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Reviews For: Begali CW Machine

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

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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
DJ6ZM Rating: 2008-09-19
Operating Remote CW with your Paddle - Finally Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I may be old fashioned, spending my time 100% on CW, but there is nothing old fashioned about my radio setup, which I tend to keep state-of-the-art.

Operating a radio by remote control software via some sort of Internet connection is a fairly recent capability, and I am convinced that even we dyed-in-the-wool CW ops should take a serious look at that.

Controlling your radio over an Internet link is not uncommon by now, but until fairly recently the only realistic option to operate CW this way was to use the keyboard - something that not everybody feels comfortable with. Enter the Begali CW Machine, which was actually designed by Ulrich, N2DE. This has finally allowed me to send perfect CW with my paddle from a remote location.

There are scenarios where using a keyboard would not only feel uncomfortable, but is downright impossible. Here in Germany we have pretty good coverage for wireless Internet via UMTS, actually good enough to allow wireless connectivity from your car while you are zipping along the Autobahn ... I am now experimenting with a setup where all I have in my car is a small computer and the CW Machine with a paddle. No more radio and mobile antenna here. I can operate my QRO station at home with a highly efficient antenna while driving, using my paddle just like at home.

But even without this leading-edge mobile application there are other advantages using the CW Machine with the Remote Control Option and a paddle. If you were using a keyboard via a remote desktop connection, which is pretty much the only option you have without the CW Machine, the keyboard program (in my case CWType) has to be in focus while you are typing. But you certainly have other programs running, like the control program for your radio or a logging program, and constantly shifting the focus with mouse clicks from CWType to other programs is awkward. With the CW Machine and a paddle, I can stay in those other applications while I am keying, because the CW Machine components on both sides can run invisibly in the background, just like you had your paddle directly connected to your rig.

Even as a standalone keyer without the remote connectivity the CW Machine has features that far exceed the capabilities of other keyers. They are far too numerous to all be mentioned here - the documentation for the CW Machine is several hundred pages, and you can download it from the Begali site: http://www.i2rtf.com.

For me this is a device that keeps CW at the leading edge of technology, and you owe it to yourself to take a close look if you are serious about dits and dahs.
9A4NC Rating: 2008-06-07
fantastic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
..it's very hard ,to find words ..what will be personal review,after
this precise ,and truly..really ..opinion of respected friends.
But i have obligation ,according myself ,to say something -after couple of
days with CW-Machine.,
Till time use a lot of : from Curtis to K5..last ETM etc.On market is lot
good keyers.And i build a couple of ..from kits ,of course.
But...i belive that CW-Machine is ,at first for operators -who want best.
Capabilities of Machine is impressive ,and lot lot up of ...anny known keyer .
Practically ,can do all what need ,and much much more .Depending of inclinations ,
affinitys...CW-Machine will do all.With paddle ,and/or keyboard it is amazing power
for enhance CW language.With detailed instructions ,and ultimate support from
Mr. Ulrich,with constant work on improve firmware ....,that is more than just piece of hardware .
That product can make only person whith deep passion for Morse code.
PC setup is easy ,just folow manual-with care on COM port.
At this moment :THANKS Ulrich,THANKS Begali !!!!!!
I continue to work with CW-Machine in combination with :Signature ,Sculpture paddles...,
various tipe of keyboards .PC programing messages...etc etc.
Belive that :That is crown of CW keyer products !
So for my first comment :regards - to all of You friends ,who share
impressions about this great product.


Zoran Vukosav-9A3Y


K8RBW Rating: 2008-04-06
Marvelous Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have tried to adopt a general rule of thumb that I would not review products until I have had at least three months to use and assess them. Nonetheless,the CW Machine and N3ZN SL paddle both arrived the same day and I was literally shocked by how well they performed.

At the outset, I would like to say that Ulrich is amazing. I received the CW Machine in January and simply couldn't get it to function properly. Convinced that it was my lack of computer knowledge, I struggled with it for a month. I finally contacted Ulrich to see if he could be of assistance. After a couple of simple tests, he told me to send it to him and that he would either repair or replace it. As it turned out, the problem was attributable to a wire connected to the keying output that had not been completely stripped. Ulrich had it back in my hands in a few days and and it worked beautifully. He knew that I was having problems with my manual dexterity in my advancing years so he upgraded the firmware to accomodate me! I attached the N3ZN SL that arrived the same day and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I have seen numerous complaints in product reviews where people stated that manufacturers were not providing adequate firmware updates. Place your concerns at rest because Ulrich must do an update every couple of weeks!!!!! Everyone should have such dedication.

I have always loved all things CW and have only found a couple of keyers ( the MFJ 401 and 407) in my almost fifty years as a ham that I really disliked. Until now, my favorite keyers were from Logikey. The CW Machine adds a whole new dimension to CW. It always seemed to me that the keyers on many transceivers were almost tacked on as an afterthought, thus my perference for an external keyer.(Elecraft products would be an exception.) Even with my limited knowledge of computers, I found the CW Machine to be a marvelous addition to my shacks (Chicago and Wisconsin)that evolves and improves on a regular basis.

I can't give the CW Machine a stronger endorsement.

Vy 73 to all.

Dick
K8RBW
LU1DZ Rating: 2008-03-26
Great CW Machine Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hello:

Was a pleasure to make bussines with Pietro and his daugther Bruna.

I received my CWM very well presented with a very good packaging.

I started with some problems that Ulrich help me to identify.

I was using my Portable PC with an USB to RS232 converter of poor quality. The problem was solved when I buyed a KEYSPAN cable recomendad by ulrich.

I find the keyer one of the best I ever used, and I used many of them.

Very smootly operation, good screen to watch my mistakes specially timing and rythm.

I use it with a Kent and Super Pascual single paddle.

I find very useful connected to my PC or the CWM itself as a keyer and ADIF logger.

There are enough memories room for many operation and operators options, contest, normal QSO, QRP, field day, etc.

I will make a presentation of the CWM and CWT in next LU3DY Contest Workshop.
W2ST Rating: 2008-03-21
The CW Machine sets a new standard! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I used the superb AEA MM-1 until the even better MM-3 appeared, and -- like many others -- believed that the MM-3 was the ultimate keyer.

No longer. Everything that the MM-3 could do (except -- for the moment -- beacon mode), the CW Machine does better. And it does much more.

As a straight keyer, it is simply the best I have ever used, including a character and word spacing mode that -- once you are used to it -- makes your sending near perfect.

As a memory keyer, it is in a class by itself: loading from computer files, 30 memories, and an impressive collection of inserts/call-ups/references/serial numbers, etc.

As an automatic logger, it detects and logs QSO data, cross-checks dupes, inserts name/qth, etc. into the current and future QSO's: think of what you might like, and it does the job.

As a CW trainer (separately loadable software), it has every imaginable training function, including -- importantly -- readily downloadable text from any source.

Yes, there is a learning curve, but it took me no more than a few hours to master all the functions. You will want to have it connected to a number keypad or a keyboard, and you will need to connect it -- periodically (or permanently if you wish) -- to your computer. This functionality would be impossible without connectivity.

Congratulations are due to the CW Machine team. Functionally, esthetically, operationally, this device sets a new standard.
K2HK Rating: 2007-10-05
This keyer is a beautiful thing Time Owned: N.A.
Sound like hyperbole? Well this CW Machine is a superb piece of equipment combining masterful construction with extraordinary firmware. It is extremely versatile offering keyer features as well as logging, particularly contest logging. It may be used with a straight key, a bug, a keyer or a keyboard. The software that accompanies it offers auto entry of call sign, name, report and warns if it is a dupe. It is portable, being of compact size and permitting 9 volt battery operation. It does many things that are better described in the manualmand on the website. The firmware and software are frequently upgraded and can be downloaded easily into the keyer. I might add although setup is surprisingly easy for so complicated a piece of machinery the support is outstanding. One final note is that when utilized to its fullest it is somewhat complex but it can just as easily be used in its simplest form which requires little preparation and is quite instinctive.
N9YB Rating: 2007-06-08
WOW! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was one of the fortunate hams to be able to purchase a first run CW Machine. Many thanks to Piero, Ulrich and Tom for bringing this wonderful tool to the market and allowing me to get unit #6.

First and foremost the CW Machine is a very versital and unique accessory for your shack. Being software defined, your imagination is the only thing holding you back. Ulrich did a wonderful job with the software interface. Simple and straight forward, yet with all of the controls at your finger tips (via the joystick on the machine or software)it can be configured to suit your particular tastes.

Best of all, it is like nothing on the market today. It isn't their version of something already in production. The CW Machine has pushed the envelope and has redefined the state of the art for both keyers and CW trainers.

To this point I have had the most experience with the CW Trainer firmware and software so I will speak to that.

Ulrich took great care to show respect to technically perfect CW, yet as noted before, there are enough configurable features such that you can tweak it to your taste. The machine supports non US characters such as umlauted vowels or the Spanish N with the tilde above it, etc. You can load in your own text or generate random characters. Cut and paste text into a file, load and go or hit the random button after selecting the characters to include, character block length and number of blocks, load and go. Very simple.

The CW machine can be programmed to auto-increment the speed at an inverval you specifiy. Spacing (both word and character) is up to you, accept the default or adjust to suit. Farnsworth style is easy to set up. You can control the tone pitch, volume and whether it is heard through the internal speaker.

Flash card mode is a great feature that doesn't display the word or text block on the LCD or monitor tab until it is completed. A great way to practice "head copy".

Where the envelope was truly pushed to redefine the state of the art is in the monitor function while practicing your sending skills. You can select Iambic A, B or Bug -- hook up your hardware (requires a 1/8" plug converter for those of us using 1/4" plugs) and go.

The monitor will show on either the LCD or the software screen the characters you send. I mentioned before that Ulrich took care to show respect to technically perfect CW...this is the place where you see it the most. The monitor will show you exactly when you take too long to execute the next character by inserting a space in your displayed text. If you deviate from technically perfect CW, the software thinks you intend to communicatee an inter-word space and displays the character stream accordingly.

So the first time I sent N9YB, it was displayed as N 9YB. After sending a mock QSO, I noticed that after N's and U's I tended to take a bit too much time before getting the next character out. Using the montior as a diagnostic aid is invaluable to achieving better sending technique.

For those who love all things CW, the CW Machine will be a required addition to your shack.

Ulrich has been very responsive in both answering questions and soliciting opinions of how the software and firmware of the unit works.

After I work with the standard CW Machine firmware and software for a bit, I will post my review of it.

A must have.

best 73
mike
n9yb
NN0B Rating: 2007-05-20
The SDR Keyer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This keyer is the Software Designed Radio of the keyer world. It is the product of three of the most talented CW craftsmen on the planet: Ulrich Steinberg, N2DE/DJ8GO; Tom Hammond, NØSS; and, of course, Piero Begali, I2RTF. The keyer is the brainchild of Ulrich, and he did the programming of the keyer firmware and the design and development of the Graphic User Interface that runs under Microsoft Windows. Tom designed the PC board and the electronics for the support card, which allows the Butterfly card to interface with the power supply, transceiver, optional outboard audio, key/paddle, and PC. Piero designed and produced a cabinet to house the unit, which is of the same incomparable quality as his world-famous paddles.

Somehow, I was invited to participate in the early stages of the development, but my contribution was simply to do the “Sailor Testing.” For those of you who have not had the benefit of a military career, the Sailor Test involves locking a sailor in a sealed room with an anvil for a week. At the end of the week, if the anvil is not broken or pregnant, it is deemed worthy for further development and refinement. In spite of my best efforts, the keyer passed the test.

The genesis of the project came when Ulrich, Tom, and I agreed that the end of production of the AEA MM-3 keyer represented a tragic loss to the CW world, and Ulrich thought that something should be done about it. He had been experimenting with the AVR Butterfly evaluation board from ATMEL, and was sure that it could be used as the basis for a keyer that could match, and indeed exceed, the capabilities of the MM-3 keyer.

After a year of hard work, Ulrich, Tom, and Piero succeeded in producing the finest keyer unit available. It not only acts as a keyer, but it can log up to 12,000 QSOs by automatically capturing what you send with your paddle while performing dupe checking in the background. It can operate PC-connected; stand-alone with a keyboard; stand-alone with a paddle, bug, or straight key; or just stand-alone (for training). It does everything that any other keyer does while also doing what most logging programs do. As an additional bonus, it will do MUCH more than the MFJ 418 Trainer can do in terms of teaching you code or raising your proficiency. If you don’t believe me, read the manuals at:

http://www.i2rtf.com/docs/CWMachine.pdf
http://www.i2rtf.com/docs/CWMachineManager.pdf
http://www.i2rtf.com/docs/CWMachineHardware.pdf
http://www.i2rtf.com/docs/CWTrainer.pdf
http://www.i2rtf.com/docs/CWTrainerManager.pdf

The best thing about it is that, like the best of the current amateur radio rigs, it is software defined—as features are added, they can be downloaded and installed via the Internet. Currently, there is a firmware release in production for the all-inclusive keyer/logger function. There is also firmware in pre-release field testing for Training and Proficiency development, and firmware is currently in the design stage for QSO Simulation a la the MM-3’s excellent simulator (remember DR DX?). All of this will be available to you for free once you have the basic keyer unit.

I have been extremely fortunate to have had a prototype for testing for the past nine months, and I can assure you that there are no other keyers ANYWHERE that have the current capabilities or future possibilities of this one. If you love CW, this is a must-have item.