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| Reviews Summary for PicoKeyer Plus from N0XAS |
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Reviews: 5
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $17.99
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Description: The PicoKeyer Plus has all of the features of the original low-power PicoKeyer, however, the speed pot and push button switch controls are now mounted on the circuit board. Voltage regulator components and board solder pads are provided for external power so you can choose to build it without the on-board battery. A custom plastic enclosure is also offered for that finished project look.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.hamgadgets.com
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write your own review of the PicoKeyer Plus from N0XAS.
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W2WO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 16, 2012 07:49
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Great
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have used a bug for the last 50+ years. More recently, lack of frequent practice (and my age) have caused my fist quality to deteriorate substantially. Thought it was time to explore more modern equipment (a keyer), but I did not want to make a mess of it on the air. The PicoKeyer writeup in QST was interesting, and the web pages are very good. Ordered one. Tivial to assemble (but a small soldering tip is essential).
Good points: small, button battery seems to last forever, can carry the keyer (and the paddle) anywhere and practice. Just the right learning tool for switching from a bug to a keyer. Many firmware control options.
Not so good: No headphone output; output volume is very low; for practical purposes you must set the output tone to a moderately high frequency (around 2000hz) for maximum volume. The audio output is then very directional. (Considering the price, these are minor nits.)
The only change I would make is to have less speed range on the control pot. It goes from 5-60 WPM, making speed settings at moderate speeds (say 20-25 WPM) rather touchy. I doubt that anyone using speeds above 35 WPM would be using this product!
You might want to order a matching "stereo plug" to connect your paddle, and an extra battery. The prices simply cannot be beat.
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K8GGL
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 15, 2012 17:07
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Fantastic little keyer, even better with 4.0 firmware
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Got this keyer to use with my Flex-3000, to get around the CW latency issue. Price is ridiculously low, very simple to assemble, and works great. My only wish was that speed pot range could be reduced (I don't need 63 WPM!). Went online to find possible hardware mods, and was delighted to learn that Dale's recent firmware release includes programmable upper and lower range limits for the speed pot. Mine is now set for 10 WPM to 30 WPM.
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ZS5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2012 23:22
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Fun keyer
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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In January I read the review in the February 2012 QST magazine, and thought it would be ideal to use with my Flex 1500 A.
The Flex 1500A has a small latency problem on CW, where there is a 1/4 second delay between keying and hearing the monitored audio, which results in a lot of confusion when keying at speeds above 15 WPM. I am comfortable at around 25 WPM, and at this speed, the Flex 1500 becomes a nightmare of confusion. This latency problem is not evident with the bigger Flex 3000 and Flex 5000 that I have - I think because these bigger models use a much faster "firewire" cable to connect the rig to the computer, while the Flex 1500 uses a much slower USB cable. Anyway, I figured this PicoKeyer would work great in this instance, with audio from the Flex 1500 turned off.
I was very quick with my order, as I knew that orders would start streaming in after the review in QST. (I was right - I went into their website a few days ago and saw that they were temporarily sold out of stock).
My PicoKeyer Plus arrived very quickly, and took all of about 20 minutes to assemble. It really is a very easy project, and comes with an instructional CD, showing every step along the way. After completing the project, I put the lithium battery into it's holder and was happy to hear "73" sent to me from the keyer.
I have made many QSO's with this keyer in the past two weeks. It works extremely well. Understanding how to program the many features of this keyer took longer than the actual assembly. It has plenty programable features, with 4 memories (which can be linked), and I was thrilled to see that it can be used in "Beacon Mode" with an adjustable timer between transmissions. Fantastic !!!!
This keyer would be great when used with a fox transmitter for fox hunting. It would also be great with older radio's that have no keyer built in. I have used it with my TS-940 and TS-440, with success.
The only thing I find, is the miniature speaker built into the kit does not have much volume. I like to be able to hear myself keying, loud and clear, and find myself having to hold this keyer close to my ear while keying to avoid sending errors. This is not a fault of the keyer - it is a small light box, and in order for a speaker to be fitted in the small space, a really small speaker was used. I think I will fit a chassis mount audio output to the box, so I can plug in my Bose portable amplified speaker, or headphones.
Highly recommended kit, and at the price it is an absolute bargain.
73,
John, ZS5J
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KB7L
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2012 20:23
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Great Keyer and Great Price!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I love this little PicoKeyer Plus! Assembly took all of 15 minutes, the instructions were well written, and all of the parts were accounted for. The hardest part about the whole kit was getting the battery out of the plastic tray- I didn't realize there was tape preventing it from being popped out! Attention to detail...
I have been playing with this thing for two days now, getting to know the menus and practicing with my dual lever paddle. The little speaker is just loud enough to hear what you're doing, actually, loud enough for my YF to gripe about the noise. :o) No worries though, I am immune and dedicated to perfecting my iambic keying fist. This is doing it!
And finally, much appreciation to Dale, N0XAS for his explanations and advice when I called him on the telephone. His shipping is speedy and he keeps you informed via email of any event. Dale is a consummate professional who strives to make the customer happy. I am very happy! Thank you for the PicoKeyer Plus!
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K2JN
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 5, 2012 11:25
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Low Cost Keyer
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I build one of the first generation PicoKeyers years ago and was intrigued by this latest redesign and custom plastic enclosure.
My order was quickly processed and I received the kit in a couple of days via first class mail. Assembly took less than an hour, including careful review of the solder joints and case assembly. The enclosure measures roughly 2.25" x 2.4" x 1" and is pre-drilled for all the controls, rear jacks and speaker grill. I added some rubber feet on the bottom and installed a small piece of felt inside the box to keep the circuit board from rattling (it's primarily held by the rear 1/8" jacks).
Performance is similar to the original PicoKeyer however, the box tends to attenuate the speaker a bit.
Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase and the ease of assembly. This would be a great kit for first time builders or others who wish to purchase a low-cost keyer/code practice oscillator.
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