Rick Nevill ...

^ I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader ...

I'm not familiar with the equipment so I can't comment here.



^ It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader
^ and not in the paddle hardware ...

True. There are two devices: the key and the keyer. At one time the key was
simply a mechanical switch that turned on the transmitter. The keyer was
later added between the two to give it more versatility.

I prefer a straight key but I understand that there are in general three
types of keys:

straight - the traditional type.
paddle - push one way for a DAH and the other way for a DIT.
double paddle - Touch one for DAH and the other for DIT.

The paddles require an electronic keyer to handle the timing and switching. A
straight key can also be used with the keyer or it can be wired directly to
the radio.

In your case you can probably use any type of keyer and it is the actual key
that you need to customize.

The radio might have a built-in keyer -- mine does, the Yaesu FT-897 -- so
check the operating manual for it. In my case I need only plug a key into the
radio. The miniature phono plug has either two wires for a straight key or
three for a paddle.

Frank

"Frank" wrote in message
news:01c40ffe$0c71f040$0125250a@ccfwnwpijdsqhiow.. .
Rick Nevill ...

^ I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader ...

I'm not familiar with the equipment so I can't comment here.



^ It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader
^ and not in the paddle hardware ...

True. There are two devices: the key and the keyer. At one time the key
was
simply a mechanical switch that turned on the transmitter. The keyer was
later added between the two to give it more versatility.

I prefer a straight key but I understand that there are in general three
types of keys:

straight - the traditional type.
paddle - push one way for a DAH and the other way for a DIT.
double paddle - Touch one for DAH and the other for DIT.

The paddles require an electronic keyer to handle the timing and
switching. A
straight key can also be used with the keyer or it can be wired directly
to
the radio.

In your case you can probably use any type of keyer and it is the actual
key
that you need to customize.

The radio might have a built-in keyer -- mine does, the Yaesu FT-897 -- so
check the operating manual for it. In my case I need only plug a key into
the
radio. The miniature phono plug has either two wires for a straight key or
three for a paddle.

Frank


Somewhere in a older QST I saw some articles about using touch keying. It
is a device that detects the human finger. Forget the name it was called,
but it is a capacitive effect system.

Perhaps that would work ??

Dan/W4NTI

"Frank" wrote in message
news:01c40ffe$0c71f040$0125250a@ccfwnwpijdsqhiow.. .
Rick Nevill ...

^ I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader ...

I'm not familiar with the equipment so I can't comment here.



^ It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader
^ and not in the paddle hardware ...

True. There are two devices: the key and the keyer. At one time the key
was
simply a mechanical switch that turned on the transmitter. The keyer was
later added between the two to give it more versatility.

I prefer a straight key but I understand that there are in general three
types of keys:

straight - the traditional type.
paddle - push one way for a DAH and the other way for a DIT.
double paddle - Touch one for DAH and the other for DIT.

The paddles require an electronic keyer to handle the timing and
switching. A
straight key can also be used with the keyer or it can be wired directly
to
the radio.

In your case you can probably use any type of keyer and it is the actual
key
that you need to customize.

The radio might have a built-in keyer -- mine does, the Yaesu FT-897 -- so
check the operating manual for it. In my case I need only plug a key into
the
radio. The miniature phono plug has either two wires for a straight key or
three for a paddle.

Frank


Somewhere in a older QST I saw some articles about using touch keying. It
is a device that detects the human finger. Forget the name it was called,
but it is a capacitive effect system.

Perhaps that would work ??

Dan/W4NTI

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:21:00 GMT, "Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this
mindspring.com wrote:

Somewhere in a older QST I saw some articles about using touch keying. It
is a device that detects the human finger. Forget the name it was called,
but it is a capacitive effect system.

Perhaps that would work ??

Some concerns with these:

The precision of when/where exactly they activate is a bit variable,
and it could be hard for crisp code xmissions. There is a fairly wide
"maybe" area with this type of switch.

Experiment with the ones on some elevators.

OSHA does allow them in limited circumstances in lieu of the spring
activated buttons used as go/no go switches for industrial equipment,
but that is a different situation.

Also note that some capacitive switches are sensitive to stray RF.

Worth a look, but I would go for some sort of photolectric device
first, where the user holds a paddle or some opaque object and waves
it back and forth to cut the dit circuit or the dash circuit. Much
more particular about the on/off distinction. One could use these NO
or NC as the situation warranted.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:21:00 GMT, "Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this
mindspring.com wrote:

Somewhere in a older QST I saw some articles about using touch keying. It
is a device that detects the human finger. Forget the name it was called,
but it is a capacitive effect system.

Perhaps that would work ??

Some concerns with these:

The precision of when/where exactly they activate is a bit variable,
and it could be hard for crisp code xmissions. There is a fairly wide
"maybe" area with this type of switch.

Experiment with the ones on some elevators.

OSHA does allow them in limited circumstances in lieu of the spring
activated buttons used as go/no go switches for industrial equipment,
but that is a different situation.

Also note that some capacitive switches are sensitive to stray RF.

Worth a look, but I would go for some sort of photolectric device
first, where the user holds a paddle or some opaque object and waves
it back and forth to cut the dit circuit or the dash circuit. Much
more particular about the on/off distinction. One could use these NO
or NC as the situation warranted.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Has anyone mentioned the suck-puff system in a recent QST. Was it March?

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

Has anyone mentioned the suck-puff system in a recent QST. Was it March?

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 14:42:42 -0600, "Steve Nosko"
wrote:

Has anyone mentioned the suck-puff system in a recent QST. Was it March?

Yes, a few of us. But further down in the OP he mentioned that was
considered and discarded as unsuitable in the specific situation.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 14:42:42 -0600, "Steve Nosko"
wrote:

Has anyone mentioned the suck-puff system in a recent QST. Was it March?

Yes, a few of us. But further down in the OP he mentioned that was
considered and discarded as unsuitable in the specific situation.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Thanks to all of you guys! Gary, Robert, Frank, Dan and Steve...

I just checked my Yahoo.com email (that I use to avoid spam), and found a
message from Jerry telling me about http://www.fingertiptapper.com/. which
is also the product Robert mentioned. The fingertiptapper cards look like
they would work great with adjacent fingers like index and miidle finger.
I have emailed the company to see if I can get parts, or a card that splits
wider to accomodate the two-finger spacing between the ring and index
finger.

Also, thanks for the info on Handi-Hams Gary. They may have already solved
this one. :-)

I go see the person tomorrow. I'll see how much control she has of those
fingers. I should know more after that. I also found out that some pretty
smart folks already tried similar things with her 20 years ago and failed.
I hope the new technology can make the difference. :-)

73,
Rick

"Gary S." Idontwantspam@net wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 04:04:33 GMT, "Rick Nevill"
wrote:

And yes, I checked out the eye reading software and the prices were high,
up
to $30,000. The above hardware was only about $300. If it works that
will
be great.

Another thought:

There is a group called Handi-Hams, which consists of both those with
various physical challenges, and those who build adaptive ham radio
gear.

I don't if you have already, but they might be worth chasing.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom