Using my mic as a keyer..... - CW Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : CW : Using my mic as a keyer.....

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Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by WA8MEA on November 3, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
This might have been discussed previously in this forum. However, if it has not, I thought it an informational gesture to explain my latest experience. I had made a homebrew iambic paddle for my Icom rigs. It never really worked the way I wanted it to. While working on it this morning, I simply made matters worse and then decided to give up on the project. While reading the manual regarding the wiring, I noted that on the Icom 718, you can use the Up/Down buttons on the hand mic to send CW. They act as a keyer; one button for dots and the other for dashes. It took a little getting use to. However, this evening, I had my first "mic keyer QSO" with N2ESE in NJ. Gary said he owned a 718 too and had read about using the hand mic as a keyer but had never tried it. Now he thinks he might give it a shot....just for fun. Ain't technology wonderful? 73, Bill - WA8MEA http://HamRadioFun.com

RE: Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by N4KZ on November 4, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Several radios have this feature. I made a CW QSO on 6 meters with HC8N from my car using the up/down mike buttons. It was better than nothing in a pinch but golly it's a hard way to send CW. Maybe with lots of practice I could get better using the buttons. ...Like I said, better than nothing in a pinch. 73, N4KZ

RE: Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by WA8MEA on November 4, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I will say this: I found it easier on the hand and had a better quality CW transmission than had I brought out the straight key.... 73, Bill

RE: Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by W6DPS on November 24, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I have just ordered a IC718, which is still in transit. (Updating from a couple of older tube rigs as I get interested in HF again.) I saw in the manual that you can do this. I have never used a keyer, only a straight key. Is there a way to practice with the keyer/mic buttons without transmitting? It sounds interesting, but i wouldn't want to produce QRM while trying to get the hang of it. Even with a dummy load and the power all the way down some leaks out... Thanks! Dave W6DPS

RE: Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by VA7CPC on November 24, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
On the IC-718 (and most other rigs), if you turn the menu option for BREAK-IN to "OFF", the rig becomes a very expensive code-practice oscillator. It generates CW side-tone from the keyer (or straight key), but doesn't transmit unless you hold down the PTT button. That's what you want for practice. FWIW -- I tried the buttons on my mic, and didn't like them compared to a real paddle (a Bencher). I didn't even like them compared to this tiny "paddle" I made: http://www.eham.net/articles/13722 But they work.

RE: Using my mic as a keyer.....	Reply
by KE4ILG on November 24, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I believe you can "practice" using the up dn buttons on the microphone as I do on my ic-706. On the 706 I have to select the "Bk", "FBk" or no Bk. "Bk" stands for break in, "FBk" stands for full break in. If neither is selected the radio will not transmit in the cw mode but will produce side tone. Side tone means you can hear what you are sending, in case you are unfamiliar with that term. I find it challenging to send cw with the up dn buttons but any cw is fun. 73, Mike.

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