CW Keyboard Keyer & Reader

[KF4UVG]

I am looking to purchase a CW Keboard Keyer & Reader. Can anyone suggest a good unit?

[N2XE]

How 'bout a fist and a brain?

[KF4UVG]

Just looking for gear input. I passed my code test in 98. was meaning to provoke a CW fanatic response.

[W4BQF]

After years of doing it myself, I suggest you get an old computer with something like Windows 98 for the op system. The computer gives you the flexibility of testing many available CW software programs that operate in both DOS mode and under Windows. I presently use VE6YP's YPlog software program (www.qsl.net/ve6yp) which has an extremely flexible CW generation section which holds the correct weight ratio up in excess of 100 wpm.
Code readers are excellent devices to help you get your copy speed up. However I guarantee you that at some point your going to find your brain can copy better than any code reader. Unfortunately I don't know of a commercially produced code reader, but there are pretty simple circuitry available that will convert your rcvr's CW audio output to a digital format required for the software to convert.

Don't let any of these 'know-it-all' hams discourage you from using a keyboard. Most of them that decry a keyboard either cant type or cant copy code over 15wpm and are just too lazy to give it an honest try. I've been doing CW for 52 years, the last 30 of those years have been using a keyboard of some type.
Tom/W4BQF

[KC0IOX]

I just purchased and assembled the K-20 keyboard keyer from K1EL.  It was an easy build and this was my first project.  Anyway, you supply a computer keyboard with a PS/2 plug and it does the rest and can run on a 9 volt battery.  A lot cheaper than the commercially produced keyers, and a whole lot of features.  As for the readers, there are a few decent decoders out there as shareware, and I have messed around with them a little, and I think CW Get is the best one I've used.  I agree with the previous posts that at some point, your ears will do the job just fine, and I use mine mainly to practice my sending on straight keys, bugs, paddles, etc., as they are very honest and let me know how my characters look to the computer.
Anyway, I think the K-20 is a can't miss for a keyboard keyer, and should be very useful in contests, and the like.
The page is www.k1el.com
Hope this helps, and 73
KC0IOX