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Reviews For: K1EL WK2/WKUSB Keyer

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

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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
WQ3T Rating: 2008-03-03
Very nice keyer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Anyone who has had a CW QSO with me lately has heard the Winkeyer USB in action. Now I sound like ARRL practice CW, instead of the sloppy bug sound my old Windows 98 PC with serial port optoisolator sent. It is a challenge to install the driver on an old computer, but it sure works well. Assembly was easy except I think there was a wrong value of C5 on the documentation, but the part sent was correct and it went right in. Almost went crosseyed trying to read those eighth watt resistors, but the trusty digital meter showed me their values in big LCD numbers. I went against the instructions and just slapped all the ICs in place, screwed the box together plugged it in and started to rag chew. Now I can type CW till the cows come home, long after the other guy needs medical treatment for J-38 carpal tunnel syndrome. I love the way the memories and settings including speed are set by my log program logger32. Had to upgrade to the latest version so it would work with the USB Winkeyer. The enclosure is first class all the way, probably costs 2/3 of the total price, but properly shields the RF, lays out the buttons knob and jacks just right, and stays put with internal battery weight holding it down. More people should get this thing especially the guys with a captain hook fist.
N0HR Rating: 2008-02-25
A pleasure to build and use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the 3rd kit that I've built from K1EL and I think it is the best yet. Construction went quickly and without issue. Testing was easy with the supplied software. Documentation has improved recently and the features are awesome!

In fact some of the minor nits mentioned in previous reviews of this kit have already been resolved... documentation is better and the new rev allows for the unit to automatically switch between USB and battery power. Cool!

Full construction details (with pictures) are provided on my website:
http://www.n0hr.com/K1EL%20WKUSB%20Keyer.htm

as well as a performance review:
http://www.n0hr.com/HamRadioReviews/index.html

Great kit Steve!

Highly recommended.
KZ1X Rating: 2008-01-12
Top-Shelf Value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a superbly engineered product, from the application integration, to the supplied configuration tools, to the kitting, to the cabinet. When considering the low price, you almost have to wonder what's been left out! Answer: nothing. This is a complete solution, and a grand example of innovation and attention to detail. Bravo!

GM0ELP Rating: 2007-12-16
Great value, quality and performance Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Solves the serial port problem in modern day laptops. Interfaces with my contest logging software (WinTest) and allows speed variations via a simple pot whilst sending without the tx gnd dropping out to the linear. Have it hooked up to my HF and VHF transceivers and can switch between them without re-wiring the shack thanks to the dual output ports. Gets it's power from the USB port or from internal battery pack.
Can be used as a fully featured stand-alone keyer when no computer available with the capability of 6 macro messages which include auto serial no inc/dec etc. All for £30? I have no hesitation in giving this product a 5, can't recommend it highly enough. A big thanks to K1EL for an excellent product!
K9SO Rating: 2007-12-08
The world's best keyer? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The best keyer I've ever run across at least. The kit is well worth it and took only 90 minutes or so to build. Use it as a keying sequencer to make sure the amplifier's relays have kicked in before the actual transmitter keying. Use it to correct "first dit" shortening by bringing up the PTT line 10mS before the actual keying.
Get the "HV" option ... if you own any older equipment such as the old Heathkit linears, you will appreciate that you spent the extra $10.
All the parts were included, everything fit perfectly, and it played as soon as I powered it up.
N4LRS Rating: 2007-09-19
Solves a problem with quality construction Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This Keyer solves a real problem with today's PCs... they are too busy doing other things to have good real time control over their IO ports making direct keying using the DTR or parallel port less than proper.

The WinKey chip does what I always wanted to do... It offloads the task of generating the actual CW signal to the radio to a processor dedicated to the task. This leaves the computer free to send ASCII control commands at its own pace. Brilliant.

I originally ordered mine with the standard positive polarity keying opto chips. Since my Kenwood TS-520SE uses negative keying, I later ordered the optional positive-negative isolators and the lower value drive resistors. If you ever think you (or one of your friends) will hook this up to an older radio with negative keying spend the extra ten bucks and get the dual polarity output devices.

The USB functionality works, but is a bit difficult to install.

I wish the power options were better.

The circuit design is clever. The PCB quality is top notch. Two Field Days have passed and the CW operators just love this thing. Well worth the price.

The highest compliment might be that most every logging program I find quickly added support for the WinKey interface by about two years ago making this usable in many environments.

Bravo.
K3AN Rating: 2007-08-09
Great Except For Docs Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It took almost 3 weeks to receive my kit. Maybe paying by personal check slowed things down. Kit included two caps of the wrong value, but my component stash had plenty of .01 discs to replace them. The kit went together without any problems. I use the internal batteries for power, so I can operate standalone without the PC being on.

My only complaint is with the documentation. I write my own contesting programs so it was really important to understand the functioning of the host interface. In closely reading the docs I found conflicts, such as number of stop bits is 1 in one place and 2 in another. The documentation could also be better organized. But since most hams will use WinKeyer USB with a commercial program, this won't be an issue for them.

With WinKeyer USB, there will be no more timing glitches to corrupt the Morse being sent. I was pleased with the very minimal delay between hitting a key on the PC to send a message and the actual beginning of the message. The adjustable PTT lead and tail times are great. I plan to use this feature to handle PTT control during the playback of "voice keyer" WAV file messages that my software supports. And if I ever get a second radio, WinKeyer USB has two keying and PTT outputs.

Just improve the documentation a bit so I can give this product a solid "5" rating.
ZS6AAA Rating: 2007-07-19
Versatile and powerful Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
What I like about WinKey USB:

1. It's great fun to build.
2. Fully featured keyer, does (almost) everything I want.
3. Computer control via the USB port (saving my serial ports for rig control).
4. A PTT output with semi-QSK "hang" time programmable in terms of word space units, so it automatically adjusts with keying speed.
5. Can be used both for PC keying and as a standalone keyer.

What I don't like about WinKey USB:

There's no option for external power, except USB. This means I have to turn my PC on in order to use the keyer. (I could run off batteries, but am too worried about batteries running out during a contest!)

It would be really nice if...

You could set the PTT outputs so they only have a semi-breakin "hang" time when using the paddles, and not when generating CW from the PC. (This for contesting - I want to return to receive mode immediately after generating computer CW; but still to be able to use the paddles in semi-breaking mode).

W9AC Rating: 2007-07-08
Truly Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My kit arrived from Steve with the exact parts count. Parts are grouped and separated in a heat-sealed bag.

Total build time was 90 minutes and assembly went fine -- you almost don't need the assembly manual. The only cautionary measure is to ensure that the top messaging switches are installed on the opposite side of the PCB. This kit goes together so fast that you can easily make the mistake in the orientation of the switches, despite warnings is the manual.

One reason for my purchase was the ability to use the keyer fully configured with the computer or, as a stand-alone unit like the Logikey. The unit is powered through either the USB port or from the internal battery pack.

Another reason for my decision was that the WK2/WKUSB can be used for remote Internet operation through N4PY software. One can use a set of iambic paddles with a laptop PC and because the keyer echoes full characters, the data is perfectly timed through the Internet.

A solid 5.



ZL2AL Rating: 2007-07-04
Brilliant Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the Winkey USB kit as a solution to getting around "CW timing " issues with Writelog in Win98 ans some laptops. Within a week it appeared on my doorstep from the other side of the planet. Downloading and reading manuals etc was done while I waited. What a fantastic kit with high quality parts! A couple of hours with the soldering iron and the little critter was ready for the smoke test. Install the drivers for Win XP and plug in the USB cable.
Surprise surprise... it talks to me. Winkey manager confirms it will talk to the radio and my Begali paddle.

Then the fun started. I fired up Writelog and set up parameters for the last All Asia CW and hit F2 expecting the "exchange" The radio keyed on. No dits and dahs! Say what? After a few hours of sliding into the abyss where professional psychiatric help is the only way out I decided to join the Yahoo K1EL reflector and search the archives. Sure enough, a few others almost lost it at this point with the same problem. Writelog 10.45 does not support K1EL. Writelog later versions up to 10.62 do
support K1EL. The sun began to shine. A quick email to the gurus at Writelog and 13mb and $30.00 later my download with key was installed. The setup box showed the all important K1EL entry. A bit of finesse on the setup and I hit F2. The sun shone even brighter and my FT1000D almost got a hernia at 60WPM. Ah..... so that's what the little knob is for.

What a brilliant little device the USB version of Winkey is! It works perfectly as Writelog's little helper with uncanny precision. No more
DB-9 Serial timing problems. No more fumbling around on a computer keyboard when one makes a stuffup in the middle of a 220 per hour run. Just finish the contact with the paddle and sort out the keyboard logging problem with no ressure.

I cannot speak highly enough of this product. Thanks to the guys at
K1EL.

73, Lee ZL2AL - ZL7AA, ZL8RI, ZL9CI, ZM2M Contest station