A reader wrote and asked:
I went to Radio Shack today hoping to find a code oscillator kit for my grand daughter and I to put together for her to practice code without me just making the dit and dah sounds for her. I asked the clerk and he didn’t know what I was talking about. Said they didn’t have any “oskelaters” and wasn’t sure what Morse Code was/is. He did say they had some cell phones. Well needless to say I was disappointed with that Radio Shack and I’ll try another Shack some where else. She expressed the interest and I would like her to learn it. Love your post, keep them coming.
I replied:
I wouldn’t even bother going to another Radio Shack. Just go to Amazon and search for “code practice oscillator.” The best bet seems to be a Ramsey code practice oscillator kit for $17.95. You can always replace the crummy “key” with a better one should she really take to it.
Amazon also sells the MFJ-557 Code Practice Oscillator, but at $50, I think that’s a bit expensive.
The ARRL website has plans for a number of different code practice oscillators, that you can build easily enough, including:
- A One-Hour, No-Solder Code Practice Oscillator. This is the project that I had middle-school students build and often recommend to people.
- The Cheaper Beeper, designed to be a low-cost project for first-time builders.
- The ARRL Code Practice Oscillator, which uses a 555 timer IC.
Hmmmmmm. Maybe I should kit up some of these and sell them. Not that they’d be big sellers, but I am the “CW Geek” after all. Thinking a little more about this, perhaps I could even make one from an Arduino or the Adafruit 1501 microcontroller board, which costs less than $10.
What do you think? Do you have any other recommendations for a code practice oscillator?
I’ve been thinking about using the Ultra Pico Keyer as a CPO. It was described by Joe Eisenberg K0NEB in the November 2014 CQ. A one-hour kit build that is still useful when you are ready to operate CW.
US$29 at http://www.hamgadgets.com/ULTRA-PICOKEYER
Works with straight keys or paddles, but “Be aware that while the setup menu will still function and you can send messages, you will not be able to record messages while using a straight key.” Source — http://www.hamgadgets.com/index.php?route=product/download/download&download_id=89
Thanks for those links. That keyer looks interesting. Price has gone up but hasn’t everything?
73’s
de AD6AE
Ameco – http://www.morseexpress.com/ameco/oscs.htm
Hi, Dan.
HamGadgets has a keyer kit http://www.hamgadgets.com/hamradio/ULTRA-PICOKEYER that can also be used as a code practice oscillator. I’ve not used this version, but have used their no longer available PicoKeyer Plus. The nice thing is that, after the code has been learned, the keyer can be built into a homebrew/kit radio or added to a commercial radio to provide more capabilities than what is typically included with the standard keyer.
The standard disclaimer applies – I have no financial interest in HamGadgets. I’m just a satisfied customer who also uses their MasterKeyer.
72, Jim – K0RGI
HamGadgets – http://www.hamgadgets.com/ULTRA-PICOKEYER
I used a piezo buzzer. Can’t get much simpler than that.
Now why didn’t I think of that… Duh!
Ramsey $17.95
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/Ramsey-Electronics-Code-Practice-Oscillator/
Rainbow$9.95
http://www.rainbowkits.com/kits/cod-k1p.html
A buzzer and a 9V battery.
These are terrific – not just an oscillator but a smart keyer, and an easy build.
http://www.hamgadgets.com/ULTRA-PICOKEYER
Great suggestions, everyone. The reason that I didn’t suggest the buzzer is that I really dislike the sound of a buzzer. That’s just a personal preference, though.
I’m surprised that the HamGadgets keyers got so many mentions. I do like the PicoKeyers, though. I have one of the original PicoKeyers, and we’ve built them as a club project here several years ago.
I was going to mention the keyer we made in the club project. My grandson and I made one each, and then we each chose an antique hand key at a local swap. Worked swell.
I own Pico keyer Ultra and it is an FB keyer! However, harsh sounding waveform (not designed strickly as CPO even though it excels at this). For something easier on the ears, go to DJ’s (N1EA) site http://www.qsl.net/n1ea/ scroll down to the CPO article by Jose, DU1ANV. Small parts count and the best sounding CPO out there I have come across as it is pure sine wave. Jose also includes notes to add to your HT for FM CW practice. I modified mine with a 2N7000 FET keying pulled from a second hand CPO by Chuck, WB9KZY, Jackson Harbor Press, out of production CPO. This mod allows the Oscillator to run wide open, verses key down start up of the oscillator, which exhibits some startup time. Another excellent CPO is the Morse Express version which is Twin-T, free running osc, adds zobel network, and does the FM CW injection; hat tip to Marshall, N1FN. I recommend DU1ANV CPO if you can build or Morse Express Twin-T. Check out Jackson Harbor Press as lots of great things there as well, though no affiliation with any of these fine companies, just satified user.
Mike, WH6YH
Although not a kit, I have a CW Morse code practice oscillator app for Android. It simulates a straight key and an iambic key, translates Morse code into English and CW Prosigns, and allows you to adjust WPM. More information here:
http://www.kg9e.net/apps/AmateurHamRadioPracticeKeys/
Wait a few weeks until the North Fulton ARL CPO comes out. You’ll love it. Very cheap and easy kit for kids as young as 8 years old. Write me if you can’t wait! [email protected]
I second the twin t oscillator circuit. I found the schematic in the 1997 ARRL handbook but also all over the web. Clean sine wave is the only way to go. Imho.