[Elecraft] This old dog has a new trick(Ellecraft)

[David Lankshear]

I know the feeling, Don.  As an ex radio op, it's very frustrating to have 
difficulty controlling the key.  I can, with effort, produce reasonable CW 
on a straight key at about 20wpm but it's become a strain.  I used to use a 
mechanical bug quite happily at decent cruising speeds, but these days with 
finger joints that lock up without warning, my CW from bug or paddle is not 
something to inflict on the rest of the world HI!.

I didn't want software to do my receiving (at least the ears and brain still 
work well enough to cope with that) but wanted a keyboard  (which I find 
fairly forgiving of my finger lockups) to generate the code.

I've built an Alspaugh keyboard and am very pleased with it.  No noisy 
computer anywhere near the rig, just a computer keyboard and a small PCB, 
see here.

http://www.mtechnologies.com/alspaugh/

(Milestone's Marshall Emm was most helpful, too.  A real "good guy".)

Like Elecraft's mini-modules, it's not been designed with DIY casing in 
mind, but after some critical surgery, it's in a neat box and now works very 
well indeed after hanging a load of filter toroids on the lead from the 
keyboard, as RF in the shack drove it crazy.  I've painted out the unused 
keys on my keyboard with modellers' enamel paint and have added the special 
symbols, AR, BK, SK etc. using rub-down lettering, before applying several 
sealing coats of transparent enamel gloss.

The PCB quality is sound, but not in the same class as those from Elecraft, 
so don't "overcook" any of the pads while soldering.

HTH.  Vy 73 (& Season's Greetings to all Elecrafters too! )

Dave L  G3TJP

Quote:

From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Donald R. McGregor
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 4:17 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] This old dog has a new trick(Ellecraft)


I'm 81 and have the shakes in both hands and I just finished K2 Ser. #
5745.  It's on the air but with the shakes I have not been able to send
CW for along time now.  Maybe this will inspire me to get a keyboard.  I
am very impressed with the rig.