Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Begali CW 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 : Begali CW Machine
Reviews: 58MSRP: 295
Description:
The CW Machine is a unique software-defined keying device which combines the functions of an advanced iambic memory keyer and a keyboard keyer with the functions normally performed by a logging program. The CW Machine will collect the information for a log record from the signal that you are sending out and store up to 12,000 log records. The firmware in the device can be updated with a few mouse clicks in a Windows program to let you stay up-to-date as enhancements are provided. This update capability also lets you load the optional CW Trainer, a combination of Windows software and firmware that runs on the CW Machine device. It lets you improve your copying skills, no matter what level you are currently at, with a great variety of techniques, and the CW- over-IP function even lets you connect to another CW Trainer over the Internet to practice QSOs off the air.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
12584.9
KC0TRK Rating: 2023-02-12
Initial Opinion Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm really torn here. I read all the reviews here before making a decision to try this learning tool. Unfortunately, my opinion diverges from my preceding reviewers. Cutting immediately to the chase-any item that has two and a half inches of user manuals is NOT user friendly. I actually downloaded and started reading with highlighter in hand, when I put my order in to Begali. A couple of weeks later the box arrived. Set up per the manual with the Morse Machine software installed. Fortune was unkind. Back & forth to the manual(s). Maybe I'm just over thinking everything...when this happens, I back off for a while. Picked it up again today. There appeared to be a firmware update. Followed those instructions to the letter...several times. Now the letters in the display are fragmented and not properly functioning. If one pays a significant amount for a tool, the tool should work as documented (No matter the size of said manual.)without contacting the tool's maker. Without a doubt somewhere in all that paper there's an answer. I hope so.
NT0D Rating: 2021-11-20
Terrific Keyer with Many Unique Features Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This review is overdue. I am a CW operator for 60 years, I have always maintained a station but in retrospect, my overall activity level had been low for quite a while. I found only one blessing during the pandemic. It allowed me more airtime than I had since being a novice in 1961. I rapidly realized that despite becoming proficient at code as a kid, I had lost a lot of skill over decades of not enough air time. My sending had become horrible and I was searching for ways to get back on track. I found this keyer and selected it because of the CW trainer aspect of CW Machine. As PA0Y reported in his review, I discovered when visualizing my sending using CW Machine, I was even worse than I thought. Using the features in this keyer, and with quite a lot of hard practice over a few months, nearly two years ago I was able to correct timing issues and other "off" components of my sending using CW Machine. I have subsequently become an advisor in advanced classes for CW Academy. If ex-students wrote anything on my tombstone it might read a Half decent guy who really could hear timing"! Well, of course skills can always improve and I continue to work on them, but with less effort due to what the CW Machine has taught me

I hadn't even looked at other functions that were possible with CW Machine, until recently. As others have described, there is built-in logging program that is automatic if you learn a few simple commands that can be hidden in a normal CW exchange. There is a feature that really naturally fits my fist. Of course, one can choose to send using iambic A or B. Ulrich designed this with three subdivisions of B. I am a natural B3. If I ever use a rig, say as a guest operator I used to bring my CW Machine along because without it, there was a significant chancesetting a rig for Iambic B and using the built in keyers I was likely to be sending the extra dits that are part of learning to be an Iambic operator. Without effort, I was able to operate with my keyer because naturally fit into a B3 mode that, for me, eliminated any extra dits. I hope that makes sense. Furthermore, over time, I also was able to learn to send either Iambic A or B without my keyer being with me. That personal advance was possible due to the practice I've had using CW Machine to better understand those different modes and learn to send them without extra dots or dashes.
I had just a few problems with CW Machine, so I thought! I reached out to Ulrich. I always had near immediate responses and I discovered each time the CW Machine was working properly and it was my sending that would trigger various commands there actually represented the machine working properly! There is a learning curve and Ulrich has been great support for me. He is friendly and available.
There is one built-in problem that currently stands with this fine keyer. In the logging command, sending dr and someone's names triggers the insertation of that name in the log. In Europe, I believe calling another ham dr and their name is not so unusual. As a US based operator, I hesitate to use the automatic logbook at times as I don't want to send dear x to someone to get them logged! There is a fix to this that is in the manual, if you learn how to input the command using a small keypad that is included with new CW Machines.
My issue is a minor one and fixable. I am a big fan of this device and have purchased additonal CW Machines from Begali so I could have one "built in" to each of the three operating positions that I recently created in an expansion of my shack. BTW, you can also use this keyer with a bug or a straight key.
In summary, easy to use keyer with many features and a bit more difficult to use keyer, with a learning curve, to take full advantage of its many features.
PA0Y Rating: 2021-11-20
Fantastic device for every CW lover! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In The Netherlands, where I live, Morse Code has been declared an immaterial Cultural Heritage lately. I have been a ham since 1981, and I have been operating CW ever since. By far, it is the best mode for me and will always be. 40 years now, with lots of fun, a reasonable speed (25wpm) and sending code correctly (I assumed) because I rarely get comments about imperfections in the code I send. No surprise, because ‘head copying’ is very tolerant for poor code, as you will get your message through anyway.
Yet I never realized that - after all these years - the best was yet to come! After I obtained my CW Machine and saw on my PC screen what I was sending, I was a bit shocked. Was this really my code? Yep! The CW machine is very strict: it caught me with various kinds of timing errors! Great to see that: in all these years it was the first time that my sending was checked so thoroughly. So now I am improving my code almost daily; the CW machine and my paddle are ‘ready to go’ at my PC desk, and supporting me gradually from 25 to 30wpm. I like it a lot; it is very easy to do, and lots of fun! And for newcomers: there is an excellent lesson protocol available for sending and copying code, which goes hand in hand.
Apart from this fantastic functionality, the CW machine logs my QSOs automatically with learning software. This is a brand-new experience for me, and makes being ‘on air’ with CW even more fun and exciting! When I forgot that I worked some station four months ago, the CW machine remembers, and logs correctly.
Having said all this, I am still discovering new functionality of this device. I thought I had experienced ‘everything’ for enjoying the code and improving my proficiency, but that was wrong: while 68 years of age now, I still learn every day. After I have improved my code with my paddles (Bencher BY-3, 9A5N and Begali Adventure), the CW Machine is a great companion for ‘learning’ how to use my Begali Intrepid. I really love this one, but this bug is a world on its own and there is a lot to learn here just as well.
And last but not least: the support by the developer Ulrich H. Steinberg, N2DE, is legendary. I have experienced this myself. Many thanks, Ulrich, for all this fantastic work!
73, Louis PAøY
N1CC Rating: 2021-03-03
Remote Operations - Outstanding! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am writing this review from my hotel room in Taipei City, Taiwan. I just completed a CW QSO using paddles, remotely operating my home station in Arizona. Remote operations are nothing new. They actually date back to the early 1900s. The early stations were controlled over landlines, but the advent of the personal computer, internet, and inexpensive high-speed broadband make modern remote operations possible.

There are both hardware and software solutions to control your radio remotely. The software solutions are the most portable and popular, but limit CW sending to a keyboard. In order to send CW with paddles or a key remotely, additional hardware is required. The primary functions of that hardware are to establish a client server connection over the internet with the keyer at the transmitter site, generate a local sidetone, and buffer the packets of data containing the CW being sent.

There are several options on the market. I have tried most of them, but I prefer the Begali CW Machine (CWM). The manuals are superbly written and its designer, Ulrich Steinberg N2DE is amazingly responsive to questions. He has the patience of a saint, and apparently does not sleep, as questions were promptly and thoroughly answered day and night. Once I addressed a port forwarding gremlin in my router, which had nothing to do with the CWM, the client server connections have been easy to establish and stable across a broad spectrum of bandwidth at various hotels around the world. The CWM supports both paddles and keys and can switch quickly and seamlessly between those modes. The local sidetone is outstanding. It is controllable in both volume and tone from the CWM Manager software, which also provides visual feedback on your sending.

I have only begun to scratch the capabilities of this little jewel, but it has already become a permanent member of my remote travel gear.
KT8DX Rating: 2020-09-13
Wow Wow Wow Time Owned: more than 12 months.
To say this has changed my CW game would be an understatement. The trainer will help you become a top CW Operator. The Logger will help you log efficiently and almost automatically without a computer. The CW Manager will do everything else for you. Spring for an external CW keyboard and you have an amazing setup.

Can't say enough good about this thing. Don't eat at restaurants for a month or so, save your money, and buy one of these. It will give you more joy and less indigestion than your local Applebee's.

AE8W Rating: 2020-08-03
It is also great for drill and practice Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought the CWM with the Sculpture Swing sideswiper and is one of my better ideas as gadgets go. I never had a sideswiper before so my rhythm was non-existant over 5 wpm. And, at 5 wpm who actually has rhytm?!

I have been able to get my send/receive speed to over 30 wpm with very good accuracy. The goal is to push 50 wpm and am confident that with the CWM that can be done with minimal frustration.

Who will I QSO with at that speed you might ask? Anyone actually because to change speeds with a sideswiper you adjust the speed of your fingers.
VK5ISO Rating: 2019-02-21
If you can afford it, buy it! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The CW Machine and its associated software is much more than just a memory keyer: it is an entire system for learning and using morse and, doubtless, the best on the market. As other reviewers have pointed out, it is a mature product: the bugs have been ironed out over the years.

It is not an inexpensive package as the training software associated with it, the CW Trainer must be purchased separately, but it comes into its own with the additional software (I wouldn't bother ordering the Remote Control Option as I can't really see what one would use it for).

The CW Trainer is a superb software package which ties in flawlessly with the CW Machine to turn it into an excellent training system. One can practice sending, receiving and echoing back what is sent with a paddle,straight key or bug.

I purchased first a second hand unit as they were temporarily unavailable and Ulrich very kindly helped me to get it up and running, even though he had no responsibility whatsoever to do so. At present, I have two CW Machines: a new model which I use in my shack and the older version which I keep as a backup. My good old K44 has been retired and is just resting on a shelf.

It is worth noting that, apart from:

1. the presence of a 9V battery compartment in the older version (whose case was made by TenTec)

2. and the fact that the newer version (whose case is made by Begali) can be powered directly by the USB connector, there is no difference of functionality at all between the older and newer versions of the CW Machine.

For someone who is a bit short of cash, trying to find an old one might be a very good idea (I actually prefer the older version, which is less snazzy but whose powder coating is more robust, as the inclined front panel makes the LCD display much easier to read).
K2UM Rating: 2016-10-17
Outstanding! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Ulrich hit a home run with the result of his design and programming efforts and the production of the CW Machine. This is a mature product that has been flawless for me for over 6 months now. I use it for everyday keying and logging, some casual contesting and for improving my sending (which I thought was pretty good until I started using the Trainer option and saw my spacing, was at times, just terrible).

I love the form factor of the CW Machine since I operate a decent amount of portable in combination with many outdoor activities. It couldn't be easier to use and I love the "smart" (as I call it) logging ability. As someone who wrote a lot of code during a 35 year research career, I marvel at the obvious elegance of Ulrich's effort given the internal memory size used in the CW Machine.

I had to inquire about a couple of things as I got into the many options and capabilities of the device. Ulrich answered my questions virtually immediately with good nature and provided way more assistance than could be expected since the answers were covered in the detailed manuals but somehow escaped me. He is a true gentleman. This device absolutely deserves the Begali label given its refinement and performance. Bravo, Ulrich .... I wish I had been smart enough to purchase it before I did, but am delighted to have it now. It is worth every penny.
KM6CQ Rating: 2016-10-02
The Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ulrich is the best. He is very responsive and will answer all your questions. The product is mature and works very well. The flashcard mode is worth the price of the unit. The software for the machine and trainer is very effective and simple to use. For myself, the learning curve was nothing more than understanding what the product actually does. Then the rest was intuitive and very easy to learn. I am very happy with the purchase and should have bought it years ago.
73, Dan
AC2EX Rating: 2016-03-12
Finally making Progress! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a few weeks having the CW Machine, I sent this email comment to the inventor ...

Ulrich,

I hate to be negative, but you could have called me when I was much younger and told me to buy your CW Machine!
It would have saved me a lot of wasted days and wasted nights!
I love this thing! You have changed my whole approach to learning code and it has changed from drudgery to fun.

Thank your wife for the instant shipping and thank you for your good work.

- 73 -

Mike
AC2EX