[Elecraft] Squeeze Keyer for K2, K3 ? Conclusion for now

[Alan D. Wilcox]

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
>
>