CG Antenna PK-4 User manual

PK-4 AUTO CW POCKET KEYER
v1.1
User Manual
Version APR 2015
Last modified: 13 Apr 2015

1. Introduction
Extremely small size and extremely low power cons mption electronic keyer, Pocket Keyer, offers
an Iambic keying with 4 message memories. The c rrent drain is approximately 160 µA at 3 V, and
can be contin o sly powered by a pair of UM4 batteries for a co ple of months. Fo r message b t-
tons are mo nted on the panel, and yo can recall memorized messages q ickly. Simply press one
of the fo r b ttons to recall the message.
Fo r messages (1 – 4) are stored into non-volatile EEPROM that keeps the contents witho t power.
Message No. 4 has A to Repeat Message f nction with programmable pa se time.
electable keying weight
Keying weight (ratio of dot and dash) can be set to 3, 3.5, 4 or 4.5 by simple operation of Memory
b ttons.
Low noise generation
Micro Control Unit (PIC16F62SA) of PK-4 r ns at a very low clock freq ency – aro nd 160 kHz. It
generates m ch less noise than a high freq ency clocked processor.
2. pecifications
Keying Type Iambic B mode, Straight key mode
Keying speed Approx. 8 to 50 WPM
Weight 4 selectable weight levels; 3 3.5 4 4.5
CW messages Message 1: 40 characters,
(nonvolatile) Message 2: 20 characters,
Message 3: 20 characters,
Message 4: 40 characters, A to Repeat f nction,
(Note: Above character n mbers incl de space.)
Side tone B ilt in piezo-electric Speaker
Power req irement 2.5 – 6 V DC, typical 2 × AAA batteries
3. Turn on the Pocket Keyer
When yo first t rn on the Pocket Keyer, the weight is set to 3.5, side tone is enable and the keyer
is ready for Iambic keying. Adj st the SPEED knob for desired keying speed.
4. Record Messages
Keep pressing the MEMORY b tton for abo t 1 second. REC LED will brighten contin o sly. Then
release the REC b tton.
Short press one of the fo r message b ttons 1, 2, 3 or 4. REC LED will be t rned off.
Then enter a message with yo r paddle. Yo have to inp t CW code correctly. Otherwise PK-4 will
stop recording; e.g. Yo want to inp t CQ. So yo paddle '-·-· --·-', b t accidentally yo paddle
'---- ––·-'. Beca se '----' isn't a correct Morse code, PK-4 cannot recognize it. Therefore it will
stop recording. So '--.-' Q and follow letters will be not recorded.

Press M1 b tton to enter space (brief interval between words), and LED brightens, Following pad-
dle operation t rns the LED off.
Keyer reads any interval of yo r paddle Operation as one interval between letters.
Press the REC b tton again when yo are finished. LED will brief flash and yo r message is stored
into the memory.
Messages are stored in nonvolatile memory. Max characters of each memory are listed below.
Message No. Max character
1 40
2 20
3 20
4 40
For advanced paddle operators:
Keyer has advanced paddle operation mode. In this mode, keyer recognizes interval differences
between letters or space between words witho t pressing M1 b tton.
To enter this mode, sq eeze yo r paddle (both dot and dash are on), then t rn the power switch
on. LED will brief flash to tell yo r keyer is in advanced paddle operation mode. This state is stored
in nonvolatile memory. LED will brief flash as the power switch t rned on.
To terminate this mode, sq eeze yo r paddle, then t rn the power switch on.
Note: In advanced paddle Operation mode, Pocket Keyer interprets yo r word spaces to standard
word spaces (7-dot time). If yo r messages are not recorded correctly, try re-sending with longer
word space.
5. Play Messages
J st tap (press shortly) one of the n mber b ttons (1, 2, 3 or 4), then the corresponding message
will be played.
Yo can terminate the message d ring the play. Tap REC b tton. Paddle operation also terminates
the message.
6. Repeat Message Function (only memory 4)
Pocket Keyer provides a repeat message code for this p rpose.
In recording state, presses M2 b tton to store repeat code, and LED brightens. Then enter a n m-
ber and press REC b tton to terminate recording. The n mber means the co nt of word space that
determines the pa se lime to repeat.
The repeat message code is the letter '-' min s (-····-, dah di di di di dah). Yo can store the re-
peat code by paddle operation instead of pressing M2 b tton.
Namely, enter the min s code and a n mber following yo r message.
CQ CQ CQ DE JA8CCL JA8CCL JA8CCL K -7

Above example repeats the CQ message with 7 word space long pa se.
The n mber following the min s code can be replaced by ? or an alphabet for longer pa se.
'?' makes 10 word space pa se
'A' makes 17 word spaces
'B' makes 18 word spaces
'Z' makes 42 word space pa se time.
7. electing Weight Level
Keep pressing REC b tton for more than three seconds. The LED will start flashing on and off.
Then release the REC b tton.
Tap (press shortly) one of the n mber b ttons (1, 2, 3 or 4) for yo r desired weight level. Weight
levels and the corresponding n mber b ttons are listed below.
Weight B tton No.
3 1
3.5 2
4 3
4.5 4
8. Turning ide-Tone On/Off
Keep pressing the REC b tton for abo t 1 second. REC LED will brighten contin o sly. Then re-
lease the REC b tton. To ch yo r dash key paddle. LED will be t rned off. This will alternate the
side-tone on/off.
9. traight Keyer Mode
Pocket Keyer provides straight key mode to t ne or to test yo r rig/antenna.
Keep pressing the REC b tton for abo t 1 second. REC LED will brighten contin o sly. Then re-
lease the REC b tton. To ch yo r dot key paddle. Then start straight key mode. Tap REC b tton to
terminate the straight key mode.
Credit
Special thanks to Shigehiro KINOSHITA (JA8CCL) from Electro Design corporation Japan. He de-
signs this PK-4 a to keyer.