I've been looking to streamline keyboard entries when using contest software.
I've also been looking for a functional compact keyboard that takes up less
space at the operating position.
In looking at a number of inexpensive keyboard mapping tools I found one that
seems to do exactly what I want. It's a shareware product called KEYCHANGE for
Windows marketed by Intes. The URL is www.keychange.com. Price is 19.95.
I wanted to be able to remap certain keys on the compact keyboard I recently
acquired. As an example, let's say I want to set the keyboard up for the CW
Sprint. I use Writelog. The enter key is programmed to send the exchange based
on my answering someone elses CQ. F2 provides the same info based on someone
answering my own cq. On the compact keyboard, Insert is located a couple
characters to the right of the space bar. The [ and ] keys are located in the
usual position and I have no problem in getting my right pinky to them without
any of my other fingers leaving home row. KEYCHANGE allows me to remap the F2
and insert funtions to those keys. Another example is the + key in Writelog
sends qsl and enters the Q in the log. The plus key is upper case and requires
shift/+. With KEYCHANGE I reversed + and =, so a single keystroke now sends
qsl/entry.
KEYCHANGE is easy to use and runs in the background. I can set up for a
specific contest and simply restore the keyboard to normal afterwards without
having to change KBD files or boot.
Another product I tried wouldn't allow mapping of programmable keys or function
keys. It also would't do AltGrSh (don't ask me what it means) so if I generated
a kbd file using it, keyboard cw keying in Writelog didn't work.
I haven't used it in the heat of battle, but so far it looks very encouraging.
The inexpensive compact keyboard I mentioned has some drawbacks. First the
tactile feedback if very poor. At several points in the cw sprint I found I had
to strike the insert key multiple times to get the contacts to make. It's an
ORTEK Technologies MCK-91. I don't recommend it, but wonder if anyone else has
found a compact keyboard (approx 12 X 5 1/2 inches) that has a good feel to it?
73 de Larry K7SV
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