Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: K1EL WK2/WKUSB Keyer

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 : K1EL WK2/WKUSB Keyer
Reviews: 88MSRP: 64 (kit)
Description:
The WKUSB is a complete CW keyer kit, including a new K1EL Winkeyer2 IC and a USB computer interface.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.k1el.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25884.9
PA1MUC Rating: 2012-02-23
A great device, with lot's of capabilities! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi! I recently ordered WKUSB. The communication with K1EL.com was a bit sparse, but the kit arrived over here in Europe in less than 2 weeks after ordering. All was well packed and complete. Assembly was indeed easy. Instructions are very good. The USB driver was installed and the device recognised. The device worked well from its beginning in both stand-alone and host mode. The next step is to discover all the great capabilities. From what I see it is really great for exercising, logging, QSO's etc. I will certainly use it a lot for the next QSO's. Working high speed cw mode will be even more enjoyable.

vy 73 es cwfe Jörg, PA1MUC / DL3LUM
IK0IXI Rating: 2011-11-26
K1EL WKUSB Keyer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My experience with K1EL WKUSB started two years ago.
It's a great keyer indeed showing wonderful features and modern USB management. Surely a top-end keyer, maybe the best I know. Easy to set and a big tool for high speed telegraphy.

73 Fabio, IK0IXI
EHSC # 104
INORC #462
MF #1047
N5IP Rating: 2011-11-20
Very straightforward kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a very well packaged kit that is easily assembled in a evening without rushing. The parts are nicely packaged and the instructions are clear. You need a VOM (or very good vision) to identify the various resistors, a good small tipped soldering iron and some basic hand tools to snip leads for instance, 3 AAA batteries and your ready. This could easily be a first kit.

Nothing to align, just install the driver from the included mini-CD, plug in the supplied USB cable and enjoy your new keyer.
N4AF Rating: 2011-11-08
A+++ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been a happy user for years. This is the heart of my so2r setup. It offloads cpu cycles letting the processor run cool and work at other stuff.
Recently I took a lightning hit and was 'outa business for upcoming SS'.
K1BX SENT ME A LOANER !!
Great outfit, great prices, great service sums it up.
KI4EKL Rating: 2011-07-23
Ideal keyer: standalone or computer-driven Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This keyer is easy to assemble and performs flawlessly, either standalone or when driven via USB port. The ability to dial up or down code speed makes for very considerate operating.

Sometimes, while hiking out to operate portable, I hear my backpack calling CQ. This is because the unit has an internal AA battery clip that powers it for standalone operation. When it jostles around, buttons get pushed, and I hear its sidetone. I actually don't think this could run the battery down even after a few hours, but the beeping backpack does get annoying. I ended up putting a switch in the battery line to prevent this (removing the batteries would be a more involved task because the unit is closed by four screws, which I would rather not fiddle with in the field).
VA7CPC Rating: 2011-05-15
Easier than I thought to build Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was my first kit, and my first experience with soldering a printed-circuit board.

I've used a K1EL Winkeyer at my club, and wanted one for myself.

It took a long evening to assemble. No problems, except one capacitor I forgot to solder, that dropped onto the floor. Everything worked fine.

All the features are covered in other reviews. It's a great standalone keyer, and a perfect contest keyer when controlled by N1MM Logger or similar software.

Just remember to use solder sparingly, if you're not used to PCB's.

Charles
N6WIN Rating: 2011-05-10
Excellent Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Easy to build, easy to use, no problems.
AE5J Rating: 2011-05-10
Perfect! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used K1El products for years now without a single complaint - nothing but praise. I recently built the WinkeyerUSB and all I can say is that there is now no need for any other keyer whatsoever. Works as a standalone memory keyer and handles two radios without unplugging/plugging.

It is easy to build. Just use a 20watt iron and take your time to make good solder joints. Read through the instructions first. Simplicity itself. I recommend this to anyone who wants a quality product at a great price. If I had three rigs, I would buy another.
K5ND Rating: 2011-02-22
Great keyer and kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've just put the Winkeyer in play with my K3 and Apple iMac using Skookum Logger software for contests and MacLoggerDX for general logging. I've also used Skookum Morse to program the Winkeyer's internal memory.

The kit went together very well. Good instructions and a simple build. I was a bit concerned about configuration in my Mac only system as the tools provided are Windows based software. Fortunately, I did not have a problem thanks to Skookum logging and morse software.

I just ran the ARRL DX CW contest and the Winkeyer worked great. I highly recommend this product. You can see photos of my kit building at http://www.k5nd.net
NZ6E Rating: 2011-02-11
Excellent service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using this keyer for over a year now. Suddenly it quit working for me. I contacted Steve and with his help it was diagnosed as a compatability problem with my rig's keying circuit. The issue was probably caused by changing the length of the rig to keyer cable and the additional drop in voltage was the culprit. Changing to the High Voltage keying chips would fix the problem. A few days later the fix I ordered arrived and I'm back in business (I took the opportunity to upgrade to ver 23 as well). Steve noted that he has been seeing this issue with others and is only shipping the HV chip units so this isn't an on going issue.

The other thing of note is the K1EL Winkeyer is compatable with every program I have played with, both logging and contest software.

Excellent product and excellent service and highly recommended.

Greg
N6PYI