[HCRA] Learning CW

[Albert Woodhull]

For a beginner a cheap plastic base key like the MFJ-550 (about $15) will be adequate. These have been around a long time - It cost about $4 when I was a Novice and I continued to use it until well after the time I passed my 20 wpm test in 1972. In fact I still have the same key. It's lightweight and practically indestructible, as well as cheap. All of these are desirable attributes if it might be handled roughly, as in portable use. You need to mount it on a piece of wood (or you can pay  MFJ twice as much for the 553, which is a 550 mounted on a piece of wood).
The MFJ 557 is one of these keys mounted together with an audio oscillator. But there are also free computer tone generator programs that can be used with a computer and headphones or an external speaker.  The popular free program Audacity, used for audio recording and editing, can also be used to generate a continuous audio tone. 

A few years ago I wrote up a few hints on improving a cheap plastic base key. I sent it to QST for the Hints & Kinks column, but they didn't publish it. There is a copy on the FCARC website at   http://www.fcarc.org/Files/Cheapkey.pdf 
73, 

Al, N1AW Albert S. Woodhull 
Leyden, Massachusetts 

      From: Rob <n1nte.rob at gmail.com>
 To: HCRA Mailing List <hcra at mailman.qth.net> 
 Sent: Friday, October 23, 2015 9:58 AM
 Subject: [HCRA] Learning CW
   
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-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
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Hi all,

My teenage daughter, KB1ZUV, has been asking to learn CW with me. Looking
for recommendations on a good key and practice oscillator. I'd like to
start by using a key good enough to use on the air later on.

Thanks,

- Rob, N1NTE
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