My Homepage

I have always been intriqued by morse code. I watched old westerns as a kid and always wanted to know what the telegraph ops were sending.
After passing the Novice and Technician written exams in 1999, I stopped at Radio Shack on the way home and purchased their last set of code
tapes, close out priced at $2.99. I passed the code test 3 weeks later, but spent another year just listening to code before I had my first CW QSO. I
have since logged about 5000 CW QSO,S, and am pretty comfortable at 20 to 25 WPM, can work 30 to 35 WPM on my good days. Always happy to
QRS, I usually keep both a paddle and straight key connected. I prefer a single paddle non iambic paddle, and usually use an external keyer.
For a period of about 75 years, morse code was the ONLY means of high speed communication available throughout the USA and the world. Despite
new technologies,its still one of the most efficient, with minimal hardware requirements,will get through when nothing else will. No computer
required to de-code, only the human mind. It's still a lot of fun and I hope it never dies.

Another WW II Era Key, the Signal Electric
Company R-48 "Standard Key" . Also made in
large quantities, but near mint examples are
hard to find. This one is all solid brass, very
high quality construction. Signal Electric also
produced electric fans and other items, but a
big part of their business was CW keys. This
one was made prior to 1952. Up until the mid
1950,s, keys such as this one were readily
available at most any local Hardware Store or
Radio Supply Store, in a variety of models.

On the left is a Nye Viking "Speed-X" straight key.
First produced by Les Logan,then E.F. Johnson, still
produced today and cast in the original forms by Nye
Viking. Very nice feel and action, very affordable.
On the right is the Kent SP-1 single paddle key.
Typical English craftsmanship and quality, its my
favorite. Both get a lot of use at W4WDA.

World War II Era J-38 key by American
Radio Hardware. The J-38 was
manufactured by at least 3 different
companies for the US Army Signal Corps.
Produced in huge quantities, it may well
be the most popular and sought after
straight key of all time. Very nice feel and
balance, it was used only as a training key
and never saw field use. Still plentiful, but
nice examples like this one are getting
rare. This one had a heavy coat of tarnish
and nicotine when I purchased it, but it
was all original, complete, and the price
was right. It cleaned up even better than I
had hoped, and I believe it has actually
had little, if any use. The Lionel Company
also made J-38,s, just a little fancier than
the ARH version but mechanically the
same key. Mint Lionel J-38,s bring
premium prices, if you can find one. I think
I actually prefer the ARH version.

The K1EL PIC based memory keyer, I built my own from one of the kits.
Pretty easy to assemble, worked first time. Draws its power from a USB
cable or internal batteries. Software allows one to re write the Eprom and
tailor the speed, weighting, ratio, etc., to your own personal tastes. It works
great and is a real bargain, very high quality at a most affordable price. I plan
on building another one next winter.