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Reviews For: Idiom Press/Ham Supply Logikey K-3 Keyer

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

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Review Summary For : Idiom Press/Ham Supply Logikey K-3 Keyer
Reviews: 65MSRP: 129.95
Description:
Although the Logikey K-3 Keyer has been replaced by the CMOS 4 and K-5 Keyers, K-3 repairs and support are offered by Ham Supply. See Website for details.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.hamsupply.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00654.7
K5NT Rating: 2019-11-14
Back from the Dead! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My faithful Logikey K-3 went brain dead after many years of faithful service. I was able to get a replacement chip set from Ham Supply for $45, and after a few minutes work I am back in business. K5NT, Richmond, VA
KK6AW Rating: 2014-02-18
Been a great unit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been reading the reviews for the K-3 and the support.
Have things changed that much? I have owned my k-3 for many years, at least 10. I have had only one problem which required me to send in for repair, it has been so many years ago I have forgotten what it was. I called on phone and it was immediately answered and I was told to send it in for repair which I did. As I remember it only took a couple weeks and the cost was well within reason. I had occasion to email them and was answered right away.
Again this was years ago so many things may have changed.
K5SBR Rating: 2012-11-26
Positive Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In 54 years on the air, I've used a bunch of keyers, beginning with a homebrew 9TO from the '62 Radio Handbook. I love my Curtis 8044 chip keyers. After using a K-3...well, I now have three. I like it. It works for me very well.
KA2X Rating: 2011-01-14
Some tips & a mod... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My K-3 has been in service since 1998 with only one problem. After 7 years it gave up the ghost which I think was caused by static when I touched the 12V power plug. Idiom fixed it for ~$40 which included upgrading it for protection from this sort of damage.
I added a small 850 ohm pot in series with the speaker in order to adjust sidetone volume.
And, lately the speed was jumping up & down sometimes when I turned the Speed pot. I gave this pot a spritz of tuner cleaner which fixed this problem.
All-in-all I've been very happy with my K-3 and the service I received.
F1BZF Rating: 2010-12-09
Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having bought this keyer back in 2004, I decided to include a battery for easier operation. To make things short, I modified the circuit in cutting a trace and installing 2 diode 1N400x).
Circuit now is as the K-5
So it no longer drain batteries in few weeks.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by F1BZF on 2004-10-19

My K-3 went dead after (I think)a surge from power. Bob sent me quickly a new eprom and the K-3 went alive. This a real support for customers. I also have the cmos-II till 95'with internal bateries and it never fails.
OK1RP Rating: 2010-06-16
Nobody is perfect...even not K3 Time Owned: N.A.
I had chance to test several keyers. So there is what I found as Cons on the K3 from Idiom Press:

- horrible auto spacing function ( I did not understood why it's there) useless in practice
- no int. battery
- no Curtis A !
- for different speed the different letter spacing/pauses are needed... impossible and all is glued together when You are recording the message.
- no audio level control presented
- mini jack socket for keyer output is nightmare and good joke from the designers.

Nobody is perfect...even K3.

73 - Petr, OK1RP
WW8J Rating: 2010-01-20
Possibly, The Very Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this keyer for about five years. Prior to this time I have always used a hand key, and occasionally a mechanical bug. The bug now rests in a box in a drawer. I have only had one problem with the K-3 during these five years of ownership, which was related to transmission line radiation. This situation was immediately corrected. As a result the Keyer's control speed was affected (could not control character speed). After removing the Keyer's power source, and then again re-applying power, the keyer regained it's normal functionality. I cannot compare it to any other external keyer as this is the only one I have ever owned. I am very satisfied with K-3's performance, and have no intention of moving on to another manufacturer's keyer, as I have grown accustomed to the form and functionality of the K-3. I use the K-3 with a Kent SP1, and home brew single paddle. In the event this unit fails, which is very unlikely, I would purchase an upgraded Logikey model such as the K-5 for a replacement.
Being able to command the keyer in Morse code makes for easy programming.
W3WW Rating: 2008-11-23
The Greatest Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Six years of extremely heavy abuse and the K3 still operates like new. I am always switching keyers going from software generated (K1EL and others)to internal keyers and undoubtedly end up going back to the Logikey. Some are excellent keyers but the K3 feels the best at higher speeds. The K3 is the least affected by stray RF in the shack at any speed. I may exchange radios frequently, but I would NEVER part with my Logikey K3.
W1YB Rating: 2008-11-23
Great product and company! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I can't even remember how many years I had mine before I went back to a straight key. My son-in-law is still abusing it.

Never missed a beat!

This company has been great over the years!! They are superior to most other gear suppliers.
W8ZNX Rating: 2008-08-01
you may love it but i do not Time Owned: more than 12 months.
it was fb when it ran

died within 3 weeks
they charged me to fix it

developed other probs

200 bucks invested in a keyer that does not work