HamGadgets MasterKeyer MK-1 User manual

Firmware Version 1.21 2/2/2010
HamGadgets
MasterKeyer MK-1
User Manual

Version 1.21 2/2/2010Page 1
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 3
Features........................................................................................................................... 4
Setup and Installation...................................................................................................... 6
Connecting to Your Computer........................................................................................ 9
Operating Instructions................................................................................................... 16
Using the Buttons.......................................................................................................... 20
Embedded Memory Commands ................................................................................... 28
Computer Commands ................................................................................................... 32
USB Keyboard Morse mode......................................................................................... 36
PC Keyboard Morse mode............................................................................................ 39
Keyboard Characters..................................................................................................... 40
K1EL Winkeyer Protocol ............................................................................................. 41
Care and Maintenance .................................................................................................. 42
Settings File Format...................................................................................................... 44
Changes, Errata and Known Issues............................................................................... 46
Specifications................................................................................................................ 48
Table 1 - Command Mode commands.............................................................................. 27
Table 2 - Embedded message commands......................................................................... 30
Table 3 - Effect of ESC, END and Pause keys on messages............................................ 36
Table 4 - Effect of Num Lock on USB keyboard............................................................. 37
Table 5 - Morse characters from keyboard....................................................................... 40
Table 6 - Specifications .................................................................................................... 48
Table 7 - Command "Cheat sheet".................................................................................... 49
Figure 1 - Rear panel........................................................................................................... 6
Figure 2 - Paddle wiring diagram ....................................................................................... 7
Figure 3 - Straight key and KEY OUT wiring diagram...................................................... 7
Figure 4 - AMP OUT and KEY OUT timing ..................................................................... 8
Figure 5 - Front panel ....................................................................................................... 16
Figure 6 - Top panel.......................................................................................................... 16
Figure 7 - Rear panel......................................................................................................... 17
Figure 8 - Speed control setting........................................................................................ 18

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Congratulations and thank you for the purchase of your new MasterKeyer MK-1! I
believe that this is the most advanced, most fully featured and best Morse code keyer
available to the Amateur Radio operator today. Its combination of power and ease of
use, combined with its ability to be upgraded with new features and capabilities, makes it
unique. Its high quality and rugged construction means it should give you many years of
service.
I have put many hours into the design and testing of this unit. It is my hope that you will
find it easy to operate, powerful and intuitive. If you have suggestions for future
improvements or features you would like to see – or see done better – please do not
hesitate to let me know via email or letter.
I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the work of Steve Elliott, K1EL in
establishing the Winkeyer computer command interface as the standard for
communicating with contest logging software.
73,
Dale Botkin, NØXAS
HamGadgets
16624 Elm St.
Omaha, NE 68130-1826
Email:
[e-mail]
This manual, the design and the firmware contained in the MasterKeyer MK-1 are copyright © 2009 by Dale Botkin
and HamGadgets, all rights reserved.

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Introduction
The MasterKeyer MK-1 is a self-contained, iambic Morse code memory keyer. The
hardware and operating program was designed with the Amateur Radio operator in mind.
The intuitive controls and large number of features make Morse code operating easier,
faster and more enjoyable. It uses a highly advanced embedded microcontroller and non-
volatile memory, so all settings are retained with power off. Firmware can be upgraded
by the user with no special equipment or computer software.
The cabinet measures approximately 6” wide by 4” deep by 1-1/2” tall. The front panel
provides a speed adjustment knob and a power indicator LED. The top surface has six
memory and function control buttons, each with three-color LED backlight illumination.
The rear panel includes connections for power, paddle input, straight key input, Morse
keying output, amplifier or PTT keying output, a USB Type B port for connection to a
computer, and a USB host (Type A) port for use with USB storage devices and
keyboards. There is a volume control for the internal sidetone monitor.
The MasterKeyer MK-1 can be used standalone or connected to your computer through a
USB connection. While no computer and no special software is required to fully enjoy
the features of the MK-1, the addition of the K1EL Winkeyer emulation feature means
operating with your favorite contest or logging software can be easier and more enjoyable
than ever.

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Features
•Simple to operate
•Morse code keying from a single or dual lever paddle
•Numerous keying modes supported
oCurtis Mode A
oCurtis Mode B (with adjustable paddle timing)
o“Bug” mode – automatic dots, manual dashes
oUltimatic mode
oStraight key or “Cootie” mode
•Paddle “sensitivity” or timing can be adjusted to suit your personal preference
•Up to 30 memory slots available in five banks of six messages each
oEach message can be up to 255 characters in length
oAny bank of 6 messages can be assigned to the top buttons
oEmbedded commands in memory messages for a wide range of functions
Change the sidetone frequency
Send your stored callsign
Send serial/QSO number, with or without automatic incrementing
Send a steady carrier 1-9 seconds in length
Increment or decrement speed in 1 WPM steps
Change speed to a specific value
Set HSCW speed up to 15,000 LPM
Set QRSS speed from 1 to 120 seconds per dit
Set Farnsworth spacing
Send the last word sent from the paddles
Call any other message from any bank
Merge two characters into a prosign
oMessages can be paused to manually insert information from the paddle,
and will automatically resume.
oMessages can be “stacked” to send in sequence
oBeacon mode will repeat a message at regular intervals from 1 second to 5
minutes
o“Cut numbers” supported for serial numbers (any combination of 0, 9, T,
N)
oAltered settings (Farnsworth, QRSS, HSCW) automatically cancel on
completion of the memory message
•Simple, intuitive memory record/play control
oTap any memory button to play its associated message
oHold the button to review, record or edit the message
•Keying output rated at 400V at up to 200 mA
•Amplifier or PTT keying output rated at 400V at up to 400 mA, with adjustable
lead & hang times
•Keying times can be adjusted to lengthen all, or only the first element sent
•Straight key input for manual keying

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•USB interface for connection to computer
oReview or change any setting
oReview, change and save memory messages
oSend Morse code from text sent from the computer (ASCII to Morse
translation)
oCapture text sent from paddles (Morse to ASCII translation)
oCompatible with K1EL Winkeyer protocol to support logging and contest
software
•USB host interface
oUse a USB FLASH drive to back up and restore all settings and message
memory
oUpgrade firmware from USB FLASH drive
oSend Morse code and stored messages from a USB keyboard
•“Dual-Set” speed control allows easy default to a pre-set speed
•Separate, fixed user interface (Command Mode) speed setting
•Adjustable sidetone monitor frequency and volume
•“Stuck key” safety disables keyer if a stuck paddle is detected
•Smart tune mode with constant carrier or 50% duty cycle
•User adjustable speed control range (5 - 99 WPM)
•Farnsworth spacing is supported
•Automatic letter spacing is supported
•HSCW at up to 15,000 LPM (3,000 WPM)
oWith sine wave audio output
oUse amp key output for PTT, audio to mic input
•QRSS settings from 1 to 120 seconds per dit (QRSS1 – QRSS120)
•Power from any AC or DC source from 9 to 20V
•Built-in, self resetting overcurrent protection
•High quality, powder coated metal cabinet with silkscreen printed legends
FCC NOTICE
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
-- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
-- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
-- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
-- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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Setup and Installation
Figure 1 - Rear panel
Power
Power is supplied via the POWER jack on the rear panel. This can be connected to a
source of DC power commonly used in the ham shack – 12V to 13.8V DC is fine.
However, the power supply will handle any DC or AC power source producing at least
9V, but not more than 20V, with current capacity of 300 milliamperes or more. When
using a DC power source, the polarity of the connector is not important. A power cable
with the correct power plug is included with your MK-1 keyer.
When power is connected and the ON/OFF switch in the ON position, the red front panel
POWER LED should illuminate.
Paddle and Optional Straight Key Connections
For normal use, a paddle is plugged into the 3.5mm stereo jack on the rear panel marked
PADDLE. Either a single- or dual-lever paddle may be used. The normal method of
wiring the paddle is with the dot contact wired to the tip of the stereo plug, dash contact
to the ring, and the common or ground connection wired to the sleeve. The dot contact is
normally that which closes when you move the paddle with your thumb – toward the
right for right handed people, or to the left if wired for left handed operation.
If your paddle has its dot and dash contacts wired the opposite way, or if you wish to
swap the paddles for opposite handed operation, the paddles can quickly and easily be
swapped without re-wiring the plug. This is done from the command interface using the
‘P’ command (see the PADDLE COMMAND MODE section).

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Figure 2 - Paddle wiring diagram
As the dot and dash paddles are closed, the keyer will send perfectly timed and spaced
dots and dashes. If the sidetone monitor is enabled, you will hear the Morse code dots
and dashes from the internal speaker. The sidetone volume can be adjusted using the
control located on the rear panel, and the sidetone monitor can be turned off using the
‘M’ command from the command interface.
A straight key may be connected to the ST KEY jack. When connected, the straight key
will directly key the KEY OUT output. The straight key cannot be used for command
entry or control. Note that there is no optical isolation of the straight key jack. This
means that if your rig has a high keying voltage, that voltage may be present on parts of
the straight key. Also, the AMP OUT output will not be active when using the straight
key.
Figure 3 - Straight key and KEY OUT wiring diagram
Radio Connections
Two outputs are provided for connection to your station transmitter or transceiver and
amplifier. The KEY OUT connection is an optically isolated, solid-state relay output
used to key a transmitter or transceiver. It can key virtually any solid state transmitter or
transceiver, as well as most tube gear. See the Specifications page for maximum ratings.
It is set up for a 3.5mm mono plug, wired the same as the ST KEY (straight key) input,
shown above. Note that this output is not polarity sensitive.
Paddle Wiring
Dot
Dash
Common
Straight Key Wiring
Key
Ground

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The AMP OUT connector is an RCA jack. It can be used to key an amplifier, PTT line,
or other special applications. This signal is also optically isolated and driven by a solid
state relay; see the Specifications page for maximum ratings. The AMP OUT line is
polarity sensitive; the outer sleeve of the connector must be less positive than the center
pin. This means that if you are keying a positive signal, the outer shell should be
connected to ground and the center pin to the positive keying signal. If you are keying a
grid-block or other circuit that uses a negative keying voltage, the center pin would be
ground and the outer shell would be the negative voltage signal.
The AMP OUT signal will be active (on) whenever the KEY OUT signal is active
(except when using the ST KEY jack; see above), and will remain on during inter-
element gaps and for the entire duration of a message played from memory, and while the
transmitter is active in tune mode. The lead time and trail time can be set from command
mode. If the lead time is set, the AMP OUT signal will be active from 1 to 40
milliseconds before the transmitter is keyed. If the trail time is set, the AMP OUT signal
will be active for one to six element times after the last element is sent.
Figure 3 below shows an example of the signals as the operator sends a ‘V’ character. As
you can see, the AMP OUT signal will be active prior to the KEY OUT signal, and will
remain active until after the last element is sent. There is an adjustable lead and trail
time. The amp lead and trail times can be set to zero, in which case the AMP OUT signal
will precede the KEY OUT signal by only a fraction of a microsecond and drop as soon
as the character is finished.
Amp “lead time”, if set.
KEY OUT
AMP OUT
Keyed
Unkeyed
Keyed
Unkeyed
Amp “trail time”, if set.
Figure 4 - AMP OUT and KEY OUT timing

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USB Connections
The USB interface is designed to be used only with a USB FLASH drive or a
standard USB keyboard (USB A), or a PC host connection (USB B). Certain
multifunction keyboards may not work properly. FLASH drives that are not
formatted with a FAT filesystem will not work. Do not connect a USB hub or
any USB devices other than a FLASH drive or keyboard to the USB A
connector.
Your MasterKeyer MK-1 is equipped with a USB slave port (Type B connector) for
connection to a computer. This connection is optional; the computer can be left
disconnected or powered off without affecting the operation of the keyer. The computer
can be connected and disconnected with power off or on; as with all USB devices, “hot
plugging” is fine. When connected, the keyer’s USB port will appear as a serial COM
port attached to your computer.
A USB Type A (host) port marked USB A is also provided. This port is for attaching a
USB FLASH drive or a USB keyboard. Complete details regarding the use of the USB A
port can be found in the Operating section of this manual.
Connecting to Your Computer
Overview
Your MasterKeyer can be connected to your USB equipped computer if you wish. This
allows the use of text mode for setup and message editing, along with support for various
contest logging programs. If you don’t plan to use a computer with your MasterKeyer, it
is safe to skip this section and proceed directly to the Operating Instructions section.
Device drivers for Windows and Mac OS X are provided on the documentation and
driver CD-ROM. Driver support is built into Linux; with a reasonably recent kernel,
your computer will automatically add a TTY device. Device drivers for recent Macs (OS
X) may already be present on your system. The latest version of drivers for all operating
systems can be downloaded at no cost from www.ftdichip.com if needed.
The connection process is relatively simple, but will differ depend on the operating
system you use (Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OSX, etc), the communication program you
prefer and your hardware configuration. The MK-1 uses an internal USB to serial
converter chip, and will appear on your system as a USB serial port. In Windows this
means you will see a new COM port; in Linux you will see a TTYs or TTYusb device.
Once connected and recognized by your computer, any serial terminal emulation program
can be used to communicate with the keyer. Some common programs include
Hyperterminal or PuTTY (for Windows) and Minicom (for Linux). The CD-ROM

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included with your keyer includes a copy of PuTTY, a free Windows terminal program
that has a number of advantages over Hyperterminal, including support for COM port
number greater than COM8.
Install the Drivers
When you connect the MK-1 to your computer via the USB port, the system will
automatically detect the new device. In many cases, the correct drivers will already be
loaded (this is true for all reasonably modern Linux and OSX installations). For
Windows, you may need to install the device drivers present on the CD-ROM that came
with your MK-1. The newest, updated drivers can also be obtained directly from FTDI
via their web site: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.
Determine the COM port number
Once the device drivers are installed and the MK-1 connected, you will need to determine
the COM port number assigned to the MK-1’s interface. To do this in Windows XP and
earlier versions, open your Control Panel and double-click the System icon. You can also
right-click your “My Computer” icon and select Properties. Now select the Hardware
tab, and you should be looking at a window like the one below.
Click the “Device Manager” button to open this window:

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Click the plus sign next to Ports (COM & LPT) to expand the list of serial and parallel
ports:
In this example, the new port appears as COM8. On your computer it may be a different
port number, depending on how many other USB to serial converters have been
connected and other factors. To verify that this is the correct port, right-click the port and
click “Properties”:

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Note that the properties tab identifies this as an FTDI USB serial converter. Now, note
the COM port number; we’ll need to remember that. Some software may not be able to
deal with COM port numbers above COM8. If you need to change the COM port
number, you can click on the Port Settings tab and click the Advanced button to select
an unused, lower numbered port. For now, we can close the windows we have open –
just click CANCEL and close the other windows.
Setting up PuTTY
Now that we know the COM port number, we can set up our terminal program
accordingly. The free program PuTTY is included on your MK-1 CD; it’s easy to use
and works well. There is no special install process; the program has a single executable
file that can be run by itself. You can also use Windows Hyperterminal if you have it, or
under Linux you can use Minicom. The example below uses PuTTY.

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Open the PuTTY program. This will be the
first screen you see. Type the COM port name (COM8 in this example). Click the Serial radio button.
Select the Serial category… Change Flow control to “None”

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Click the “Session” category. Type a name
for this connection – “MasterKeyer” is a
good choice. Click Save.
Now you can double-click the session name,
or select it and click Open.
Type a question mark in the terminal window; you should see the MasterKeyer command
menu. You can type a slash and a command here; in this example, I typed /V to see the
firmware version.
Setting up Hyperterminal
If you prefer, you can use Windows Hyperterminal to communicate with your MK-1.
Hyperterminal has some limitations and bugs; I recommend using something else, but
here is how to set it up if you must.

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After starting Hyperterminal, type a name
for this connection. Select any icon you
like.
Select the COM port number assigned to
your MK-1
Modify the port settings for flow control =
NONE. Since this is a USB connection,
the bits per second setting does not matter.
Click the “Call” icon (looks like a
telephone). You should now be able to
communicate with your MK-1.

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Operating Instructions
Controls & Indicators
The keyer has a few controls and indicators that are easy to learn, and easy to use. We’ll
start with the front panel, shown here:
Figure 5 - Front panel
•The POWER indicator. This indicates that power is available and the power
switch is on. It is powered by the internal 5V regulator.
•The SPEED knob. This is used to control the Morse code speed while sending
from the paddles or memory. There are a few operations that will override the
speed control knob:
oPaddle command mode can use the optional User Interface (UI) speed
setting to operate at a constant speed.
oSending QRSS or HSCW while playing back a stored message.
oOperation with some logging programs that ignore the speed setting.
Moving to the top of the unit:
Figure 6 - Top panel

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•The six function/memory buttons. These have several uses, all of which are
explained in more detail in the sections to follow.
oStarting playback of a stored message
oRecording a new message, or reviewing an existing one
oEntering and leaving Paddle Command Mode
oEntering and leaving Tune Mode
oEntering and leaving USB Keyboard Mode
oQSO number quick decrement
oFactory reset of all parameters
oStarting a firmware upgrade
oIndicating “stuck key” safety mode
And again on the rear panel:
Figure 7 - Rear panel
•The POWER switch, whose operation should be pretty obvious.
•The VOL control, which adjusts the volume of the sidetone monitor.
Normal Operation
When power is applied to the keyer and the unit is switched on, the front panel LED
power indicator will illuminate. A brief self-test is performed, during which the six
function/memory buttons will very briefly illuminate in various patterns to indicate the
state of the internal self-test and initialization. This sequence normally takes less than a
couple of seconds. All button illumination will turn off to indicate the keyer is ready for
normal operation.
At this point, you can begin sending Morse code using the paddles just as you would any
other keyer.

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Setting the Speed Control
The keyer’s speed can be adjusted using the speed control knob. The normal default
speed range is from 5 to 35 words per minute (WPM), but this can be changed using the
“R” command from the command menu. Rotating the speed control knob clockwise
from approximately the “9 o’clock” position will increase the speed; rotating counter-
clockwise will lower the speed.
Figure 8 - Speed control setting
Many operators like to leave their keyer set at their customary operating speed, but want
to be able to change their speed to match that of another station. When they finish the
contact, they want to be able to quickly return to their normal sending speed. If the knob
is turned fully counter-clockwise below the “9 o’clock” position, the keyer will use the
“Set” speed (the default “Set” speed is 13 WPM). This allows a quick change to a preset
speed.
The “Set” speed as well as the speed control range can be changed using either Command
Mode or by command sent via the computer. Note that the “Set” speed is completely
independent of the speed control range. For instance, let’s say you normally operate
between 20 and 30 WPM but wish to be able to work “newbies” or run a slow code
practice net at 5 WPM. You can change your “Set” speed to 5 WPM, and the speed
control range to 20 to 30 WPM. Now you can rotate the knob all the way counter-
clockwise for 5 WPM operation, or set it to your normal operating speed.
Conversely, you can have your “Set” speed at (for example) 25 WPM, and set the range
from 5 to 30 for maximum flexibility. It’s up to you to determine how you want it set up.
Sidetone Monitor and Sidetone Volume
Sidetone volume can be adjusted using the rear panel VOL control. The sidetone speaker
openings are on the bottom of the keyer. In order to best hear the sidetone you should
keep the cabinet on a smooth surface, with some clearance between the speaker openings
and the desktop or operating surface.
The sidetone monitor (internal speaker) is always on when in paddle setup mode. When
operating normally, it can be set to one of three states: Always On, Never On or Paddles

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Only. In Paddles Only mode, you will hear the sidetone while sending manually from the
paddles. You will not hear the MK-1 sidetone for anything send from the computer,
stored messages or from the USB keyboard. Turning the sidetone monitor off lets you
use your rig’s sidetone while operating, without the distraction or extra noise of the keyer
– and without having to adjust the sidetone volume. There are two exceptions to this
rule. The first is when the QSO number Quick Decrement feature is used; two quick dits
will be heard from the sidetone speaker regardless of the monitor setting. Also, the
sidetone will always be enabled when in Tune mode.
Whether the sidetone is on or off, you can still monitor the progress of memory message
playback by watching the button LED colors (green for active, orange for transmitting).
You can change the sidetone monitor setting using the M command during setup. The
default setting is Always.
Stuck Key Safety Mode
Of course, proper operating procedure dictates that your station equipment should be
powered off while you are not at the operating position. We know that accidents do
happen; occasionally, a bumped paddle, napping cat or other mishap will result in a
station sending a constant carrier or an endless series of dots or dashes. In order to
prevent this from happening, your keyer has a “stuck key safety”. If a dot or dash paddle
is closed for more than 127 consecutive dots or dashes, the keyer will stop sending,
disable its KEY OUT and AMP OUT signals, and enter a low power mode. This will be
indicated by button M1 being lit orange.
Once the paddle is released, the unit will come out of its safety mode and will operate
normally. Note that the ST KEY (straight key) input is NOT monitored in any way, so be
careful if you have a straight key connected.
Memory Locations
Your MasterKeyer has a total of thirty message slots. These are arranged in five banks of
six messages each. Each message slot can hold a total of 255 characters.
At any given time, one bank of messages is assigned to the six function/memory buttons
on top of the keyer. This group of six messages can be played, recorded and edited using
the buttons. The other five message banks can be accessed through the PC interface, or
they can be called by other messages. For example, let’s say you have Bank 1 assigned
to the top buttons. Any message in Bank 1 can “call” any other message, regardless of its
bank. This gives you quite a bit of flexibility for setting up longer or more complex
messages.
As you will see later on, attaching a USB keyboard can give you instant access to an
additional bank of messages (see the Keyboard Morse Mode section).