How to question - adding a keyer to the SW+

[KF6VCI]

There are external keyers like the AA0ZZ http://www.4sqrp.com/EzKeyer.php and chips
which can be built into the enclosure.

Has anyoen the documentation for adding an internal keyer? Or would you recommend
an external one? K1EL's is out of stock. Norcal QRP Club sells one...

72 de Chris KF6VCI

[WB6THE]

Are you talking about the Small Wonder Labs SW-20+ /SW-40+ QRP transceiver?
I have an SW-20+ sitting right here on the radio desk and I've found the manual
and schematic.  Also looking at AA0ZZ keyer circuit reference that you gave.
I see no reason why you could not simply connect the keyer output, J2, to the
key connection of the SW+.   The SW+ already has transmit muting and
sidetone so just leave the keyer muting and speaker connections disconnected.
The keying current of my SW20+ measures about 1.12 mA and the AA0ZZ
would handle that no problems.

Alan
WB6THE

[WB6THE]

Just depends on the space available in your SW+ enclosure and
whether you want an internal or an external keyer. Myself, I'd want
the keyer to be internal. Now, I see that the keyer circuit wants a
power supply voltage of 3 to 5 volts and the SW+ uses a power supply
voltage of 12 to 15 volts. A three terminal regulator such as a 7805 with
its input connected to the cathode side of D13 in the SW+ would allow
you to use the same power source for both the keyer and the radio should
you have them in the same enclosure. If you need more help feel
free to email me at   r*a*d*i*o*6*t*h*e*@*c*o*x*.*n*e*t leaving out
you know what characters of course. I have one of Dave Benson's
frequency counters hooked up to my SW+ and my own preference is
for a speaker in my radios so I've homebrewed a small audio amplifier
to drive an internal speaker.

Alan
WB6THE

[AA4GA]

There are a lot of keyer chips and kits out there these days that could be built as internal keyers.  Most, if not all, are micro-controllers that have been programmed to act as keyers.  Look at Hamgadgets and Jackson Harbor Press for some alternatives.  I'm sure there are others that I'm just not thinking of right now.

[AD6KA]

I built the Hamgadgets Pico Keyer-Plus kit
into my SW40+ w/aftermarket enclosure.
The Pico Keyer Plus is only 1.3" X 2"
so you can build it into virtually anything.

Like another poster said, it runs on
internal power, a lithium coin cell that will last
a couple years, pulls 1-2 mA when keying.
One less hassle in your project to consider. OR you can build
it into your project using external power.

The Pico Keyer Plus is cheap at $17.99,
a snap to build, easy to use, and has more features
than you could EVER use!
http://www.hamgadgets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=89
73, Ken  AD6KA

[K5LXP]

More difficult than figuring out where to put the IC when integrating one of the keyer chips into any rig is dealing with monitor audio and putting command/memory switches somewhere.  They come set up to drive a piezo squeaker so you either have to figure out a place to put that, or couple the audio from the chip into the receive audio chain.  That, and putting in switches means mechanical and electrical modifications.  Without the sidetone audio and at least one switch it's not possible to control the keyer, so you have to deal with these one way or another.


Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[AD6KA]

I just added a switch in line with the
Pico Keyer's piezo speaker. I hardly
ever access those menus anyway,
just adjust the keyer speed, which is a pot.
Ken,  AD6KA

[VE3WMB]

I put a K12 into my SW40+.  I like the K1EL keyers because unless you care about having a lot
of memories you can get by with just one SPST momentary switch.  Also they run on 12V
and I really like being able to set the speed by directly entering it into the keyer. I didn't bother
tapping into the rigs audio chain so I just left the piezo speaker connected and disabled the keyer
sidetone, that way I can use the rigs sidetone but I still hear the responses from the keyer when
changing settings. Wiring is simple. Stereo jack connects to the paddle inputs on the keyer
(dit generally goes to tip, dah to ring and ground to shield) and output of the keyer connects to
the key input of the rig (i.e. the wires that originally went to the key jack) ... wire the the keyer
power connections and you are ready to go. If you want to have a separate jack for straight key
just wire it in parallel to the output of the keyer. I mounted the keyer upside down (ie solder side up)
just above the main board at the back of the rig using a small L bracket attached to the rear panel
of the enclosure so a screw hole in the back and a small switch on the front panel are the only
physical changes to the rig enclosure.

Michael VE3WMB

There are external keyers like the AA0ZZ http://www.4sqrp.com/EzKeyer.php and chips
which can be built into the enclosure.

Has anyoen the documentation for adding an internal keyer? Or would you recommend
an external one? K1EL's is out of stock. Norcal QRP Club sells one...

72 de Chris KF6VCI