[Elecraft] Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ? Final CONCLUSION

[Alan D. Wilcox]

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
>>