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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
W4MY Rating: 2007-02-17
FB Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It couldn't have gone more smoothly! Package arived in mail at 12:30 pm and by 5:30 pm that day I was keying the rig from withing N1MM.

Must be clean living! HI! No, really, fine product. All the timing issues with sending CW from within a Windows application are gone.

Price was right too!

73, Marty
AC7YE Rating: 2006-10-21
Just what I have been looking for. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have wanting some way to use a set of paddles for input into my computer. No real need, just a way to improve my cw keying through practice. I also wanted a keyer which could be easily programmed for various contests, etc., and also be very portable. This keyer satisfies both wishes extremely well! I have only used the keyer for two days but am very satisfied with its performance.
NA0ED Rating: 2006-08-28
Glad I switched Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I previously used a Logikey K-3, which was an excellent keyer. The WK2 - USB is every bit as good in stand-alone mode and it works perfectly with AC Log when I'm using the computer (which is about 95% of the time).

Assembly went very quickly - probably 3 hours. Good instructions and the component quality is excellent. You won't be disappointed with this keyer!
VE3CWJ Rating: 2006-07-13
Very nice product... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A very nice keyer kit, and the USB interface eliminates all those headaches with those new laptops with no serial ports. The kit went together smoothly, though on one side of the case the screws were a bit tight vs the holes. It may have been the way I put it together...

Assembly time, about 2 hrs, like others have experienced. No glitches in assembly, though with those 1/8 watt resistors it is getting harder to read the color codes hi hi. As far as operation, after upgrading N1MM software, it worked fine, including sidetone generation. WL 10.59 does not seem to generate sidetone - I suspect it is not WK2 aware yet or does this on purpose? (I had not tried Winkey on WL before) One minor annoyance is the battery/USB power source selection. One has to open the case to change the jumper from power by USB to power by battery (for standalone ops). It would be nice to add a small external switch on the back for this (I might do it myself). Since I plan to use this all the time via USB, it's not an issue for me.

Software setup was smooth, including the USB driver and the utilities are handy for those memory setups and configuration.

Overall, I see this as a fine product, and it is a very cost effective way in meeting the demand for newer keyer technology for computers.
W9OY Rating: 2006-06-27
Buy This: You won't be sorry Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
New kit from Steve K1EL. I built my WinKey2 in about 2 hours plugged it in a no problems. I used Winkey with N1MM during field day and had a blast. The two work together like a hand and a glove.

The keyer has more features than any Keyer I've ever seen. I have 2 other K1EL keyers and 2 Logitech keyers and this thing takes the ribbon no questions asked. It's CW is every "bit" as good (that's a pun) as my beloved Logikey 4, plus I can run it as a keyboard keyer and interface between my computer and software. I also use N4PY's Orion software which has provision for Winkey.

As a stand alone keyer the thing is flawless. You can use the paddle to enter commands, or there is a software manager that allows you to set the keyer's stand alone functions by keyboard, just the thing if you're trying to enter an complicated contest sequence into memory. If you are entering a complicated sequence by paddle and you make a mistake there is provision to backspace to where the mistake is and start from there instead of starting over from the beginning.

The keyer has 2 key outputs and 2 PTT outputs each Key/PTT pair independently selectable from a paddle command or from software (SO2R anyone?) The PTT is useful if you're a VHFer and would like the keyer to control the T/R function of your rigs independent of generating CW. For example you hit the paddle and the PTT is switched on all your preamps go to standby and all your amps kick in line and then the CW starts so there is no hot switching to fry those GasFET's.

There are multiple keying choices like Iambic A, B Ultimatic, Bug, Strait Key etc. You can reverse the paddles if you're a switch hitter. There are controls to set up paddle sensitivity (which helps in sending accuracy) and all the weighting controls etc so you can make your signal sound like a machine gun or a howitzer or a chirping birdie. There are controls to solve the first dit problem if you have the first dit problem. There is even a way to add 1/2 dit of extra space between letters in the memory, so if you have a bunch of dahs or a bunch of dits in a row, it gives the letter space a little extra clarity. This feature alone sold me on the keyer (W9OY has a lot of dahs). There are six total memories, 4 of which are accessible from the top buttons. There are modes to send ultra high speed CW for bouncing your signals off meteor tails and ultra slow CW. It has a beacon mode and all the contesting embedded commands you would ever want and on and on. It has a speed pot so you can turn a knob to set the speed, very handy in a contest, a casual contact, or a DX situation where the copy is marginal.

Since the keyer is hookable up to the 'puter you can reflash the firmware as new and improved versions become available. Also Steve is committed to adding new features to the Manager software. There is a Yahoo users group as well for friendly advice if your having trouble.

What can I say? Buy this thing. You won't be sorry and you will have a great time building it and making it work. It even has the potential for some modification. I modified mine so it can run 4 different rigs, and I added some external buttons next to my paddle, so between the external buttons and the built in buttons I have all 6 memories available. CW Nirvana
N9VV Rating: 2006-05-28
Outstanding and Fun! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
[unsolicited advertising for Steve K1EL]

I am very happy with my newly built WinKeyUSB. Thanks Steve for another G*R*E*A*T keyer(kit).

None of the commercial alternatives offer the range of adjustments and features that come standard with every K1EL keyer. CW ops are quick to hunt down the latest paddle (such as http://www.w5jh.net/Black_Widow.htm) but we sure do drag our rear ends when it comes to adopting a new keyer. Hey, go th http://www.k1el.com right now and sign up for this outstanding and inexpensive new kit (http://k1el.tripod.com/wk2info.html).

There are not a lot of companies making kits anymore. Steve is in business for the guys who love CW. He even made sure that the only surface mounted IC is already soldered in place! all the other parts are regular thru-hole parts with leads.

This new keyer comes with a handsome custom black case that is top notch. It fits together very nicely and is small enough to satisfy even the QRPp guys in the field.

Show Steve your support by purchasing one or more of his new inventions. How about that new K40 with RTTY on the LCD (http://k1el.tripod.com/k40enc.html)? Buy a couple and give one to a buddy who also loves CW. These would make fantastic Christmas or Birthday presents (tell the XYLs).

The new WKUSB adds very flexible COMPUTER and STANDALONE operation to generate the sweetest possible keying for that new $10,500 rig or your lovingly re-built boat anchor.

The K1EL keyer like gives you every "FIST" personality you can imagine. If you want some of that old bug "swing" it is right there in the ratio settings.

If you need K-compensation, first dit compensation (ICOM users take note), or you want to crank it up to 2000WPM or down to QRSS, it is as easy as one mouse click on the control program provided on a miniature CDROM. This new keyer features TWO PTT and TWO KEY lines to operate separate rigs or for special setups.

You can carefully tune it to your very own super duper fist - or like me you can take the settings right off the bench and plug it into your rig for a delightful QSOS.

I recommend it to anyone thinking of a fun summer project or a new keyer that works flawlessly with that new Begali you bought at Dayton!

GL de ken n9vv
KG6TT Rating: 2006-05-22
Nothing like it. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Funny thing is that hardly a week ago, during my planning for the up coming Field Day, I was struggling with the eventual 'keyer' question. I want to use my Logging application to handle most of the work but also be able to "chew a bit" with the paddles. Looked like a job for two keyers.... Aaauuurrrgggghhhhh, keeping their speed and other keying characteristic settings in sync!. More junk to carry... :(

So I just about figured out the acceptable keyer work around (I have a lot of keyers) when I read about the new product release on the K1EL's Yahoo group message board. Talk about serendipity! And not a keyer product coming out but one released that very day.


Actually the new WinKeyer USB is two keyers in one (both contest cable with auto serial numbers, etc.). I thought this new keyer to be a great value. It also turned out to be a very easy kit to build (probably not a first kit though) and it came with a nicely designed case... not an added option.

One of the two functional keyers within the WinKeyerUSB takes data (ASCII) and instructions from your computer via a USB port and converts that into actual morse keying for your rig. Its functional capabilities in this 'computer mode' are a superset of what was in the original WinKey design. In fact, if your software supports the original WinKey (most logging programs do) then it can talk to this new version of the original WinKey.

Unlike the original WinKey the WinKeyerUSB is also a stand alone keyer (full emulation of the K1EL's K12 keyer)! Just disconnect from the computer and use it like an advanced memory keyer. Speed control on the front (programable start and stop wpm values) and, of course, a place to plug in your paddles (they work in the computer mode too).

You get the necessary and easy to install USB drivers for Windows 98 and Windows XP as well as a very comprehensive Windows app for reviewing, editing and updating all the keyer's parameters (incuding the memories). So now you don't have to remember clumsy/complicated paddle commands... just program your keyer via your computer. Of course you can also do from your paddles if that is more to your taste.... or you don't have a computer with you.

Took me just over two hours from opening the box to setting the memories. I noted a couple of minor errors in the construction manual (really minor), but this is a BRAND new product released just this past week, so I sort of expected that. Anyway, went together easy. Only one surface mount part and it came already soldered to the PCB.

Next month I will put this keyer to a real test at Field Day. Until then my only question is "what to do with all the other keyers I have collected?" Well probably all but my other K2EL K40 keyboard keyer will be sitting idle for sure.

I think this is a keyer that will please many a CW OP.

If any issues pop up I'll add a mini-review, but for now "Two thumbs up!"

Jerry, KG6TT, Fairfield, CA
WK2S Rating: 2006-05-21
Great product and concept Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The earlier WinKey keyers were primarily an interface between Windows logging/keyboard programs and your transmitter.

This keyer goes beyond this in providing a complete stand-alone iambic keyer that works independently from your computer. Unlike any other stand-alone keyers I know of, this one allows you to easily setup its parameters and message memories from your computer. To me, this is the perfect combination of features.

The kit went together very smoothly in about 3 hours.