QCX key timing.

[camerart]

Hi,
I'm practicing Morse with an excellent QCX transceiver, and Im using a home made key.  (See other post)

Sometimes the key doesn't work!  If a digit 'say' S, is keyed, if it is incorrectly timed does the transceiver block DITs?  Or is it the contacts on my key.  It feels like the transceiver blocks some, as I can DIT DIT and DAH DAH DAH at any time, apart from when keying digits.  The QCX is set tor timed.
Camerart

 

[Ham4CW]

...Sometimes the key doesn't work!  If a digit 'say' S, is keyed, if it is incorrectly timed does the transceiver block DITs?  Or is it the contacts on my key.  It feels like the transceiver blocks some, as I can DIT DIT and DAH DAH DAH at any time, apart from when keying digits.  The QCX is set tor timed.

Are you talking about using a paddle key or a straight key?

With a paddle key the timing is set by the keyer itself, but with a straight key I'm not sure how the rig times things when decoding. I would need to check the manual to find out.

Maybe the rig uses it's off-air decoding firmware, which if it does it would need time to 'find' your sending speed then base any decodes on the perceived timing of the dits and dahs. So if it is operating in that manner then even a slight change in sending speed might lead to poor, or no, decoding.

Also, a good number of decoding algorithms need to 'hear' both dits and dahs before they can 'decide' what the sending speed/timing is.

Like I say though, without referring to the manual (or trying it out myself with the QCX here), I am only guessing.

73, Mark...