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Author Topic: Suggestion for a Windows morse keyboard program?  (Read 274 times)

N1AUP

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Suggestion for a Windows morse keyboard program?
« on: May 02, 2022, 07:24:05 PM »

Trying to brush up on my CW skills.  I plan to copy in my head, but would like to use a keyboard to send CW. 

Advice on which program to use, and how you interface the PC to the HF rig?

Thanks
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AE0Q

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Re: Suggestion for a Windows morse keyboard program?
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2022, 08:49:53 PM »

Advice on which program to use, and how you interface the PC to the HF rig?

An excellent interface for Windows is the K1EL Winkeyer (WKUSB).  The PC software sends ASCII data to the keyer and the Winkeyer takes care of generating Morse at the appropriate timing.  This eliminates strange timing 'burps' caused by Windows doing other tasks while trying to generate Morse.

https://hamcrafters2.com/WKUSBX.html

Most logging software can use the Winkeyer, various programs enter the keyboard sending mode (VS the logging mode) different ways.  I'm sure you will get lots of suggestions for software.

Glennn AE0Q
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G4AON

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Re: Suggestion for a Windows morse keyboard program?
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2022, 12:30:07 AM »

Another vote for a Winkeyer. Many of us have them to interface a logging program to a radio in order to send CW in contests, it makes sending your callsign, 599 and a sequencial serial number from function keys less prone to mistakes.

I have used a keyboard to send CW as an experiment when operating a radio in the shack from the front room, via remote control software. It is not easy to be brief, or use appropriate shortened words, when using a keyboard and takes some getting used to when compared to using a Morse key, or paddles. If someone asks a question with a quick "BK", and you have typed ahead, you will be stuck!

As a 50 year plus, ex commercial, Morse operator, who uses CW most days, I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of QSOs I have had where the other operator has used a keyboard. Yes it can be done, but 99% of operators don't use a keyboard outside of a contest.

73 Dave
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K5LXP

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Re: Suggestion for a Windows morse keyboard program?
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2022, 06:11:54 AM »

And just to offer a more "thrifty" alternative to the K1EL hardware, look up "K3NG Keyer".  This is an Arduino based keyer that is not only a full featured standalone keyer, it's also a winkeyer, it can decode and it has training modes as well.  Selected features pared down a bit you can load this program on a $6 Arduino nano board, making this one of the most cost effective and featured keyers -ever-.  It's hard to beat the K1EL K-series of standalone keyers for size and utility, but lately a lot of his kits have been unobtanium ("out of stock").  The K3NG code into a $6 nano is a great foundation for building as many portable, mobile and station keyers as you need them.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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