Morse Keys
Being a ham I was always interested in telegraphy, but up to now I still didn't manage to learn morse code. During many years I came up with many different morse keys and circuits to sent or receive morse code: Starting with analogue filters and ending with CW decoder software on my PC or Arduino.
In the next sections I present you my little collection of morse keys.
Training Key
My first key was a training key from Technik Versand Bremen, a local Ham supplier. With this key I made my first steps in CW.
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Junker morse key
I bought a cheap Junker morse key from remainders of the German Bundeswehr. As everything at the army it was painted on NATO olive. I removed the paint and kept the key without color.
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Paper Clip
I found several morse keys made from a paper clip in the internet and decided to build my own. In Austria such a paper clip key was even the award for a contest.
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Bulldog Clip
The bulldog clip is somewhat the same as the paper clip, but based on a bulldog clip. In the U.S. you can buy an already assembled version. My version is still in very early beta.
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LEGO® Iambic Keyer (version 1 by N9SSA)
Inspired by the website of N9SAA I and my son came up with a paddle build from LEGO® technic. My son then wrote some software for the LEGO® RCX 2.0 to function as a keyer. The building instructions and the RCX software are available for download below.
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Downloads
LEGO® Iambic Keyer (version 2 by M0HSW)
For the same RCX software we then created a new key based on an idea from M0HSW. The building instructions for this model are available for download below, too.
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Downloads
LEGO® straight key (by OH6DC)
After building two paddles from LEGO® we wanted to construct a straight key, too. This one is based on an idea from OH6DC, who presents many different strange morse keys on his website. Like for the other two LEGO® keys the building instructions can be downloaded below. Different OMs already did some CW QSOs with this key.
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Downloads
- 3D model in LDraw
- building instructions as PDF
Telegraph Relay
The internet is full of ideas how to build a paddle from an old telegraph relay. One can buy such relay on nearly any ham radio flea market.
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On the hardware projects you can find a photo series showing how I build the key.
Kent Twin Paddle Morse Key TP1-B (Kit)
At the HAM RADIO 2008 I bought the kit of the Kent Twin Paddle Morse Key TP1-B. A photo series at the hardware projects shows every step of the assembly.
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GHD Paddle GH-GN807KIT-C
Working in a Japanese company I know a colleague in Japan with a ham radio license. One of my German colleagues went on a business trip to Japan brought back the kit of a GHD Paddle GH-GN807.
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Brass Morse Key
In the holiday season 2014 I constructed a key from brass screws and nuts. The knob actually is made as handle for a dresser.
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