Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ?
Locked
Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ?
 
|
Hello,
Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers came along ... Left paddle = dots Right = dashes Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. The technique I developed was to 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as the dot hadn't finished, of course.) 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both paddles together. I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do is slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. Questions: 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze keying? 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen are iambic. 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this something anybody else would want? Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
|
|
Alan D. Wilcox wrote:
> Hello, > > Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my > Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers > came along ... > > Left paddle = dots > Right = dashes > Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. Somewhat over 50 years ago [1956] I built such a keyer using about 10 dual triodes. With the power supply, mine weighed about a brick and was bigger than a K2. It had self completing dots and dashes, but nothing else. I keyed it with my Lionel J-36 that, from it's appearance, went ashore at Iwo Jima, which I modified to be a straight paddle. I did try dual paddles on it once. What happened when I squeezed was unpredictable, but I think it mattered which one went closed first. It wasn't Iambic for sure. > > The technique I developed was to > 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting > the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as > the dot hadn't finished, of course.) > 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. > 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both > paddles together. > > I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For > decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. Not sure the K3 or any modern keyer can do that. Possibly a new market if you're good at electronics design and marketing? > Questions: > 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze keying? It does, but it's Iambic. A or B. My blood type is O+, my keyer type is A. > 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen are > iambic. I don't think so. Some keyers have an Ultimatic mode, but I have no idea what that is, except that I remember reading the article when it came out. Tubes too, I think. > 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this > something anybody else would want? See above. Not me, but some younger folk might be interested. I'm too old to learn a new keying technique. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010 - www.cqp.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
|
|
In reply to this post by Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX
Alan,
That places you in my chronological age range - yes, I have my 50 year pin from ARRL too! I believe you are referring to "Ultimatic" keying - the paddle that was last operated is the one that takes precedence - none of the "idiotic" alternating dots and dashes (which to me is confusing). Yes, I have tried to use Iambic, and have never been successful - I resort to 'slap keying' and/or a single lever paddle. Ultimatic was the first keying method introduced with the Ultimatic Keyer (a vacuum tube design), and it is a puzzle to me why it has not been continued - perhaps the Curtis chip popularization of Iambic ruined the best keying method available - not to mention the adoption of the Iambic B mode which adds an opposite element at the end of a character - initially that was a mistake by the Curtic designers. but they successfully sold it as an "enhancement". There is a cure. Take a look at the K12 keyer by K1EL which supports Ultimatic mode. Alternately, there was a fellow on the Elecaft reflector (about 6 months ago - maybe longer, my memory gets compressed with age) who developed both a logic gate and a pic implementation of an Ultimastic to Iambic converter. I have the parts on a perfboard for that, but have not yet finished it. Look in the archives because I have forgotten who it was that produced the design. BTW - I have lobbied Elecraft for inclusion of Ultimatic keying support for the K2 and the K3, but all I have gotten so far is a "maybe" - I guess Wayne is occupied with more important things to do than support us few "old farts" who remember and liked the Ultimatic keyer". 73, Don W3FPR Alan D. Wilcox wrote: > Hello, > > Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my > Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers > came along ... > > Left paddle = dots > Right = dashes > Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. > > The technique I developed was to > 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting > the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as > the dot hadn't finished, of course.) > 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. > 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both > paddles together. > > I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For > decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. > > Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do is > slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. > > Questions: > 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze keying? > 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen are > iambic. > 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this > something anybody else would want? > > Cheers, > Alan > > Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) > 570-321-1516 > http://WilcoxEngineering.com > Williamsport, PA 17701 > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ?
|
|
In reply to this post by k6dgw
>> >> The technique I developed was to >> 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting >> the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as >> the dot hadn't finished, of course.) >> 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. >> 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both >> paddles together. >> >> I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For >> decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. > > Not sure the K3 or any modern keyer can do that. Possibly a new market > if you're good at electronics design and marketing? The K1EL WinKey and K12 keyers will do this if the user selects "Ultimatic" mode with dah (dash) priority. WinKey can be driven by a computer (serial input) for most logging/contest programs while the K12 is a stand alone keyer chip. See: www.k1el.com 73, ... Joe, W4TV ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ?
|
|
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
Don,
Maybe a gate implementation might work ... you set me on a search that led me to http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf/articles/ultimatic/ultimatic.html ... and that's probably the info you recalled. A quick glance won't do for this one: I'll need to study it a bit and see if it'll do the trick. It appears that the K12 keyer could solve the problem, if the above won't. $17 for http://k1el.tripod.com/K12.html is fairly modest. I'll get back to you all shortly with the conclusion! Many thanks, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 Don Wilhelm wrote: > Alan, > > That places you in my chronological age range - yes, I have my 50 year > pin from ARRL too! > > I believe you are referring to "Ultimatic" keying - the paddle that > was last operated is the one that takes precedence - none of the > "idiotic" alternating dots and dashes (which to me is confusing). > Yes, I have tried to use Iambic, and have never been successful - I > resort to > 'slap keying' and/or a single lever paddle. Ultimatic was the first > keying method introduced with the Ultimatic Keyer (a vacuum tube > design), and it is a puzzle to me why it has not been continued - > perhaps the Curtis chip popularization of Iambic ruined the best > keying method available - not to mention the adoption of the Iambic B > mode which adds an opposite element at the end of a character - > initially that was a mistake by the Curtic designers. but they > successfully sold it as an "enhancement". > > There is a cure. Take a look at the K12 keyer by K1EL which supports > Ultimatic mode. Alternately, there was a fellow on the Elecaft > reflector (about 6 months ago - maybe longer, my memory gets > compressed with age) who developed both a logic gate and a pic > implementation of an Ultimastic to Iambic converter. I have the parts > on a perfboard for that, but have not yet finished it. Look in the > archives because I have forgotten who it was that produced the design. > > BTW - I have lobbied Elecraft for inclusion of Ultimatic keying > support for the K2 and the K3, but all I have gotten so far is a > "maybe" - I guess Wayne is occupied with more important things to do > than support us few "old farts" who remember and liked the Ultimatic > keyer". > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Alan D. Wilcox wrote: >> Hello, >> >> Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my >> Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers >> came along ... >> >> Left paddle = dots >> Right = dashes >> Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. >> >> The technique I developed was to >> 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting >> the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long >> as the dot hadn't finished, of course.) >> 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. >> 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both >> paddles together. >> >> I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For >> decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. >> >> Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do >> is slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. >> >> Questions: >> 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze >> keying? >> 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen >> are iambic. >> 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this >> something anybody else would want? >> >> Cheers, >> Alan >> >> Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) >> 570-321-1516 >> http://WilcoxEngineering.com >> Williamsport, PA 17701 >> > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ? Conclusion for now
|
|
In reply to this post by Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX
All,
Thanks for the leads and advice. I finally selected the K1EL K12-battery keyer. http://k1el.tripod.com/K12.html for a modest $17. From the datasheet, it appears to have not only ultimatic, but dah-override. When I get it built, I'll find out for sure how it'll work for me. Stay tuned ... I'll post the final results in a few weeks. Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 Alan D. Wilcox wrote: > Hello, > > Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my > Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers > came along ... > > Left paddle = dots > Right = dashes > Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. > > The technique I developed was to > 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting > the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as > the dot hadn't finished, of course.) > 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. > 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both > paddles together. > > I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For > decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. > > Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do is > slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. > > Questions: > 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze keying? > 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen are > iambic. > 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this > something anybody else would want? > > Cheers, > Alan > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ?
|
|
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
Don,
Maybe a gate implementation might work ... you set me on a search that led me to http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf/articles/ultimatic/ultimatic.html ... and that's probably the info you recalled. A quick glance won't do for this one: I'll need to study it a bit and see if it'll do the trick. It appears that the K12 keyer could solve the problem, if the above won't. $17 for http://k1el.tripod.com/K12.html is fairly modest. I'll get back to you all shortly with the conclusion! Many thanks, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 Don Wilhelm wrote: > Alan, > > That places you in my chronological age range - yes, I have my 50 year > pin from ARRL too! > > I believe you are referring to "Ultimatic" keying - the paddle that > was last operated is the one that takes precedence - none of the > "idiotic" alternating dots and dashes (which to me is confusing). > Yes, I have tried to use Iambic, and have never been successful - I > resort to > 'slap keying' and/or a single lever paddle. Ultimatic was the first > keying method introduced with the Ultimatic Keyer (a vacuum tube > design), and it is a puzzle to me why it has not been continued - > perhaps the Curtis chip popularization of Iambic ruined the best > keying method available - not to mention the adoption of the Iambic B > mode which adds an opposite element at the end of a character - > initially that was a mistake by the Curtic designers. but they > successfully sold it as an "enhancement". > > There is a cure. Take a look at the K12 keyer by K1EL which supports > Ultimatic mode. Alternately, there was a fellow on the Elecaft > reflector (about 6 months ago - maybe longer, my memory gets > compressed with age) who developed both a logic gate and a pic > implementation of an Ultimastic to Iambic converter. I have the parts > on a perfboard for that, but have not yet finished it. Look in the > archives because I have forgotten who it was that produced the design. > > BTW - I have lobbied Elecraft for inclusion of Ultimatic keying > support for the K2 and the K3, but all I have gotten so far is a > "maybe" - I guess Wayne is occupied with more important things to do > than support us few "old farts" who remember and liked the Ultimatic > keyer". > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Alan D. Wilcox wrote: >> Hello, >> >> Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my >> Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers >> came along ... >> >> Left paddle = dots >> Right = dashes >> Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. >> >> The technique I developed was to >> 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting >> the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long >> as the dot hadn't finished, of course.) >> 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. >> 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both >> paddles together. >> >> I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For >> decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. >> >> Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do >> is slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. >> >> Questions: >> 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze >> keying? >> 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen >> are iambic. >> 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this >> something anybody else would want? >> >> Cheers, >> Alan >> >> Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) >> 570-321-1516 >> http://WilcoxEngineering.com >> Williamsport, PA 17701 >> > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ? Final CONCLUSION
|
|
In reply to this post by Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX
All,
See http://wilcoxengineering.com/projects/amateur-projects/44-ultimatic-keyer for photos and a summary of the build. Seems like the project was successful getting me close to what I was looking for. Not exactly, but close enough. Thanks for the advice! 73, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 Alan D. Wilcox wrote: > All, > Thanks for the leads and advice. I finally selected the K1EL K12-battery > keyer. http://k1el.tripod.com/K12.html for a modest $17. > > From the datasheet, it appears to have not only ultimatic, but > dah-override. When I get it built, I'll find out for sure how it'll work > for me. > > Stay tuned ... I'll post the final results in a few weeks. > > Cheers, Alan > > Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) > 570-321-1516 > http://WilcoxEngineering.com > Williamsport, PA 17701 > > > Alan D. Wilcox wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> Fifty years ago I designed and built a tube keyer to replace my >> Vibroplex. Then a transistor keyer. All this before the iambic keyers >> came along ... >> >> Left paddle = dots >> Right = dashes >> Squeeze both paddles = dashes only. >> >> The technique I developed was to >> 1. Always squeeze _both_ keys for dashes; if I was a bit late getting >> the dash paddle closed, the logic turned the dot into a dash (as long as >> the dot hadn't finished, of course.) >> 2. If dots followed dashes, just simply let loose of the right paddle. >> 3. A string of dots would turn into dashes simply by squeezing both >> paddles together. >> >> I could send good CW at fairly-respectable speeds, and was happy. For >> decades ... until I got the K2 and the K3. >> >> Then I tried to get the hang of iambic keying, and the best I can do is >> slap-keying or stagger along at 10 wpm or slower iambic. >> >> Questions: >> 1. Is there a way to kludge the K2 or K3 keying logic for squeeze keying? >> 2. Does anyone make a keyer with my logic? WHO? All I've ever seen are >> iambic. >> 3. If neither, and I wind up building my new keyer myself, is this >> something anybody else would want? >> >> Cheers, >> Alan >> ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
«
Return to [K2]
|
1 view|%1 views
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |