HamGadgets News

I have uploaded V1.22 Beta 6 to the web site.  This is (I hope) the final beta version before it goes to general availability.

If you are running V1.22, please let me know so I have an idea of how many people are running it.  I do what functional testing I can here, but nothing can compare to a bunch of die-hard Morse fans (and a few Morse newbies) using it on the air!

In this release I have re-added a feature that I had previously debugged and had working, but later disabled.  There is a new option (I command) for a quick indication of when a word space has been inserted while recording a memory message from the paddles.  I also added a command to enable or disable code to support a soon-to-be-announced hardware modification to greatly improve straight key support, and a new command (TC) to turn on “contest spacing” for slightly shorter word spaces .

As before, the new file is here: www.HamGadgets.com/images/MK-1_V1_22_BETA.zip

If you tried to view the site over the past day or so, you probably ran into errors or a page telling you the site was “down for maintenance”.

Yesterday morning, I accidentally deleted the entire content of the web site.  All of it.  It was a simple mistake; much simpler than it should have been, in fact.  I guess I shouldn’t be making updates before I’ve finished my second cup of coffee.  I didn’t panic too badly, knowing that the irreplaceable data — the databases — were intact and backed up at least daily.  I also thought I had all of the web content backed up.  That turned out not to be the case… Continue reading A minor web disaster…

I am entertaining the idea of a new USB Universal Rig Interface, to replace the one I offered until earlier this year.  There were things I didn’t like about the first kit; namely, either I spent a lot of time doing the SMT pre-assembly, or you (the builder) had to struggle with one or two really tough parts.  So…  that being said, pick up to three:

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I have uploaded Beta 3 of the MasterKeyer V1.22 firmware.  Changes in this version:

• LED colors while recording and playing back some messages while in keyboard mode have been fixed.
• You can now stack the same message more than once.  Tapping the same button multiple times will result in that message being sent multiple times.

As always, I’m very interested in hearing your impressions and experiences — good or bad — with this Beta release.  I’d like to finalize this version by the end of the month.

I have posted an updated ZIP file of the beta release of MK-1 V1.22 beta.  The only change at this time is the manual.  It’s still in PDF format, but now the manual has bookmarks to make it far easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for.  I have also added some expanded documentation for using the MK-1 with Linux and Mac OS X.

Download the updated file here…

Some of you have been anxiously awaiting the release, at least in Beta state, of the new V1.22 firmware.  I will readily admit I’ve gotten way behind on it.  I spent several hours last night fixing the last known bug in V1.21, and have uploaded the V1.22 Beta firmware for testing.

New or changed features:

• Prints the firmware version as part of the help menu
• Command prompt on terminal when not in host KB mode
• No need to type ‘/’ before commands in terminal mode
• Added dot & dash priority key modes (E & T).  These work much like Ultimatic; when both paddles are held closed, either dots (Mode E) or dashes (Mode T) will be sent instead of alternating dots and dashes.
• Keyboard sending can be paused using PAUSE key (USB keyboard only).  PAUSE or ENTER will resume sending.
• From either the PC host or the USB keyboard, CTRL-S and CTRL-Q will work as they should to pause and resume sending.
• CTRL-BACKSPACE will delete the previous word when sending or recording a message from the USB keyboard.
• The NUM LOCK state of USB keyboard is preserved after power off or reset.
• CTRL-P (PROSIGN) lets you merge any two Morse characters from the  keyboard in either host or USB mode.

BUGFIXES:

• Loading settings from USB would set some parameters  incorrectly, at least some of the time
• Monitor (M) setting could be corrupted if changed from serial terminal
• Fixed terminal mode D command to set both precomp and prefirst
• Bank 6 can no longer be selected (since it does not exist)
• Any button press will now terminate beacon mode
• When using “stacked” memories (pressing buttons in sequence to send more than one message), there was no word space between the first and second message.  This has been fixed.
• Setting two-parameter settings (like R, D, etc) from the paddles is now easier and more reliable.

If you wish to participate in the BETA test phase, you can download a ZIP file with the firmware, updated manual and installation notes here.  Please email me with any problems, errors or comments.

Things have been crazy busy around here for a few weeks now. I’m trying to keep caught up on shipping orders, but to be honest I am frequently falling a couple of days behind – so if your order doesn’t ship immediately, I apologize in advance.

I will soon be shipping Rev B of the ID-O-Matic II. No big changes, just a couple of component values are different and a couple of minor PCB errors corrected. I’ve also started introducing pre-assembled kits, beginning with the PicoKeyer-Plus. I plan to add the UKA-2 and ID-O-Matic II in the near future.

And lastly, one of the reasons we’ve been so busy: Say hello to Burke Thomas Wissman, our first grandchild!  He was born this afternoon.  Mom and baby are doing fine, but everyone involved (including grandparents) are exhausted.  Now, I’m going to grab a quick nap and finish a couple of furniture refinishing projects so the nursery can be ready!

Ain't he cute?

Well, it was a very good trip to Dayton this year.  Our new booth location was much better than last year, and attendance (especially Saturday) was very good.  Our products were well received and we were happy to be able to meet and talk with so many new and existing customers.  All in all, we’re tired, worn out and in need of some good coffee but it was a good trip.

I should have PicoKeyer-Plus kits back in stock within a week or so at most, and I’ll be spending the next day or two catching up on the web orders that came in while we were away.  Happy hamming!

What a day!  I would have to say that after last year, the Hamvention is definitely looking healthier.  We’re certainly busier, due in part to a much better booth location.  And hams seem to be in a buying mood; conversations are more upbeat and attitudes are more positive.  All in all it feels like it’s a good sign for ham radio and the economy in general.

We sold out of PicoKeyer-Plus kits a little after lunch time today, but still have plenty of UKA-2 and ID-O-Matic II kits left.  We’ve got a few MasterKeyers that I hope to sell before we pack up tomorrow.

I’ve now met both the present and former owners of Vibroplex, as well as a few other people I had hoped to see here.  I still haven’t seen most of the Hamvention, though, and haven’t even been out to the flea market once during either trip!  Some day I’ll have to do that…

Lisa and I arrived very late Wednesday night after a 12 hour drive.  We spent yesterday unpacking and setting up the booth.  This morning the gates opened at 9 AM sharp, and it was pretty apparent within a short time that the crowd was a little bigger than last year, and the outlook was a lot brighter.  There are more vendors and more hams in Dayton this year, and things are definitely looking up.

Piero Begali is, as always, very generous in loaning us a couple of his wonderful pieces of functional Morse artwork, a Stealth and a gold-on-gold Pearl.  I also had a chance to visit with the new owner of Vibroplex, Scott Robbins W4PA, as well as several other new and old friends.

I swear, if one more person asks me about a voice keyer or a CW reader… 

Friday is pretty much behind us now.  Some great Donato’s pizza, a little relaxation and TV at the hotel, and I may even indulge in a little reward for a hard day’s work before we’re back at it in the morning.