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Iambic Keyer for person with quadraplegia
Hello!
I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ |
Rick Nevill ...
^ I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with ^ quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring ^ finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the ^ thumb pressure at will. My radio has a built-in keyer (Yaesu FT-897) so I made a simple key for it out of two Popsicle sticks, some wood blocks, and a few nails. My key has both a straight key and a paddle, one on each side of the block that holds the Popsicle sticks. The tension is adjusted by moving the stick into or out of the blocks that hold it. The nails provide tie-downs for the wires and contacts for the keys. It works well. Perhaps you can use something similar as a test platform to find out what sort of key will work best for your friend. Frank |
Rick Nevill ...
^ I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with ^ quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring ^ finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the ^ thumb pressure at will. My radio has a built-in keyer (Yaesu FT-897) so I made a simple key for it out of two Popsicle sticks, some wood blocks, and a few nails. My key has both a straight key and a paddle, one on each side of the block that holds the Popsicle sticks. The tension is adjusted by moving the stick into or out of the blocks that hold it. The nails provide tie-downs for the wires and contacts for the keys. It works well. Perhaps you can use something similar as a test platform to find out what sort of key will work best for your friend. Frank |
"Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ In one issue, I cannot recall which, QST had an article on a sip&puff "paddle". This used pressure switches and a plastic tube. The user activated dots and dashes by either gently blowing or "sipping" on the tube.Here is just one link that Google found: http://www.makoa.org/jlubin/morsecode.htm Dale W4OP |
"Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ In one issue, I cannot recall which, QST had an article on a sip&puff "paddle". This used pressure switches and a plastic tube. The user activated dots and dashes by either gently blowing or "sipping" on the tube.Here is just one link that Google found: http://www.makoa.org/jlubin/morsecode.htm Dale W4OP |
Just read the bottom of your message re cannot use a straw- sorry for the BW Dale |
Just read the bottom of your message re cannot use a straw- sorry for the BW Dale |
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 05:14:24 GMT, "Rick Nevill"
wrote: I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! Interesting article in a recent QST about a sip and puff keyer, might be worth a look. The mag is out in the car, but I will try to check later, unless someone else has posted it. Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.bear) ------------------------------------------------ at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom |
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 05:14:24 GMT, "Rick Nevill"
wrote: I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! Interesting article in a recent QST about a sip and puff keyer, might be worth a look. The mag is out in the car, but I will try to check later, unless someone else has posted it. Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.bear) ------------------------------------------------ at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom |
"Rick Nevill" ) writes:
Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ I can't give any specifics, though I thought some of the keyers had terminals on the back for a good paddle. Come to think of it, there was a time when the paddles were not build into the keyer, so you had to come up with something or buy something after you had the keyer. But I can't see any problem taking any keyer, and merely adding some wires across the paddles so you can have an external "paddle". No matter what the keyer, those points have got to be available to solder on some wires. As for they "paddle" maybe try two microswitches sitting next to each other? Maybe that's too small? I'm sure I've seen such "paddles" described in the ham magazines in years gone by, and it was shown as an alternative not something specific for the disabled, though I sure couldn't offer up any dates. Michael VE2BVW |
"Rick Nevill" ) writes:
Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ I can't give any specifics, though I thought some of the keyers had terminals on the back for a good paddle. Come to think of it, there was a time when the paddles were not build into the keyer, so you had to come up with something or buy something after you had the keyer. But I can't see any problem taking any keyer, and merely adding some wires across the paddles so you can have an external "paddle". No matter what the keyer, those points have got to be available to solder on some wires. As for they "paddle" maybe try two microswitches sitting next to each other? Maybe that's too small? I'm sure I've seen such "paddles" described in the ham magazines in years gone by, and it was shown as an alternative not something specific for the disabled, though I sure couldn't offer up any dates. Michael VE2BVW |
"Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ Hello Rick .... I have made some call buzzers for my patients over the years utilizing mercury switches. They are cheap, easy to mount on Velcro and can be made to respond with minimal motion. Perhaps using two beads either side of a pivot would work as I do not know of a double throw single pole Hg switch. Radio Shack had them in the past ...not sure now. Please feel free to e-mail me from QRZ.com. to discuss this or give me your phone number. God Bless KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa. ps ..there are systems out there that utilize eye movement for communication ....maybe modification is possible from that aspect .... |
"Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ Hello Rick .... I have made some call buzzers for my patients over the years utilizing mercury switches. They are cheap, easy to mount on Velcro and can be made to respond with minimal motion. Perhaps using two beads either side of a pivot would work as I do not know of a double throw single pole Hg switch. Radio Shack had them in the past ...not sure now. Please feel free to e-mail me from QRZ.com. to discuss this or give me your phone number. God Bless KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa. ps ..there are systems out there that utilize eye movement for communication ....maybe modification is possible from that aspect .... |
Hello Garique, Dale, Frank, Michael and Gary,
I appreciate the ideas. I am not sure how to interpret some of the answers, so let me give more details. I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader which converts the Morse into visible letters, and then feeding that into a PC running HyperTerminal to display larger text. I'll really show my ignorance here - It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader and not in the paddle hardware (I didn't even look for an IC chip on the MFJ-564 paddle)? So that means any pair of switches I use will properly feed the keyer/reader? Then I just need to find a switch that she can reliably press and release. Do I have it right now? And yes, I checked out the eye reading software and the prices were high, up to $30,000. The above hardware was only about $300. If it works that will be great. Thanks to all :-) -Rick WD5FRZ "garigue" wrote in message news:rdO6c.46868$po.386960@attbi_s52... "Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ Hello Rick .... I have made some call buzzers for my patients over the years utilizing mercury switches. They are cheap, easy to mount on Velcro and can be made to respond with minimal motion. Perhaps using two beads either side of a pivot would work as I do not know of a double throw single pole Hg switch. Radio Shack had them in the past ...not sure now. Please feel free to e-mail me from QRZ.com. to discuss this or give me your phone number. God Bless KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa. ps ..there are systems out there that utilize eye movement for communication ...maybe modification is possible from that aspect .... |
Hello Garique, Dale, Frank, Michael and Gary,
I appreciate the ideas. I am not sure how to interpret some of the answers, so let me give more details. I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader which converts the Morse into visible letters, and then feeding that into a PC running HyperTerminal to display larger text. I'll really show my ignorance here - It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader and not in the paddle hardware (I didn't even look for an IC chip on the MFJ-564 paddle)? So that means any pair of switches I use will properly feed the keyer/reader? Then I just need to find a switch that she can reliably press and release. Do I have it right now? And yes, I checked out the eye reading software and the prices were high, up to $30,000. The above hardware was only about $300. If it works that will be great. Thanks to all :-) -Rick WD5FRZ "garigue" wrote in message news:rdO6c.46868$po.386960@attbi_s52... "Rick Nevill" wrote in message ... Hello! I would like to to make a custom iambic keyer for a person with quadraplegia. She mainly has use of only her index and ring finger. She can only flex her thumb and cannot release the thumb pressure at will. Does anyone know of an iambic keyer kit or inexpensive keyer that I could dis-assemble to build a keyer with side-by-side rather than opposing paddles? That way she could use her ring finger for the dashes and her index finger for the dots (or visa-versa) . She cannot move her arm at all, so I will have to make a splint that can hold the keyer and her hand in the correct position. The closest I have found is this site that lists alot of keyers: http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 and the MFJ-561K Minature Iambic keyer kit. BTW, she cannot use a straw, so I cannot build her the keyer that was in QST last month! Thanks for any help I can get! 73, Rick WD5FRZ Hello Rick .... I have made some call buzzers for my patients over the years utilizing mercury switches. They are cheap, easy to mount on Velcro and can be made to respond with minimal motion. Perhaps using two beads either side of a pivot would work as I do not know of a double throw single pole Hg switch. Radio Shack had them in the past ...not sure now. Please feel free to e-mail me from QRZ.com. to discuss this or give me your phone number. God Bless KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa. ps ..there are systems out there that utilize eye movement for communication ...maybe modification is possible from that aspect .... |
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 |
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 |
Rick Nevill wrote:
Hello Garique, Dale, Frank, Michael and Gary, I appreciate the ideas. I am not sure how to interpret some of the answers, so let me give more details. I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader which converts the Morse into visible letters, and then feeding that into a PC running HyperTerminal to display larger text. I'll really show my ignorance here - It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader and not in the paddle hardware (I didn't even look for an IC chip on the MFJ-564 paddle)? So that means any pair of switches I use will properly feed the keyer/reader? Then I just need to find a switch that she can reliably press and release. Do I have it right now? That's about the size of it. If you press one paddle of an Iambic keyer, it goes "didididididididit" until you release the paddle. If you press the other paddle, it goes "dah dah dah dah dah dah", again, until you release the paddle. If you press both paddles, it goes "didahdidahdidah" until you release at least one paddle. And yes, I checked out the eye reading software and the prices were high, up to $30,000. Ouch. The above hardware was only about $300. If it works that will be great. ISTR the New Jersey QRP club had a "finger tapper" key at one point. I have no direct knowledge of how durable the key was or what type of force it was set up to need. And now having dredged the address from the depths of my mind I can report it can be seen at http://www.njqrp.org/tiptapper/index.html and it's actually named the "Finger Tip Tapper". It might be worth a look. HTH de kg7yy -- To design the perfect anti-Unix, write an operating system that thinks it knows what you're doing better than you do. And then adds injury to insult by getting it wrong. - esr |
Rick Nevill wrote:
Hello Garique, Dale, Frank, Michael and Gary, I appreciate the ideas. I am not sure how to interpret some of the answers, so let me give more details. I set up an MFJ-564 paddle into an MFJ-464 Keyer/Reader which converts the Morse into visible letters, and then feeding that into a PC running HyperTerminal to display larger text. I'll really show my ignorance here - It sounds like the "Iambic" function must be in the keyer/reader and not in the paddle hardware (I didn't even look for an IC chip on the MFJ-564 paddle)? So that means any pair of switches I use will properly feed the keyer/reader? Then I just need to find a switch that she can reliably press and release. Do I have it right now? That's about the size of it. If you press one paddle of an Iambic keyer, it goes "didididididididit" until you release the paddle. If you press the other paddle, it goes "dah dah dah dah dah dah", again, until you release the paddle. If you press both paddles, it goes "didahdidahdidah" until you release at least one paddle. And yes, I checked out the eye reading software and the prices were high, up to $30,000. Ouch. The above hardware was only about $300. If it works that will be great. ISTR the New Jersey QRP club had a "finger tapper" key at one point. I have no direct knowledge of how durable the key was or what type of force it was set up to need. And now having dredged the address from the depths of my mind I can report it can be seen at http://www.njqrp.org/tiptapper/index.html and it's actually named the "Finger Tip Tapper". It might be worth a look. HTH de kg7yy -- To design the perfect anti-Unix, write an operating system that thinks it knows what you're doing better than you do. And then adds injury to insult by getting it wrong. - esr |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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