Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: AEA MM-3 Morse Machine

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : AEA MM-3 Morse Machine
Reviews: 18MSRP: 139.95
Description:
Memory keyer with training modes (random groups and QSO simulators) and beacon operation.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00185
N7RD Rating: 2020-06-23
Best Keyer Ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Being a CW only operator I hunted for one of these for a long time. If you find one, grab on to it. You won't be sorry for your purchase. If you love morse, you will love the MM-3, plus I suggest you upgrade the memory, a big plus. It's wonderful for helping new CW operators become proficent in their ability to not only copy but to send very well spaced code. They are big and take up some space, but it is space well given to a great part of the shack. I will never ever part with this, might take it with me when the day comes, hi.

N7RD
K2PMC Rating: 2020-03-15
MM3 is still the best..... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been licensed since 1954 and since then I've done about 98% of my operating on CW. I've always been on the lookout for new and different things for sending code. I had read a lot about the AEA Morse Machine and one day decided I would try to find one. I finally did find one about 10 years ago on EBay. I must admit that when I first got it I had no idea about its capabilities. When I sat down and read the manual I was amazed at what that little box had inside of it. As the others have said, you can simulate contests, carry on a QSO with it and just do ordinary code practice. It has 3 additional features that were of particular interest to me. First, it has an ASCII to Morse converter. Second, it has a complete command language which can be controlled by a computer. And finally, it has an RS232 interface to allow it to communicate directly with the serial port on a computer, or to the USB port via a serial to USB converter.

The MM3 is very tightly integrated into my station. I have written a keyboard control program to send CW via the MM3. The 8K memory module makes an excellent buffer, so I can type at 50 WPM while only sending at 25 WPM. All MM3 functions are controlled via the computer.

This year I wrote our Field Day logging program which also provided for computer control of the MM3. The guys could develop their own Macros and send their data via function keys,or mouse, or use the keyboard, whichever suited them. They loved it. A couple of them are now actively on the lookout for an MM3. Several years ago I bought another MM3 just in case. We used both of them on Field Day.

I really don't know what more you could put into a keyer that is not already in the MM3. Talk about being years ahead of their time. Well, the guys at AEA sure fit that description.

OK1RP Rating: 2013-10-01
Simply the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Even although its so old this is the best keyer I ever had.
One of the only few keyers with RTS function available. Look for Your MM-3 on eBay or another flea market and You will never regret...

Early version (black/white keypad) is Made in USA, later version (grey keypad) comes from Hong-Kong) but both can support latest f/w version so then its almost identical.

All can be controlled via PC. It has an RS232 interface to allow it to communicate directly with the serial port on a computer. Also the USB port via a serial to USB converter feature is available. Nice control logging s/w is available thanks to K2PMC!

Memory can be easily expanded up to 128k. Also the current consuption can be lowered with new chipset easily (see Owner manual).

This piece of the art from AEA can not be beated-up by any other keyer currently available on the market.

73 - Petr, OK1RP



N2PCG Rating: 2011-01-05
Looking forward to a Return to CW w/ MM3 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got this keyer from AEA many years ago. It was tremendous for learning cw. Then it was pressed into service as my dx keyer in contests. Absolutely fantastic little piece of equipment. Just dusted it off ad put it through its paces after abt ten yrs on the shelf. Works perfectly... and still holding onto messages programmed into memory banks. Back to cw now!!
W8GND Rating: 2010-05-16
Wondrful MM3 keyer Time Owned: N.A.
I finally located one of these (AEA MM3), and it is all I had remembered. If you need a fancy keyer, this is it.

I got mine free from estate sale, but it is simply amazing to see what this thing will do.

I have also a KK1, by AEA which is even better, but it doesn't like to work with modern computers

Over the years I have had probably 30 keyers, and this is in the top tier. The MFJ with all the red buttons could be near the top, except for the failure of the red buttons!

Hail AEA! I am so happy

73 jerry w8gnd
N0PL Rating: 2009-09-10
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these keyers and I couldn't be happier. I've used a number of different keyers over my 44 years of cw operation and you can't go wrong with the MM-3. I expanded the memory to 128k on each unit. Not because it is needed, but just because you can and the memory is cheap. If you find one for sale, like other reviews have said, jump on it. You will not be sorry.
K7ABV Rating: 2008-08-01
the finest I have used Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of these keyer's and without them I would be lost, I use them every cw contest and they never miss a letter, unless I mess up my cw, which still happens after 51 years hi..If you can find one buy it, I find them very useful and handy to own..just my 2 cents worth...
G0AZH Rating: 2008-02-25
Worlds Finest Keyer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The MM3 has been out of production for sometime but it’s unsurpassed performance means it is still ahead of the field for the title of finest Keyer of all time.
The machine is wonderfully over the top. It does everything you can imagine and then some!
I have owned mine since the early nineties. I upgraded the firmware to version 12 when it was released, that added even more facilities. And just for fun I added a 32k RAM chip, so I have a memory capacity of 36’500 characters.
Some of my favorite functions are as follows: -

> The RS-232 connection; you can use it to configure the Keyer and make a backup of the configuration. Also you can send keyboard Morse. With the large memory capacity I have dumped large text files in to the memory for Morse practice.
> Simulator mode; when the bands are dead its fun to practice rubberstamp QSO’s. If you have a MM3 with EPROM version 12 there is a contest Simulator that is very realistic.
> Transmit delay; this is a great facility to stop the shortening of the first character when using an amplifier. It works by adding a delay between the activation of the PTT output and the CW Keying output.

The best thing about the MM3 is it improves your Morse! So much is written about how your fist is improved by a good quality key, this is very true but people underestimate the improvement in performance that is achieved by a world class Keyer. This is what the MM3 is all about. Operators who own a collection of world-class keys need the worlds finest Keyer to do them justice.
W4RAR Rating: 2008-02-09
way ahead of its time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned one of these back in mid 80's. I purchased it to increase my code speed to 13wpm so that i could upgrade to General. I credit the MM3 for hooking me on code. I could actually practice qso's without being on the air. This thing was so realistic it would answer to your call could remember your name age etc.I remember the first time I used it sent cq then heard my call coming back I thought I was in the Twilight zone. I wish they still made this I would buy another one. If you can find one in great shape buy it
N4EES Rating: 2008-01-30
A complete CW package Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This thing is amazing for either contest practice or general QSO practice. It also does everything I could ever expect a memory keyer to do. I got lucky and found a nice one, with the manual, on Ebay for $125.