[Elecraft] CW Readers and CW Keyboards.

[Mike Morrow]

Larry asked:

>Has anyone used a CW Reader and/or CW keyboard with the K1

Larry,

The most sophisticated electronic CW reader will function very poorly in
comparison to even a very mediocre human CW reader.  They can be fun to try
on perfectly sent strong signals like that of the W1AW broadcasts.  Twenty
five years ago I used a HAL CW/RTTY/ASCII reader on CW just to produce hard
copy to a printer of strong, machine-sent Navy and merchant marine CW
broadcasts.  Unfortunately that was about all that the CW reader was good
at, and such interesting broadcasts are long gone.  That CW reader has been
in the attic for many years.

On the other hand, I find a CW keyboard to be very enjoyable.  While I
personally don't think it wise to neglect manual keying skills (including
use of a straight key), sending **decent** CW is far harder than copying it
above some modest speed.  A keyboard makes it easier for the operator on the
other end too.  I've not used one recently, since most of my HF operation is
portable, but they are very nice to use and any should work with the K1 with
the K1 keying mode sent to HAND mode.  The only drawback is that I don't
think you can program the K1's two CW memories by keying in HAND mode.

73,
Mike / KK5F