[Elecraft] OT - Old Keyers

[Fred Jensen]

I knew there was a history to this.  Related question:  About the end of 
1956, I and a couple of my teen friends built "electronic keyers" from 
some magazine article which is long gone from my memory.  I remember 
they had 8 or so dual triodes [12AT7's/12AU7's ??], had self-completing 
dots and dashes, and nothing else.  With the power supply, mine weighed 
about a small brick and was similar in size. Used a relay for the 
then-ubiquitous cathode keying.  We modified our bugs to key them.

I'm fairly certain the design pre-dated the TO-Keyer, I think the TO 
came about 10 years later, and as I recall used fewer tubes.  If any 
OT's remember the 50's well enough to identify my keyer, I'd appreciate 
hearing from you.  I had an opportunity to operate as HS1FJ for a few 
weeks in the mid-60's, Dad sent me my keyer and Lionel J-36, and when we 
went back to war, I never saw either of them again.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 7/4/2014 12:49 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

>> For that matter, why are there two Iambic modes in the first place?
>
> The original "Curtis" Iambic mode completed the element (dot or dash)
> being sent when [both] paddles were released at the same time.  The
> iambic mode in the AccuKeyer had a logic error - the element memories
> were set as soon as the previous element completed - that completed the
> element being sent and then sent the *opposite* element if both paddles
> were released at the same time.  This became known as Iambic B to
> distinguish it from the original Curtis iambic (Iambic A) mode.