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Reviews For: K1EL K-20 CW keyer and keyboard

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

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Review Summary For : K1EL K-20 CW keyer and keyboard
Reviews: 25MSRP: 25
Description:
The K1EL K-20 is a minature PCB that uses TWO PIC computers and includes a full featured CW keyer for use with a paddle AND a full featured CW Keyboard.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.k1el.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00255
G3URA Rating: 2001-03-28
Great Keyer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little keyer is excellent.. It went together easy and worked first time.
It has more features than you can shake a stick at.
The memories are easy to programme and are great for the usual "Name is -
QTH is etc"
Used mine in the UBA CW Contest and never touched the Bencher..
If you are looking for a keyer, look no further.
Great Keyer - Great Value.
73s.. Dick.. G3URA..
N5NAE Rating: 2001-02-25
Best Keyer Deal Out There! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This thing is pretty amazing. A cinch to build, clear instructions, low current draw and
a feature list a mile long. I'm just sitting here thinking about all the possibilities of
it's built in programming capabilities and memories. To really take advantage of the power
of this thing you'll want to keep some sort of keyboard plugged into it, although you don't
have to if you just want to use your paddle and don't want to change anything. But who would want to do that? Best $25 I've spent in a VERY long time!
Thanks!!!
NC2B Rating: 2000-12-23
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I agree with the previous reviews. It goes together fast. Works the first time. Has more features than most of us will use. A real bargain at $25.
N4EJG Rating: 2000-12-19
Great evening project, great keyboard keyer!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered this keyer and put it together in about 1.5 hours. The documentation is very thorough and complete. I particularly like Steve's approach to building and testing as you go along.

I had a problem with the transistor used in the output.....Steve was very responsive in helping me via e-mail and with his help, I was able to quickly get the K-20 on the air. It is a simple kit that a first time builder should be able to get going.

I also needed some info on keying my venerable HW-101, which uses grid block keying. Again, Steve was right there with two possible solutions.

The keyboard (a spare AT type keyer which you probably have lying around somewhere) itself and the various functions work quite intuitively. For example, you can change the speed on the fly by using the up and down arrows. There are several memories. The K-20 supports high speed CW. I also enjoy using my Vibroplex paddles with it.

In summary, this is a piece of gear that belongs in every CW enthusiast's shack. For $25, you get a keyboard with all the goodies that will satisfy even the most discriminating ham. Also, Steve is a good man to deal with.
N9VV Rating: 2000-10-14
OUTSTANDING keyer and CW Keyboard Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just finished building the K1EL K-20 CW keyer and keyboard PCB. It uses TWO PIC computer chips and has an AMAZING amount of features. Please visit Steve's website http://www.k1el.com or see my webpage for info and pictures.

The Keyer/KBD has a PS/2 keyboard interface and seems to be immune to RF problems that have torpedoed other KBDs. All CW parameters are adjustable - even "english" on the paddles when using the keyer. Full dot/dash length, weight, speed to 99 WPM, spacing etc. There is an onboard speaker for practice (easily disabled with one keypress). Sidetone is adjustable etc. The current draw is about 10ma with my minature keyboard. The first dit or dah of an xmission is even adjustable for those older xcvrs that improperly truncate the first element. You can't go wrong with this great little board.
dit dit
de Ken N9VV
http://home.uchicago.edu/~khopper/k1el.html