Magnetic Morse keys?

gareth

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Feb 11, 2014, 2:49:29 PM2/11/14

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I wonder if any have experimented with magnets hovering over
reed relays to act as the contacts of a Morse Key, possibly on
the vibrating arm of a bug key?

The reason i ask is the difficulty of excising noise on the dot contact
of the bug key I made a couple of years ago.

Kafkaësque

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Feb 11, 2014, 5:04:51 PM2/11/14

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I bought a Ten-Tec keyer at a rally, which used electromagnets instead
of springs.

I hated it - ended up flogging it on ebay and got a Katsumi instead.

Brian Reay

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Feb 11, 2014, 5:19:42 PM2/11/14

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Kafkaësque <kafka...@g4kfk.co.uk> wr

>
> I bought a Ten-Tec keyer at a rally, which used electromagnets instead of springs.
>

That seems an 'interesting' way to achieve the required dynamics but a
complex one. What were the claimed advantages?

I can think of several which could be claimed but they would hardly justify
the complexity.

arthur c. grindhouse

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Feb 11, 2014, 5:32:08 PM2/11/14

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what puzzles me is why so many countries are dropping morse as an hf access requirement.
maybe somebody can explain.

Kafkaësque

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Feb 11, 2014, 5:52:35 PM2/11/14

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I agree - but if you want the alternative view, see here:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10796

Message has been deleted

Brian Reay

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Feb 11, 2014, 6:06:15 PM2/11/14

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It stopped being an ITU requirement over 10 years back probably explains
it.

Of course, that is no reason for people not to enjoy it. More power to
their elbow, or wrist I should say. But, just was we no longer rely on the
horse for transport, well you can fill in the rest.

arthur c. grindhouse

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Feb 11, 2014, 6:25:55 PM2/11/14

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yes those 12 wpm pass slips must look very yellow and worn now.
i wouldn't wave one about in case it came apart.
but yes enjoy your mode of choice.

Kafkaësque

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Feb 11, 2014, 6:57:17 PM2/11/14

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On 11/02/2014 23:00, Fred Roberts wrote:

> On Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:04:51 +0000, Kafkaėsque
> <kafka...@g4kfk.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> On 11/02/2014 19:49, gareth wrote:
>>> I wonder if any have experimented with magnets hovering over
>>> reed relays to act as the contacts of a Morse Key, possibly on
>>> the vibrating arm of a bug key?
>>>
>>> The reason i ask is the difficulty of excising noise on the dot contact
>>> of the bug key I made a couple of years ago.
>>
>> I bought a Ten-Tec keyer at a rally, which used electromagnets instead
>> of springs.
>

> Electromagnets or permanent magnets?

Electromagnets. There was an adjustment for the current flowing through
the magnets which was a bit like the spring tension on a proper twin paddle.

Michael Black

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Feb 11, 2014, 9:43:21 PM2/11/14

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Didn't semi-automatic keys use magnets for something? I remember seeing
an article about making one, and I remember magnets, even if I can't
remember their purpose.

One could do away with the paddle. Have two microswitches and
attach levers to them, and key by pressing one or the other, rather than
moving a lever sideways. Those have been described in the magazines.

In this day and age of computer keyboards, using two fingers to press
"alternate buttons" might be a more familiar thing than a lever back and
forth. Plus, it's similar to how you use a straight key.

Michael

Brian Reay

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Feb 11, 2014, 10:14:12 PM2/11/14

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Michael Black <et...@ncf.ca> wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Feb 2014, Kafkaësque wrote:
>
> Didn't semi-automatic keys use magnets for something? I remember seeing
> an article about making one, and I remember magnets, even if I can't
> remember their purpose.
>

I recall a good number of years back, 30/35, someone asking me to help with
such a key.

The magnets generated the relative di/dah length. I don't recall if it had
one or two paddles but it seemed to have a mass of adjustments to get it
right. There were other magnets to adjust the paddle(s).

It was beautifully machined but the electrical connections were terrible,
plus a few other things. I did the repairs and the OP twiddled the
adjustments, keyed away beaming ear to ear, and left happy offering all and
sundry as reward.

Brian Howie

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Feb 12, 2014, 2:29:55 AM2/12/14

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In message <lddusd$998$1...@dont-email.me>, gareth
<no....@thank.you.invalid> writes

Hall effect switches will be better.

Brian
--
Brian Howie

Brian Reay

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Feb 12, 2014, 3:12:59 AM2/12/14

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Brian Howie <br...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>
> Hall effect switches will be better.
>

Good idea, if the problem is dirt etc. on the contacts.

If it is caused by poor machining, them it won't help.

Poor machining can cause contact, or parts initiating contact, to 'wobble'
rather than make / break cleanly and stay firmly made. You get a similar
effect in laser based sensors which use mirrors to form a closed path, eg a
ring laser gyro. There you are not closing a contact, you measure something
else, but if the mirrors can move......

Message has been deleted

gareth

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Feb 12, 2014, 6:15:21 AM2/12/14

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"Brian Howie" <br...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:fnjK5FDz...@b-howie.demon.co.uk...

reed swich is simple on-off, and applicable to any TX.

gareth

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Feb 12, 2014, 6:16:58 AM2/12/14

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"Brian Reay" <no...@m.com> wrote in message
news:190054703141388490...@news.eternal-september.org...

>
> If it is caused by poor machining, them it won't help.
>

If I didn't know you and your habitual infantile sneering so well,
I might have thought that you were trying to be helpful.

Grow up, Man.

Gareth's Kitchen Komputer

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Sep 15, 2018, 7:47:14 AM9/15/18

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I hope you get an answer, Gareth, because you wouldn't believe how common
this question is.