WinKey looks very interesting, but it will need the support from logging
software authors for it to have any value to the general amateur community.
The $30 price is for software developers and up to 4 designated beta testers of
their software - not a general release.
There is more of an issue with the demise of parallel and serial port access as
we all knew and loved it under the DOS-based operating systems.
W5XD's product gives you back the ability to do everything you could before,
including two LPT ports for rotor control, antenna switching, etc. so it is in
fact much more than a keyer.
This problem will need to be resolved for amateurs to do all types of switching
I/O from these new platforms. It will be nice once USB is included as an
interface to radios, TNC's etc.
73,
N5NJ
>
> From: "Ron Stordahl" <ron.stordahl@digikey.com>
To: <writelog@contesting.com>
> Date: 2002/12/04 Wed PM 01:36:48 EST
> To: "Writelog Reflector" <Writelog@contesting.com>
> Subject: [WriteLog] WinKey CW generating device
>
> This looks like a possible device to generate CW using W2K or Win-XP. The
> advantage is that you will not be at the mercy of the multi-tasking nature
> of these programs, where Windows decides to give it's attention to something
> else in the middle of a CW transmission. Since it uses standard serial port
> I/O it should even work with USB to serial adapters (but don't quote me on
> this!).
>
> It appears to be a very low cost alternative to the W5XD MultiKeyer at $215,
> which, although that product is a great CW generator, is really designed for
> Single Op 2 Radio (SO2R) and thus far more advanced than most hams need.
>
> K1EL is offering the 'WinKey' for $30.00 as a kit, but I contacted him and
> he says he is working on providing an assembled and tested unit as a
> somewhat higher price of course.
>
> The 'WinKey' would require an enhancement to be made to the logging program,
> so there would have to be sufficient demand for this to occur.
>
> Here is the link: http://k1el.tripod.com/ and click on "Winkey is HOT".
>
> Ron N5IN
>
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