    Self-addressed, stamped envelope
SHUD -   Should
<SK>    Out; clear (end of communications, no reply expected.)
SK -       Silent Key
SKED -   Schedule
SRI -      Sorry
SS -       Sweepstakes
SSB -     Single Side Band
TEMP - Temperature
TEST - Testing or Contest
TKS -    Thanks
TNX -    Thanks
TU -      Thank you
UR -      Your; You're
VFB -    Very fine business
VY -      Very
W -     Watts
WID -   With
WPM - Words Per Minute
WUD - Would
WX-    Weather XCVR -    Transceiver
XMAS -   Christmas
XYL -        Wife
YL -   Young lady
73 -   Best Regards (NOT 73'S) *
Prosigns
<AR>    End of message
<BT>    Separation (break) between address and text; between text and signature.
<HH>    (Error in sending. 8 dits - Transmission continues with last word correctly sent.)
<II>       Short form of above <HH>
<NR>    Number follows
<SK>    Out; clear (end of communications, no reply expected.)

Q-Signals For Amateur Radio Operators
QRG Will you tell me my exact frequency? Your exact frequency is ___ kHz.
QRL Are you busy? I am busy, please do not interfere
QRM Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1-Nil, 2-Slightly, 3-Moderately, 4-Severly, 5-Extremely.)
QRN Are you troubled by static? I am troubled by static ___ (1-5 as under QRM.)
QRP Shall I decrease power? Decrease power.
QRS Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (___ WPM.)
QRT Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.
QRZ Who is calling me? You are being called by ___.
QSB Are my signals fading? Your signals are fading.
QSL Can you acknowledge receipt? I am acknowledging receipt.
QSO Can you communicate with ___ direct or by relay? I can communicate with ___ direct (or by relay through ___.)
QSY Shall I change to another frequency? Change to another frequency.
QTH What is your location? My location is ___.


Good Luck!
73 NR0U
Lance

K5BJS,

I participated over the weekend and regularly participate in the SKCC events.  Generally, the exchange is the same for most SKCC events.

RST
Name
QTH (name and QTH are often swapped between 2nd and 3rd piece of info)
SKCC number

The most common CQ you will hear is CQ WES CQ WES - for the weekend sprint.  In two weeks is the Straight Key Sprint, so you will hear or call CQ SKS CQ SKS.

Otherwise you get the usual variations.  Some send "Lance Lance CO CO" , some send "OP Lance  QTH CO"...
Two weeks until SKS, enjoy!

73
Lance

Good job Martin.  Glad you were able to hear some of the WES from the SKCC gang.  You now have 2 weeks until the SKS event with SKCC.  More on their page.

gl es 73
K0URN

Hi Martin,

You should hear plenty of slow <15wpm cw this weekend during the SKCC WES(Week End Sprint).  Check skccgroup.com for more.  On your HR-20, you will hear lots of activity between 14.047 and
14.060.  The straight key group does not send perfect code, so that will challenge you a bit, but you should be OK with the speeds...  This is the perfect weekend to listen!!    Hope you hear me!!

73,
K0URN
Lance

Joe,

I have been using mine for about 4 weeks and really like it.  I was using a KK1 from American Morse, which is the only other straight key I have used. This is key is much
larger and has a nice 'heavy' feel to the 'hand'. Robust and nostalgic.

I bought from Mike Bowthorpe G0CVZ, direct from his website.  $50US shipped inlcuding two connectors so you don't have to alter the original cable.  Showed up a week later and I have been using it since. 

Highly recommended.

73
K0URN
Lance

I agree with BVN, have seen an increase in activity in the "slow zone" which is quite
nice.  Pretty frequent SKCC folks and others at 7100-7120.

Lance

Dave,

How about this for $50?
http://www.czechmorsekeys.co.uk/

Just got one.  Direct from UK.  Took less than a week to get here.  Very cool nostalgic look IMHO...    Maybe not as heavy, but heavy duty.  Its not gonna jump all over the place. It is a large key.

Good luck!

Lance

Hi Dave,

Since you expressed your interest in a straight key, I can't recommend enough the Straight Key Century Club at skccgroup.com  ...   This group is growing extremely fast, have a live sked page with lots of activity, and lots of guys ready for 5-15wpm qso's.

Back to keys:
Not that I am an expert, but I have the KK-1 from American Morse.  It's a tiny little kit for like $45.  This was my first straight key and I have made hundreds of contacts.  It is super small, adjustable, and works fine.

I just bought a Czech military straight key for $50.  Love it.  Is much larger than the KK-1 and feels a bit more robust under the 'fist'.

I guess I would say, just buy something on Ebay for cheap and see how you like it.  With time, just like all radio equipment, you will figure out what you really want a bit later.

Good luck and hope to see you in the SKCC group soon!

73
K0URN
Lance

KB4MB,

This will be an interesting thread.  I operate in the same speed range as you.  I have not heard anyone cut regular words like you describe.  Everyone cuts certain words like THX, CUAGN, GE, GL, etc, etc.  If you sent your sentence to me, it might throw me and cause me to think to much about what you are trying to say... and of course 'thinking' is bad for increasing speed.  My preference would be not to cut your city, because I would have no idea what you are saying until I QRZ you...  Nice hex by the way!

Just my cents worth.
73
K0URN
Lance

NI0C - Most excellent example of a classy reply.  FB and kudos to you.

73
Lance
K0URN