K1EL WKUSB-AF User manual

WKUSB-AF
with
WinKeyer3 IC & CPO
User Manual
www.k1el.com
Version 1.0
Introduction

K1EL WKUSB-AF User Manual WKUSB-AF
WKUSB-AF User Manual 5/19/2022 Rev 1.0 Page 2
This document will describe WKUSB-AF and its interfaces. All the information you will need to
connect WKUSB-AF to your station will be included in this manual along with specific guides for
getting it to work with N1MM+ Logger, HRD/DM780, N3FJP AC Log, FLdigi, and MRP40.
What is WinKeyer and why do I need it ?
Due to timing latencies inherent in multi-tasking operating systems like MS Windows, it is very
difficult to generate accurately timed Morse in software. All it takes is a higher priority task to
demand service and Morse generation will be delayed resulting in wrongly timed dits, dahs, or the
spacing between them. A WinKeyer based device, like WKUSB-AF, attaches to a PC’s USB port
and appears as a serial com port to an application running on the PC. The application, instead of
generating Morse in software, sends the letters to WinKeyer. The application has full control over
sending speed as well as weighting, spacing, and PTT generation. WKUSB-AF has a paddle
interface so a user can break in immediately to handle fast exchanges in contest situations.
Electrically isolated keying outputs provide safety and prevent ground loops. Two separate keying
outputs allow the user to run two different radios from one keyer without swapping cables. The
feature list below shows some of the advanced options supported by WinKeyer. Some WinKeyer
products, like WKUSB-AF, also provide a speed potentiometer interface so that an operator can
quickly change Morse transmitting speed.
WKUSB-AF Features
•USB 2.0 Interface with Mini type 3 connector •Uses K1EL’s latest WK3.1 IC
•Iambic CW Paddle Interface •Adjustable Speed 5-99 WPM
•Iambic A, B, Ultimatic & “Bug” paddle modes •Adjustable Weighting and dit/dah ratio
•Two separate keying outputs, configured as •Adjustable Keying Compensation
•Key1 with PTT or separate Key1 or Key2 output •Adjustable Letterspacing
•Solid state relay outputs rated at 350V @120 mA •Adjustable PTT lead in and tail delays
•Powered from a PC, charger, or battery USB port •Optional autospacing
•Internal Sidetone speaker or •Farnsworth spacing option
•CPO Sinewave sidetone audio output •Adjustable dit/dah ratio
•Front Panel Speed and CPO Volume Control •Inexpensive cabling options
•Embedded message commands •Paddle only sidetone
• Standalone Keyer Operation •Adjustable speed pot range
•Metal enclosure with RFI filtering •Power supply monitoring
•HSCW and QRSS Capability •Twelve stackable memory slots
•Standalone Practice Mode •Three multi-purpose front panel pushbuttons
•ESD protection on paddle and USB inputs •Automatic beacon capability
•RTTY FSK transmit mode •Firmware can be updated over USB
• CH340 USB Interface IC

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How is WKUSB-AF different than WKUSB ?
WKUSB-AF can be thought of as a WKUSB and our code practice oscillator (CPO) merged
together in one enclosure. This gives WKUSB the ability to produce a sinewave sidetone output
that can drive a speaker, headphones, or PC soundcard input. The volume and pitch of the tone
are adjustable. WKUSB-AF, like WKUSB, has an internal sidetone speaker that is used mainly for
entering standalone commands but it can also output transmit sidetone in case an external
speaker is not connected. WKUSB’s internal sidetone speaker is disabled by the standalone
command A. There are two control knobs on the front panel, one for speed control and one for
CPO audio volume. The speed control also doubles as a sidetone pitch control, press and hold
the M2 pushbutton and audio sidetone will be enabled. Adjust the pitch with the speed control,
when done press the CMD pushbutton. In a similar way, pressing and holding M3 will put WUSB-
AF in tune output mode. WKUSB-AF only has three message pushbuttons but by pressing two of
them you can send five messages. Lastly, WKUSB-AF is like WKmini in that it only has one
output jack which provides two individual key output ports or one key output port with PTT.
CH340 USB-IF
WKUSB-AF uses a CH340 based USB to serial interface which requires a CH340 USB driver as
described in Appendix B. The CH340 is a third generation controller which works just as well, if
not better, than an FTDI controller with drivers available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Product Warranty, Support, and Liability
WKUSB-AF is fully warranted to the original purchaser against defects in materials and
workmanship for one year after purchase. This warranty does not cover damage caused by
accident, improper care, or lightning damage. Please contact us before returning your WKUSB-
AF for repair and we will issue an RMA.
Please submit support questions by e-mail to [email protected]
While every effort has been made to insure that the WKUSB-AF design is safe and the
documentation is clear and accurate, it is still possible to cause equipment damage or
incur personal injury if:
WKUSB-AF is not used as intended, WKUSB-AF is connected incorrectly, Safety
guidelines outlined in this document are not followed, or WKUSB-AF is modified in any
way.
K1EL cannot be held responsible in these or other similar events.
WKUSB-AF contains no user serviceable components or configurable jumpers. Please do not
tamper with or modify the internal circuitry of WKUSB-AF as this will void the unit’s warranty and
may result in unsafe operating conditions.

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Let’s Get Started ! - USB drivers
Don’t plug WKUSB-AF into your PC until you have read this paragraph !!
WKUSB-AF C uses a CH340 USB interface IC which is very reliable and easy to set up. Windows
drivers for this device can be found on the WKUSB-AF website. There are two versions; a self
installing .exe and a zip file containing the individual drivers as used by Windows Update. Please
read through Appendix B for our recommended install procedure.
WKUSB-AF Front Panel Controls
There are five controls on WKUSB-AF’s front panel:
The left rotary control is used to adjust the transmitting speed and CPO pitch.
Three pushbuttons are used to send/enter messages and enter standalone command mode.
The right rotary control adjusts sidetone audio volume when driving an external speaker.
WKUSB-AF Rear Panel Connections
There are four connectors on WKUSB-AF’s rear panel:
The Audio Out connector is an 1/8inch/3.5mm stereo jack which provides a sine wave sidetone
audio output with adjustable volume that is capable of driving headphones or speaker. WKUSB-
AF produces mono output which is wired to a stereo output jack. The left and right channels are
connected together internally. This allows the use of stereo headphones. Please do not connect a
mono plug into this jack this connector, it has to be a stereo type. A mono plug will short the audio
signal to ground. Refer to the diagram on the next page for illustrations.

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GND
Audio Out (L)
Audio Out (R)
GND
N/C
Mono Audio Output
Stereo and Mono output connector wiring.
The KEY OUT connector is an 1/8 inch/3.5mm stereo jack. It has two open drain outputs; Key1
and Key2/PTT1. It can be setup as a single keyed output with an optional PTT or as two
individual Key1 and Key2 outputs. The outputs are isolated from WKUSB-AF ground and other
signals by an optically coupled, solid state relay which insures a 5000V isolation barrier. The
outputs can switch up to +/- 350 V, at a current up to 120 mA. This rating usually allows keying of
a vacuum tube transmitter using grid block keying. However, for safety reasons please confirm
the keying requirements of the transmitter before connecting it to WKUSB-AF. The diagram below
illustrates the connector pinout.
Sleeve
GND
Key 2/PTT 1
Key 1
Ring
Tip
Key Out Connector
PTT is only provided for KEY1 and is off by default. It can be enabled by software configuration or
in standalone mode by WK3tools or paddle command.
Mini-B Interface Cable
The Paddle Input connector is an 1/8”/3.5mm stereo jack which will accept iambic or single lever
(sideswiper) input. A bug is not acceptable. The paddle inputs are activated when switched to the
common ground (GND).
GND
DAH
DIT
Paddle Connector
USB I/F
The USB connector is designed to mate with a Type A to
Mini-B cable. This cable is shown at left. The interface will
run at USB 1.0 and 2.0 speeds and will also work with USB
3.0 which is backward compatible with USB 2.0 interfaces
by design.

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WKUSB-AF Setup
Once the USB driver is installed and you have plugged WK into your PC, you can determine
WK’s port assignment using K1EL’s WKscan app: https://www.k1elsystems.com/WKscan.html.
The com port assignment can also be found using Device Manager as detailed in Appendix A.
WKscan Tutorial
Once you know WK’s com port, you are ready to run WK3demo.
WK3demo tutorial
WK3DEMO is a general purpose test application that can
exercise all of WKUSB-AF’s capabilities:
https://www.k1elsystems.com/files/WK3demo_42_setup.exe
Once the application is installed, start it up and you will see
the dialog box show at left. All you need to do to get started is
to set serial communications port. Click on Setup and the com
port selection list is shown. Only the currently active USB com
ports are shown. Select a WK com port identified by WKscan.
You can click on ? shown in the upper right corner of the
dialog box for a brief help menu.
Click on Open to connect to WKUSB-AF. If all is well, the
Open pushbutton will change to Close and the WK IC version
will be displayed. Click on Setup again and this time the Setup
dialog box will be displayed as shown on the next page. This
presents all of WK3’s various configuration options which can
be modified to your requirements.
After you have installed WKscan, start it
up and you will see the dialog box
shown at left. Click Scan and WKscan
will display all of the USB serial ports
found on the system. The ports will be
identified as unassigned, in use, or
attached to a WK device. In this example
we have a WinKeyer1 device on COM2
and a WinKeyer3 device on COM4.
Yes, multiple WKs can be operated from
a single PC running two applications.

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Click Cancel for now and go back to the main dialog box. Type into the lower keyboard entry
window and you will hear the text sent in Morse sidetone from WKUSB-AF’s internal speaker.
Enable Serial Echo in Setup and what you type will be echoed in the upper text window as sent.
Now hook up some paddles and test paddle entry. If Paddle Echo is enabled, letters entered on
the paddles will be echoed in the upper text window. Use the Setup Dialog to try different keying
options. You probably noticed that if you change settings on the Setup dialog box, you have click
Done and return to the main application to transfer those new settings to WKUSB-AF.
WKUSB-AF has two sidetone options. The built-in sidetone speaker operates just like it does in a
standard WKUSB. You can adjust the sidetone frequency and set it to sound for paddle entry
only. You could also turn internal sidetone off and use WKUSB-AFs CPO sidetone output instead.
Attach an external speaker or headphones and then set the sidetone volume control to a
comfortable level. Note that even when internal sidetone has been disabled, it will still be used for
standalone commands. External sidetone is not activated for standalone commands. To disable
CPO sidetone, turn the volume fully counterclockwise to effectively turn it off.
There are several speed pot options, Speed Pot Lock forces WKUSB-AF to only use the speed
pot for speed control. When Speed Pot Lock is unchecked, the Up/Down arrows next to the WPM
readout on the main dialog box can adjust the speed or you can directly enter a speed in the
WPM edit box. In other words, speed is controlled solely by the host application. This is how the
majority of PC logging and contest applications operate. Speed is controlled by keyboard
commands, macros, or messages with embedded speed commands. The name of the game in
contesting is to have one central user focus, that being the keyboard.
Although WKtest packs a lot of power in a small app, it is meant to be mainly a hardware test tool.
It gives you a good idea of what WKUSB-AF is capable of and assures you that it is operating
properly. The next logical step is to move on to a ‘real’ application, such as N1MM+. Before that
we will look the WK3tools application and how standalone operation works.

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WK3tools application
When a WinKeyer device is not controlled by a host application, it will run in standalone mode.
WKUSB-AF can be powered over the USB port or by a set of internal batteries. WKUSB-AF in
standalone provides a complete Morse keyer with lots of capabilities. Originally, configuration
changes could only be made using commands entered on the paddles. While it still has this
capability, WK3tools allows you to make these changes from a PC application.
https://www.k1elsystems.com/files/WK3tools_52_setup.exe
After installation, start the application and the following dialog box will appear:
It will be empty since you haven’t read in WK’s current configuration settings. When WK is
powered up for the very first time, all settings are loaded with defaults. To view these, connect
WK to your PC, set the ComPort, and click on ReadWK. After a couple of seconds the dialog box
will be updated to show you the current settings:

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Now you can go in and tailor the standalone settings any way you want. The biggest timesaver is
the ability to load messages. A tally of available message storage left is shown below the
message text windows. Even though the WKUSB-AF has only three message pushbuttons, it has
the capability to handle 12 messages in two banks. Messages 4 and 5, in each bank, are
accessed by pressing two buttons (see page 54). Message 6 is accessed by calling it from
another message. Don’t forget that you have to write the messages back to WK with the WriteWK
button when you are finished. If you want to test them, press the buttons on top of WK.
There is an option to setup standalone RTTY operation. Typically you would setup User 2 for
RTTY operation so you can easily switch between the modes without having to make changes by
paddle commands.
You can enter embedded commands by preceding the command letter with a /
For example a speed change can be embedded in a message like this:
/S20 CQ CQ CQ DE /S18 K1EL K1EL /S20
To insert a DN prosign simply enter two // as in K1EL//QRP

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Once you have saved messages and settings, they are ready for use. You can now disconnect
WK from the PC. You don’t need to use WK3tools again until you want to make changes. Don’t
forget you can still make quick changes to WK settings by using paddle commands, no PC
required. A detailed description of standalone paddle commands can be found in Appendix E.
WK3tools will only work with WinKeyers that have a WK3 or newer WK-IC. WKscan will tell you
the IC version. You will not be able to access a WinKeyer that has a WK2 or older IC.
Using WK3tools to Restore ‘Factory’ Settings
The ‘Restore to Defaults’ control loads the menu with original default settings. All of the control
settings are initialized and messages are erased. Don't forget to write these new settings back to
WK before you exit.
WK3tools Help File
A separate help document for WK3tools can be downloaded from the WK3tools webpage:
https://www.k1elsystems.com/files/WK3ToolsOperationGuide.pdf
Upgrading WKUSB-AF Firmware
WK3tools is used to install new firmware revisions. A special webpage is provided for WK3
upgrade information:
https://www.k1elsystems.com/WinKeyer_31.html