[OKDXA] CW Keying for Contests

[Jay Bromley]

Hi Alan,
I am using Microkeyer II with built in WinKey on the Pro 3 here at the 
house.  Works super with Writelog, DX4WIN, HRD, but MixW doesn't support 
Winkey right now.

I just built up a USBWinKey for W5SJ and have it on the bench waiting for me 
to plug in the chips and install the board into the cabinet.  I hope to get 
that finished up this weekend.  We had a couple of the serial Winkeys down 
in Suriname and they also worked super with Writelog and the K2/100s!  Using 
current software like Writelog, I don't think you could do any better than 
using the USB WinKey from K1EL.

I use to build up my own Cmos III's keyers and by the time I finished off 
with a TenTec case, Radio Shack soft touch push buttons, etc, I had a few 
bucks in the project.  These are still great stand alone keyers.  However I 
bought a commercial Cmos K3 Keyer and hated it.  The construction wasn't 
that great, right out of the box the speaker came loose from the glue that 
was used, push buttons where on the cheap side, you couldn't use it without 
12 volt power supply ( I power mine with 3 AAAs).  From then on I built my 
Cmos IIIs from a kit, then added better parts, powered it with batteries. 
If one is using software I think time has moved on from the Cmos III to the 
Winkeys.

If the USB model works as good as the serial models we use a couple of weeks 
ago, the $70 for a USB Winkey is a steal!  Everything is included, board, 
parts, and silk screen cabinet.  Just be sure the manual is the right one 
for the layout of the board that is included in with the kit!  There are a 
couple of versions out right now.

If you are into doing RTTY or other sound card modes, then the MicroKeyer 
products are very nice that also have the Winkey built in for CW!

73 de jay..



>I was wondering what you guys used for CW Contesting to key your rig from
> the computer.  I have been using a W5XD Multi-Keyer and it is real flakey.
> I use WriteLog for contesting and I was wondering what you guys used to 
> key
> your rig on CW with?
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Alan, N5PA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OKDXA mailing list
> OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa