[WriteLog] FW: Holding down F Keys causes Repeats (Issue solved)

[Keith Beebe W3KB]

The issue described below is that if you hold down an F Key in Writelog it will transmit the message several times. Apparently, this is a part of Writelog (which I never knew). 

My problem was I using a brand new keyboard that had arrived in shipping just hours before the CW Open contest. I installed it and proceeded to use it in the contest. It is a new Unicomp board using "buckling springs" to mimic the feel of the legendary IBM keyboards.

A problem appeared when using the F4 key to send my call.  I pushed it once but it would send my call twice. (Not good).

In reading the instructions that came with the new keyboard, it noted that "it is not uncommon for a buckling spring to become trapped during shipment."  This would cause what they called "Double Strike Characters".  That is what was happening, hit F4 and it would double strike sending my call twice !

Physically removing the F4 key from the board and resetting it (the spring is inside) solved the problem. Now it works correctly.

So, it was a combination of a problem with the physical keyboard and also realizing that Writelog will send the same message on an F key if it is held down. In this case, the F4 key was double-striking and Writelog saw that as holding down the key.

What "fun", but glad I found it.

73,

Keith W3KB



-----Original Message-----
From: WriteLog <writelog-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Keith Beebe W3KB
Sent: September 1, 2018 1:30 PM
To: k5zd at charter.net; writelog at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Holding down F Keys causes Repeats

Randy K5ZD

Exactly.....I have never seen this before either in my numerous years of using WL.

Just as a check, I fired up DX4WIN.  It does NOT repeat the F keys in the CW keyer of DX4WIN  if I hold down an F key. So there is another reference point.

Then I switched back to Writelog, sure enough holding down any F key caused that specific message to repeat.  Strange.

Let's see if any other folks noticing this. I'm up to the very latest version of Writelog. They did an update concerning Winkey in that specific version:

12.31 August, 2018
Fix WriteLog hang if WinKey USB port or SO2R box interface is removed while WriteLog is running.

Just wondering (because I use Winkey), if that update has anything to do with the F keys sticking because this has never happened before..... Wayne W5XD ???

Fair question.

Keith W3KB


-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Thompson K5ZD <k5zd at charter.net>
Sent: September 1, 2018 1:15 PM
To: Keith Beebe W3KB <keith at w3kb.net>; writelog at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Holding down F Keys causes Repeats

This is more a function of Windows than WL.  If you hold down a key in Word, you will get a repeating character.  I am a bit surprised the F-key seems "sticky" if you let go (requiring the escape).  That could be a WL issue.

I have never seen this in my years of using WL.

Randy K5ZD

> -----Original Message-----
> From: WriteLog <writelog-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Keith 
> Beebe W3KB
> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2018 12:57 PM
> To: writelog at contesting.com
> Subject: [WriteLog] Holding down F Keys causes Repeats
> 
> Well, this is something I've never noticed before:
> 
> If I hold down any F key in Writelog, it will constantly repeat the 
> specific programmed CW message for that key !  I use a WinKeyer.
> 
> Is this something that should be happening?  Quite frankly, I would 
> like it not to repeat.  If I want to repeat something (say my call in
> F4) I simply hit the key twice.
> 
> This drove me nuts in today's CW Open until I realized what was happening.
> If I somehow held the F4 key down for too long it would repeat my call 
> until I hit Escape.
> 
> Is there any way to stop the keyboard from doing that (repeating any F 
> key message if you hold down the key) ???
> 
> Thank you as always,
> 
> Keith W3KB
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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