[PVRCNC] PICO KEYER

[alsopb]

Guys,

The pico-keyer in QST this month is neat.  A year's worth of keying on
a lithium coin battery.  It draws 4 nanoamps at idle.

http://www.hamgadgets.com/store

It turns out they have another kit (about $20) with speed control via
a pot.  It's called an analog keyer.  That is much more user friedly
in my opinion.  Having to set the speed by punching a button,
scrolling through options and then setting the speed was not my idea
of beingpractical.

I ordered and built it on a 2"x1.5" piece of perfboard.  The board
holds not only the PIC but the Lithium battery and socket (about 40%
of real estate), the sounder, keying FET, and the control pot.  I did
away with the programming button. My interest was only to have a
keyer.  With the button, you could program it to send two messages and
do other things as well.  It isn't necessary to hook up the sounder. 
It is good for assuring the unit is first working.  A functioning unit
sends 73 upon battery insertion to let you know it's well.

It is so tiny you can put it just about anywhere.  I put it on top of
my 2x2" micropaddle for the IC706 using wood dowel standoffs.  A
single keying cable exits the key.  No wall wart in sight.

For $20, it's a bargain.  

73 de Brian/K3KO