[CW] My office desk Morse key with oscillator

[sbjohnston at aol.com]

I used to keep a tiny CT-1 straight key as a conversation piece on my desk in past offices, but now I am using that key in my portable HF setup.  So I wanted a replacement for my desk at WWVH.
I picked up a couple bare telegraph key bases at the Dayton Hamvention this year.  I used one of these bases to mount a spare J-38 copy as my work-display-key.  See attached photos.
The circuitry next to the key forms a "code practice oscillator" using ready-made modules I had on hand that had been purchased from Amazon.  The main item is an audio generator module ($9), with an LM386 amp module (<$1), and a tiny speaker (<$2).  I found that if I connected the key in place of the "sine" jumper on the oscillator board it keyed cleanly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJHXML4https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C7BWCWL1/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMB423HV/
I realized the LM386 amp module was hearing a little RFI from the WWVH transmitters so I added some tiny disc caps across the inputs and output.  Otherwise no mods were needed.

If someone wants a code practice oscillator that sounds good, this approach is a pretty inexpensive way to make it happen.  If you drive a more sensible-sized speaker it would of course sound even better!  Or headphones for private practice.  I went small so everything would fit next to the key.

A friend of mine learning CW picked up the Nightfire code practice oscillator kit and he says it sounds good.  It is very inexpensive as well.
https://vakits.com/code-practice-oscillator-kit-w-phono-jack-3768
My telegraph key collection is shown here:
http://www.wd8das.net/keys.html

Steve WD8DAS   

sbjohnston at aol.com   
http://www.wd8das.net/   http://af4k-crystals.com/   
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Mein Ohr ganz nah am Weltempfänger...


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