HamGadgets News

I have uploaded a new ZIP file with the latest Version 1.21 Beta firmware. The file includes the new manual in draft form. A couple of minor changes have been made over the past couple of weeks. These include a minor timing change to iambic Mode A (most people won’t notice any difference). I also added stuck button/key detection during the power-on tests, and fixed the /Y command (MYCALL) in PC terminal mode.

Unless any problems are found in this release, I’ll release it for general use on 2/15. It will also be loaded on the next production run of MasterKeyers, which are being built now. As always, please let me know immediately if you find any problems.

I’m also out of stock until the new batch is ready – probably late February.  Cabinets are in manufacturing now, and the internals will be ready before they arrive.

Response to the MK-1 over the past couple of months has been unexpectedly good. I had planned on the stock of MK-1s from the last production run to last for another month or so; this hasn’t turned out to be the case. As of today I have only a few units left, and I anticipate those will be gone in a few days.

Unfortunately, this means it looks like we’ll be out of stock on them for a while. The next batch of cabinets is being built now, and the circuit boards will be done a week or two before they arrive. As soon as the sheet metal is finished we’ll be shipping MasterKeyers again. Given the lead times involved, I expect that will be toward the end of February. I’ll post more reliable dates here as soon as I have them The new boards will have a lot more SMT components, making assembly quicker and easier.

In the mean time, firmware development continues. Today I found out about a bug in using the Y command (MYCALL) from the terminal – in short, don’t use it. I am fixing that in V1.21, and hope to have a new Beta release on the web site later today or possibly tomorrow. By the time the new production run of MasterKeyers begins shipping, they will be loaded with the 1.21 release.

The February issue of QST has a nice review of the MK-1. Always good to see things like that in print! The EHAM.net reviews have been pretty good, too.

Pass the word!!

Several people have asked if they can call for tech support.  Generally, this isn’t a good idea — I have a full time job that requires my attention during the day, and a home and family that get my attention in the evening.  I do try to keep Skype running while I’m available to answer questions and take the occasional phone order.  Look for either HamGadgets or Dale Botkin on Skype, if I’m on line feel free to call or message me.  If I don’t answer right away, it usually means I’m busy doing something else or away from my desk for a bit.

What is Skype?  It’s a free program that lets you make voice and video calls on line.  No cost for computer to computer calls, and no special hardware needed other than a microphone and speakers.  You can also pay for additional Skype services like calls to and from land lines, voice mail, etc.

Since its inception in 2004, the ID-O-Matic has been through a number of feature upgrades, a new chip, and a couple of PCB revisions.  It’s been in the ARRL Handbook for the past couple of years and has been used in countless repeaters, crossband setups, and heaven only knows what other applications.  I know a couple of the early units were used for debate timers!

There have been a few minor bug nagging things I have wanted to address with the ID-O-Matic.  The audio – well, that square wave isn’t the best sound possible!  There are also a couple of new signals that were not available via solder pads, and connections were in different places on the board.

I am addressing those issues with the new ID-O-Matic II.  This will basically combine the functions of the ID-O-Matic and the Connection Kit  on one board, and improve the connection setup with a single row of pads and an optional clamp type terminal strip.  One big change: using the same PWM technique I used in the MasterKeyer, the sidetone will now be much smoother and closer to a sine wave.

ID-O-Matic II prototype, connector side

ID-O-Matic II prototype

I’m debugging and testing now, and hope to have the new kit ready some time in late January or early to mid February.  In the mean time, the remaining ID-O-Matic kits are available for immediate shipment if you don’t need the extra functionality of the new kit.  I have not yet decided on pricing for the ID-O-Matic II; it will be a little higher than the current kit (which has not gone up in several years by the way) but still quite reasonable.

I will also have an upgrade path for current ID-O-Matic boards.  The upgrade will not duplicate the Connection Kit functions, but will give you the new audio setup and latest firmware.  It will require new firmware and replacing the crystal.

We will once again be at the Dayton Hamvention, May 14-16 in Dayton, OH this year.  With the economy doing a bit better, perhaps attendance will pick up a little.  We’ll be in a different location this time, over near ARRL, Begali, etc.  I’ll post the booth number as we get closer to the date of the Hamvention.  Hope to see you there!

I am releasing MK-1 firmware version 1.21 for beta testing as of now.  Here is the list of changes in this minor release:

FEATURES:

• The first message of the current bank is checked for autostart on power up.  The autostart command is /A in first two positions of M1.  /A anywhere else will be ignored.
• With NumLock off, numbers 1-6 of the numeric keypad act the same as F1-F6 for sending stored messages.  Additionally, *1 through *5 will select a new bank.  ** is used to clear any speed changes made with the numeric pad +/- keys.  This allows the use of a USB numeric keypad for memory control.
• Keyboard mode will use USB keyboard if present.  If no USB keyboard is connected, the MK-1 will check to see if the PC host is connected.  If so it will use the PC host via the USB B port – so you can use keyboard mode from the PC.

BUGFIXES:

• Fixed a couple of missing “OK” confirmations in command mode.
• Text sent from paddles now includes spaces when sent to the host PC.
• With sufficient effort, a user could set the speed pot hi limit lower than the lo limit, resulting in some screwy behavior.  This has been corrected.

Beta test firmware can be downloaded here.  If you decide to use the beta firmware, please remember the two rules: Always let me know immediately if you find a problem, and remember that you may need to drop back to the current release version (1.20).