[CW] Re: MFJ 495 Memory Keyer

[David Learned]

Mark,

I have used the MFJ 495 to send with a keyboard. I had a lot of trouble
with RF, using both a G5RV and the B&W all-band folded dipole, which was
also fed with coax. I've also used it with a long wire. In each case, I
would have to crank the power down to as little as 5 watts to keep the
RF from getting into the keyer. The shack isn't near an end of the
antenna, and the transmitter is well-matched to the transmission line.
Even using caution about power, I eventually fried the chip. I bought
another one (sucker for punishment, I guess), and put ferrite chokes on
all the leads. Sometimes it still gets in if I run over 50 watts out.
I'm going PC next, I think.

Dave,
W8DFI

>>> Kenneth Cooperstein <cprstn54@att.net> 10/28/03 08:22AM >>>
"Mark Potter" <jbpmlp@comcast.net> wrote:
>I am thinking of buying the above.
>I would like to hear from anyone what they think about it.

I recently sold its predecessor, the 493 (I think).

They work as advertised.  However, I found that the current draw
(around 300m) was too high for field use vs. say a CMOS-4 keyer.

So, if you are not in the field and want to use a keyboard, why not
just use your PC and some freeware like CWType or Hamscope?

If you are in the field, why not consider a Palm PDA and the NJQRP
serial sender?
http://www.njqrp.org/palmserialsender/index.html 

Or you can go with the N0XAS picokeyer for under $20 and it fits in a
mini Altoids box.

I guess where I came out was that these keyers were mainly for folks
who wanted to use a keyboard but didn't have a PC.  If you are in this
group, then it will do the job.

Ken KC2JDY




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