Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: MicroHam Micro Keyer

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : MicroHam Micro Keyer
Reviews: 50MSRP: 225
Description:
All in one multi mode USB interface and keyer (now includes one radio interface cable) CW/SSB & All Digital Modes
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/mk.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00505
WD0M Rating: 2006-10-26
Incredible Investment Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've only recently had time to install the latest upgrade (4.0.5) to the MicroKEYER, and wow! What a great upgrade it is! Adding the DVK feature is a great value to users! Now I can get rid of the other DVKs and audio software I've used with them in the past.

The added details incorporated into the Audio Mixer, indicating sound cards, connections, and the sliders to control volume are also valuable features. I use two sound cards, so I appreciate the "Get ID" button. That certainly helps with MMTTY and other programs. Many thanks for the improved/updated owners manual.

The MicroHAM MicroKEYER is the best investment I've made in a station accessory - ever! Congratulations to Jozef, Joe and the entire MicroHAM team for their incredible customer support and service! It's so nice not to have bought an item that is out of date as soon as you plug it in and the company keeps adding features long after you've purchased it!

I can only wonder what improvements are waiting to be announced......

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by WD0M on 2005-06-13

I decided to get out of the "serial port" business, given the propensity of today's computer manufacturers to go to USB only operation. While searching through the options available in digital interfaces (I owned a RigBlaster Plus), I came across the MicroHam Keyer as well as the comparable device offered by MixW RigExpert Plus. Although the RigExpert Plus had a few extra features, I couldn't see that there was twice the value at over twice the price.

I'm a very happy owner of the MicroHam Keyer! Setting up the MK is very easy. I'd strongly advise owners to subscribe to the MicroHam Keyer Yahoo group reflector. There you will find that the company posts updates for the router software - and the latest version (2.0) is WAY easier to use than the software that comes with the MK on the CD. That is an excellent feature of the MK - download the updates, and you're using the latest product - no charge!

The MK router software lets you create "virtual" com ports, then configure your system and customize it to each individual program you use. You then save "default" settings for each program (I have them for DX4WIN, N1MM, MTTY, and others). By simply clicking on a button in the router software, you can immediately configure your equipment to operate optimally with whichever program you choose. Neat!

I was pleased with the ease of setting up the hardware - the cabling problems I had previously experienced with other digital interfaces was quickly solved. The cable interfaces offered by MicroHam are very durable and of high quality materials.

The MK eliminated the need for my RigBlaster Plus, Icom CT-17 interface, and the MFJ CW Keyer (the MK has a built-in WinKey V10 CW keyer)I was previously using. Also surplus was the 8 port ByteRunner card I had used to connect everything.

Having sold all those now surplus items, I ended up with a few extra bucks after I paid for the MicroHam Keyer to use for other ham gear. A nice benefit of upgrading to the latest gear!

73,
Joe
WDØM
DM1TT Rating: 2006-09-08
Very good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having used this for more than a year merely on CW I have only good experiences:
- support by email was prompt and accurate when I in the begin happened to need it (more because of my own silliness)
- updates have been provinding some improved functionality and have been very easy to install
- worked flawlessly when I changed my radio: just needed to buy a new cable set
- if you don't plan to do SO2R, this is the top choice
K3MQ Rating: 2006-09-04
Easy setup, Great support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Using other interfaces, I was pulling my hair out trying to get N1MM and Writelog configured to work with my IC-756 ProII. I spent MANY frustrating hours trying to get the programs functional. I saw the great reviews for MK on eHam, and placed my order. I had the unit within a few days.

The unit comes with pre-configured templates for most major programs. Within ONE hour, I had ALL my applications fully functional. Unbelievable! This was great!

If you are tired of screwing with the setups, get the MK! I really cannot say enough good things about the ease of setup and quality operation of the unit.

The support is exceptional. Joe Subich, W4TV, aswers questions and solves problem immediately. The MicroKeyer support could serve as a model for the way all businesses should operate.

WV1K Rating: 2006-08-27
Very nice Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Joe gives great customer assistance. I had a frozen screw that shipped on another product and he dealt with it for me and sent it back by the end of the week.

Easy to set up and very well organized. The Microkeyer leaves more room on top of the radio or your shelf than the serial product I was using. It's still good, but let's face it, it's yesterday's news.

Unfortunately I found out about Microham 2 years after buying my Rigblaster which lacks a memory keyer and ties up serial ports better used for packet or programming radios.

The templates made it easy to get it running with DX4WIN, MMTTY, and N1MM Logger as well as my radio.

Note that the MK Winkey can be run with the computer off and I power it from the FT1K MKV 13.8 V jack as suggested.
NM6E Rating: 2006-08-07
Magnifco! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased one in May 2006 from MicroHam USA and had it in less than a week.

I ordered the Micro Keyer with the cables for my IC-7800 and also ordered the MicroHam BAND DECODER.

As others have pointed out, micro router software and the templates are a TIME SAVER!

Once I got the MH Band Decoder working with tracking the IC-7800, the Micro Keyer connects to the Band Decoder that then connects to the CI-V port on the IC-7800.

In a matter of a couple of hours, I had all my Logging programs working with the Micro Keyer
WriteLog V10, LOGic Ver 8.0, TRX-Manager, DIGIPAN, MMTTY.

Then I started with implementing the K1EL chip functionality on the various programs, SUPERB!

I used the Micro Keyer K1EL Chip in a couple of recent CW contests and the Micro Keyer worked superbly. The MK along with Micro Ham Band Decoder (antenna selector) are an efficient combination for automating your station and getting onthe digital modes with along with great CW generation with the K1El and Rig Control.

The two are a great match.

Now I need to work on setting up the station for an SO2R effort and try out the Micro Ham SO2R combo box!

Again, excellent support and the micro router/templates make interfacing a super breeze.


Javier NM6E
N4PJ Rating: 2006-08-05
Outstanding interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Last year I purchased a RigExpertPlus, primarily because they advertised the inclusion of the K1EL WinKey chip. Once I started using it, however, I discovered it (a) didn't work properly and (b) the support crew confessed they weren't really ready for prime time WinKey support!

I recently purchased the microKEYER to replace the REP. What a change! Not only does the WinKey portion function as advertised (and expected), but the use of templates by microHAM for setup of various applications was enormously helpful. The number of permutations for COM ports, DTR, RTS and other such items, can get very cumbersome. Many major applications (logging and contest programs) have supporting templates you can load (and save as presets) and even have major recommendations for various settings.

I have seldom seen such a multitude of possibilities narrowed down so easily with their supporting software/drivers for the microKEYER.

After some very minor stumbling, I'm back on the air with keyboard CW support (the trusty paddles are wired in parallel), RTTY and PSK. An absolutely awesome interface and a dynamite user manual/guide.
W7GG Rating: 2006-07-17
Superior product in all respects! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great product, professional grade hardware, supurb documentation and support! Congrats
to Jozef, OM7ZZ and his team for setting a very high standard for after market HR products.
de Bob, W7GG, AI7B, WW7OR
OH2BF Rating: 2006-07-11
All I needed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This gem replaced a lot of wire and different boxes. The primary reason to by it was the USB interface with multiple com ports. I mostly work CW but the digimode possibility makes RTTY or PSK etc easy as well.

DX4Win 7.2 supports Winkey and that made my dreams come true. Winkey is the ONLY cw keyer available today which lets you choose Ultimatic mode with dot (or dash) priority. After 43 years with dot priority it is not easy to learn iambic...

The voice keyer with N1MM is not bad either, neither the possibility to key your linear safely.

Support is first class second to none.
N3WT Rating: 2006-05-05
Service above and beyond Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned the Microkeyer for approx. 1.5 years with no problems. It does everything as advertised and as previously stated on reviews. However, I finally had a possible problem. I e-mailed the support line on a Sunday morning. Within the hour, on a Sunday, I had a reply from Joe, W4TV, the USA distributor. Joe ask a few questions about the syptoms, and Joe told me exactly what to check. Take some voltage readings and continuity checks. A few e-mails later, we found the problem with one of my connections that had gone bad for the CAT control of the rig. All of this on a Sunday!.

To top off the great service from Joe, I received an e-mail first thing Monday morning from Jozef, OM7ZZ, the big cheese, to make sure everything was resolved and gave me a few more suggestions. I replied to Jozef that it was already resolved.

The products that Microham offers are complicated products that require careful configuration and connections. With Microham's support, you can't go wrong.



----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N3WT on 2004-10-04

This unit really is an all in one unit for your interface needs, even the level converters for PC control. Replaces the need for interface units like the CT-17 on Icoms. Very high quality, I had it hooked up and functioning within minutes of receiving. Shipping from Slovak Republic was only 4 days by express mail, packed very well. I do have RF around my shack, this unit is imune to the RF. No RFI produced by this unit either.

I highly recommend ordering the rig specific cable set for your radio. The cable set is very high quality and was wired correct for my PROII. Very neat configuration and set-up. Provides the virtual serial com ports via one USB port for PC control, PTT,CW,and FSK. Also, provides the audio connections for soundcard modes with level controls and isolation.

Most USB to serial converters do not work for the FSK keying, this one does.

Last but certainly not least is the K1EL Winkey included in the unit. This provides a full featured keyer via paddle or use the keyboard with unlimited memory buffers. Also works with many CW contest programs for improved CW. I'm getting a lazy using the keyboard rather than my paddle, but the CW is perfect.

A few e-mail questions to Josef, OM7ZZ, had a e-mail reply within minutes.
W4HWD Rating: 2006-04-30
Nothing easier or better! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After about a 12 year hiatus from the digital modes, I decided that I'd had enough of just talking and CW and wanted to get back on RTTY. I looked around and was instantly drawn to the microKEYER. I have used MFJ TNCs in the past and while they're OK, they're not nearly as versatile as a flexible interface such as the microKEYER. I got it a couple weeks ago, hooked it up to my Kenwood 850 with the pre-made cable I bought (I'm over that building stuff crap so I bought one pre-made), loaded the software and after getting a copy of MMTTY off the internet voila! I was back on RTTY! I though that was all I wanted, until I went to digipan.com and got a copy of the PSK software and OH - MY - GOSH what is this! PSK is the most mind boggling thing I have see in a while! I sit here and watch 12+ DX QSOs going on and another 5 or 6 DX stations calling CQ - ALL AT ONCE! I just point-click and pick the one I want to work and put out a call - it's like shooting fish in a barrel! 14 DX QSOs in one hour! My digital experience back 12+ years ago was nothing compared to this! Another thing I noticed about the microKEYER is it is actually cheaper than many of the hardware-based TNCs availabe now. I would not waste my money on the others - this thing is a champ! If you ain't got a microHAM microKEYER, GET ONE!