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Reviews For: ETM-9C-X3

Category: Keyers & CW Keyboards

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Review Summary For : ETM-9C-X3
Reviews: 1MSRP: £130
Description:
Samson CMOS memory keyer with built-in squeeze paddle (1995) Built by Herman Samson DJ2BW. The Keyer firmware produce by Jeffrey Russell, KCØQ and Conway Southard, NØII based on their Super CMOS III. The actual meaning of ETM reads “electronic transistor Morse-key” This was the last in the series of ETM keyer's that started with the original ETM-1 (1967). The Keyer is no longer in production.
Product is in production
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0015
G0AZH Rating: 2008-08-31
My favourite piece of telegraph equipment Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first introduction to sending Morse with a paddle key was with the ETM-1, which was a single lever device with built-in keyer. I really liked the portability and convenience from the combination of keyer and paddle but after time I wanted to try iambic keying and try out memories in contests etc. Subsequently over the years I used a mixture of different twin paddle keys with standalone keyer's that gave excellent performance but none of them had that portability and convenience of my first ETM-1. The answer to this dilemma came in the shape of the ETM-9c-x3.

In February 1997 I purchased from the UK agent Frank H, Watts G5BM SK, my ETM-9c-x3. I used the equipment for a few years then decided in May 2000 to install an Schurr paddle key.

Gerhard Schurr DH2SAA made the Einbau Wabbler or "build in" paddle. There were two Einbau Wabbler designs one was a general key for building into a project and the other was specificity designed for the Samson ETM series that had the Perspex finger pieces the other way round, because the mechanism is mounted upside down in the ETM case.

The keyer firmware was produce by Jeffrey Russell, KCØQ and Conway Southard, NØII. They produced the CMOS Super Keyer and published details in QST October 1981. Then in 1989 they released the Super CMOS II and started an association with Bob Locher, W9KNI of Idiom Press who built the firmware into the Logikey K-1. At the same time Herman Samson DJ2BW built the firmware into his first ETM-9c. The KCØQ NØII duo then released the Super CMOS Keyer III and this resulted in the Logikey K-3 and the ETM-9c-x3. It is interesting to note the pedigree of this fine keyer.

The keyer has the handy facility to control all its functions by sending commands in Morse via the twin paddles. This makes for a smart and efficient design. There are 6 memory buttons, a speed control, on/off switch and finally the front mounted twin paddle. This deceptively hides the complexity of features that are logically laid out in the menu structure available through the commands in Morse.

The keyer’s capabilities are accessed by the following menu structures: -
·Function commands: used for configuration of the keyer
·Inquiry commands: used for interrogation of current configuration
·Embedded functions: used for commands activated in memories
·Multiple button functions: used for menus and quick launch tools
In a nut shell the keyer is a top-of-the-line, full-function contest keyer. That is a delight to use on contests with features such as number generator, message loop, queued messages, message break-in, message gap, message pause, message resume and ability to speed up – speed down in memory.

Today’s HF rigs have built-in iambic keyer's but the ETM-9c-x3 (Super CMOS III) knocks spots off these in terms of smooth and forgiving performance.

This is my favourite piece of telegraph equipment despite the fact I collect keys and keyer's. It is interesting to note the years of development gone into this piece of telegraph equipment.
The three elements of the design are: -
·Keyer: Super CMOS III is one of the world finest designs
·Paddle: Schurr produce world-class precision Morse keys
·Samson: The world’s finest builder of Morse keyer's with built-in paddles.

The next time you read a radio magazine article about a DXPedition or a visit to a far-flung destination, look for the ETM-9 on the operating desk. The portability and convenience of the ETM-9 make them ideal for this type of environment.

I use the keyer for contests & rag chewing but one of my most enjoyable types of operation, is when operating portable.

CU on 20 meters, 73's
Jerry, G0AZH