| W1EBI |
Rating:      |
2004-10-12 | |
| Excellent product |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I just completed the CMOS4 keyer kit and was delighted that it worked FB immediately! It's only been about 35 years since I last did any serious PC board assembly :-) A lot of fun, an excellent assembly guide, and a terrific finished product. The smooth speed control is a joy after using the integral keyer in my radio for a couple of years. I would give this versatile keyer a 5 even if it did not have any of the extensive memories and features, so those additional capabilities are a real plus.
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| AB2EZ |
Rating:      |
2004-09-17 | |
| Super! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Hi!
I've been using a Logikey K-3 for several years, and I'm delighted with it! So, I couldn't resist purchasing a Logikit CMOS 4 keyer kit when I needed a second keyer.
The kit went together flawlessly in 3 hours, and worked perfectly the first time. [Read the assembly instructions completely before you start. Use a 25 watt iron with a good tip. Use very thin electronic solder. Take your time.]
As with my K-3, the CMOS 4 is a great keyer... with a lot of great features. I also appreciate the fact that it can run on batteries or a 12 volt external power supply.
Best regards
AB2EZ |
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| VE3XDB |
Rating:      |
2004-09-03 | |
| Tremendous! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I replaced a K1EL keyer with the CMOS4. The K1EL was great, but needed an external keyboard. So I did my homework, and decided to try a CMOS4, after very good luck with the SCAF-1 filter from Idiom Press.
When I first read the manual, I thought this would be a challenge to use. Quite the contrary! It's very intuitive, and all the functions can be memorized very quickly. Things I like are the memories, the adjustable range on the speed pot, adjustable sidetone frequency, and the choice of keying modes, and the programming and inquiry capabilities. Have I missed anything? How about the nice case, professional assembly and finish, and the fact that it works flawlessly.
A great keyer, worth the price, supplied by a helpful gentleman who obviously takes pride in the products he sells. Thanks, Bob! |
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| DL6XAZ |
Rating:      |
2004-08-19 | |
| excellent |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I second all positive comments published here! Worth every Dollar invested in this item! My keyer is connected to a GHD paddle, and together they are an excellent pair.
Very friendly and prompt service rendered by supplier, too.
vy73 Fred DL6XAZ |
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| W3PH |
Rating:      |
2004-06-10 | |
| All-time favorite keyer |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Started way back when with a homebrew W9TO clone, used WB4VVF accukeyer for years, then got CMOS-III, K-3, and CMOS-4 (guess I'm a keyer junkie). The CMOS-4 is my favorite.
Favorite features: small size, accukeyer emulation, keying compensation, ability to reverse dot and dash (all my paddles were wired the other way ...), and built-in batteries (one less wire). |
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| W8NF |
Rating:      |
2004-05-04 | |
| A true advancement in the human/machine interface... |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I've been 99% CW since getting licensed in the mid-1970s. Even at an early age, I've understood how critical the user interface is for any device. To keep a consistent interface, I've used the very same black-base Bencher BY-1 paddle since I purchased it in about 1978. Yet still, when I borrowed someone else's keyer, or changed HF rigs and used a different built-in keyer, it seemed I had to learn to send all over again. Even if using my own paddles.
Bob W9KNI is a friend of mine - we belong to the same DX club. I got the CMOS4 from him because I did not have a memory keyer for contesting, and really liked the small, battery-operated format.
I was pleasantly surprised. There are several "timing" settings in the keyer. It can emulate the Curtis chip, and goes beyond "Iambic A" and "Iambic B". These settings alter, in sometimes very subtle ways, the way the keyer responds to paddle inputs. When keying iambically, for instance, there is a "window" of time during which you must press the alternate character, or the keyer assumes it's time for a letter break. The different settings of the keyer adjust this window, among other timing settings. When switching settings, it's difficult to really identify what has changed, but my ability to send is dramatically affected! With one setting, I can't get past 20 wpm, yet with another setting, I can send at 40 wpm without errors.
I think for every operator, there will be a setting where it just falls into place with that particular person's muscle conditioning and things like how far in advance they approach the paddles when they're about to send a character.
Early on, Bob told me that I'd send better CW with this keyer. I figured some of that was sales talk. But he's absolutely right. By having the varied settings for keying emulation (aka timing), this keyer, has effectively set a new standard in the human / machine interface for electronic keyers, and at least for me, genuinely allows me to send better than I've sent before.
It doesn't hurt that it was a fun kit to put together, and is the first keyer I've owned that's actually smaller than the paddles. It also compensates for my Icom's shortening of the first "dit" on transmit. |
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| N7XM |
Rating:      |
2004-04-04 | |
| Great Keyer |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is Add-on to original review
I basically second all the positive
comments.
The Number one virtue is that sending
parameters are totally reproducable!
You can sound exactly the same every time
that you use the KEYER !
The Number two virtue is you have
10 timing versions to pick from.
All keyers have UNIQUE timing - this
allows you to use one that you are
most likely familiar with already !
The Number three is the ability to
compensate ( the K command) for keying
weight of transceiver - many rigs
in full break sounds extremely light
like a " chicken" on the air - this
allows you to compensate - Or add "K01"
this is adding to leading edge of keying
envelope for a more solid sound.
Only negative the buttons are very small !!
- my homebrew versions built from LOGI KEYER
partial kits use Large "soft touch" buttons.
A GREAT DESIGN!!
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N7XM on 2002-04-28
Great Keyer! easy step by step instructions.
I love to use it - any CW lover will appreciate
this keyer. Small and compact. Nice thick
walled metal cabinet with everything predrilled.
A very good VALUE !!! |
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| KB4T |
Rating:      |
2004-04-04 | |
| The Best Keyer in the Universe! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've used many electronic keyers in my ham radio career. In nearly 40 years I've used Heath, The TO Keyer, Hal, AEA and MFJ. Of these the Hal was the best and the MFJ the worst.
But I had never found the perfect keyer...until I stumbled across the Logikit CMOS4. My search has ended.
Most keyers have some of the most needed features or they are bare bones and built cheap. The CMOS4 is the best thought out and designed keyer I have found. It will actually help you send CW better with greater accuracy.
My two favorite features are the Auto-spacing and the Keying Compensation. My new multi-Kilobuck transceiver alleges to offer full break-in. But its full break-in distorts CW characters which can make your CW sound terrible as well as be difficult to copy. Keying Compensation allows the keyer to compensate for the failings of the rig and allow your CW to sound machine perfect...at all speeds. Even though the keyer is compensating for the distortion caused by the rig, the sidetone sounds normal. The attention to detail in the CMOS4 is simply amazing.
The kit is easy to build. I finished mine in 2.5 hours and it worked perfectly from the first power up. The directions are simple to follow. As long as your work is neat you shouldn't have any trouble.
I can't say enough good things about this keyer. If you are looking for a solid performing value in an electronic keyer, the CMOS4 is your best bet.
73,
Frank N. Haas KB4T
Florida |
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| N7APP |
Rating:      |
2004-02-20 | |
| A Pleasure |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
This is my first kit. Very little soldering experience before begining. I found this kit a pleasure to build, everything works as advertized. I took my time, and completed the project in a couple of days. It works very well with my Kent paddle and IC-746. I'm very happy with this keyer.
N7APP |
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| K7OE |
Rating:      |
2004-02-09 | |
| Superb Product |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After reading the reviews here on Eham.net, I decided to replace my failed MFJ keyer with the Logikit CMOS4 unit. I ordered a factory completed unit on a Thursday and by Saturday it was in my hands! Now that's fast! And the keyer was EXACTLY what I wanted. It is a fantastic keyer. Well built, full featured and a dream to use.
If you've been wondering which one to get, stop wondering and get the Logikit CMOS4 keyer.
Matt - K7OE |
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