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

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.

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

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 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

"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