Hi,
I am using version 1.8.1 on Ubuntu 14.04.
I see that you  using the command-line interface to the K3NG keyer.
I think this is a very good idea sinc the winkeyer protocol is not quite
right in the K3ng keyer.
I found that the only way I could get CLI to work is to first connect to
the port using a terminal program (kermit) and then it would work.
If I did not do this, the keyer would send strings of ???? , meaning
it did not understand what it was being sent.  My guess is that that
kermit was setting the baud rate and otherwise the port was probably
at some other  baud.  After kermit set it, the keyer worked fine.
73, Jim W2XO