Pico Keyer Ultra, ULTRA-PK

The PicoKeyer-Plus has been a huge success, with thousands of kits sold around the world.  They have been used for QRP and portable operation, beacons, in ham shacks, built into radios, used as club projects, the list goes on and on.  With that many of them in use over the past ten plus years, you better believe I get feedback from my customers!  Most of the requests for new features fall into three categories — more buttons, a headphone jack, and an easier to use menu.  Well, UR 599 OM ES YL…Â

This keyer has all of the features of the latest PicoKeyer Plus – and plenty more!  You get four buttons, one for each message for super easy message recording and playback.  A built-in sidetone audio jack lets you plug in your ear buds, headphones, amplified speaker or just pipe the sidetone audio into your homebrew rig’s audio section.  I’ve also done a major overhaul on the setup menu — you can now set up everything (other than recording messages)  using just the front panel pushbuttons, without even plugging in a paddle!

The new firmware builds on previous versions of the PicoKeyer with a number of new features.  Of course the most obvious is instant access to all four messages with the touch of a dedicated button.  Recording a message is now a lot simpler — just hold down the button until you hear the prompt.  Just like the buttons on your car stereo, and just like you’d expect them to work.

There’s also a completely new setup function.  Use the front panel buttons like arrow keys (they’re even marked on the panel) to scroll through menu settings and make changes as needed.  And, if you want to switch between your paddle and straight key — there’s no need to remove the battery!  A quick button press is all it takes.

The Ultra PicoKeyer complete kit contains everything you need to build a stand-alone Morse code memory keyer and code practice oscillator with speed control. You can put it in the nice looking, pre-drilled plastic box (included), build it into your next homebrew rig, or even retrofit it into your favorite commercial rig!  At just a touch over 2″ x 2″ you can stuff this little circuit board into some pretty tight spots. The latest PicoKeyer chip and all the parts you need are included, along with a high quality double-sided printed circuit board with plated-through holes and silkscreened component outlines. The pushbuttons and speed control are mounted on one end of the board, and the RIG, KEY and PHONES jacks are on the other.

Code practice oscillator??  Yep!  Since the Ultra PicoKeyer kit includes a small on-board speaker and a headphone jack, and works with single or dual lever paddles and straight keys, you can use yours as a code practice oscillator to learn and practice Morse code.  Use it with a straight key, or learn to use a paddle or “squeeze” keyer if you want!  You can even use “bug mode” to simulate a semi-automatic key and master this mode as well.  If the on-board speaker isn’t loud enough for a noisy environment you can always plug in a pair of ear buds or headphones.  Or, you can even add an audio amp and larger speaker for group code practice sessions.  A pair of inexpensive PC amplified speakers works great!

The Ultra PicoKeyer is an advanced, super low power iambic keyer with a long list of standard features. Here are the main features of the PicoKeyer Kit:

• Super simple operation, even with advanced features
• Four message memories hold up to 127 characters each, and can be chained together in any order to make up to a 500 character message. Message #1 can be set to auto-start when power is applied, great for propagation beacons.
• NEW!!  Two new, 63-character MYCALL memories can be used in messages; one can be sent independently from the front panel buttons.
• NEW!!  QRSS mode lets you send messages with dot times from 1 to 255 seconds
• Low parts count for quick, hassle-free assembly.  Builders with some experience will find the average time to assemble is about 30 to 45 minutes.  Figure an easy one evening of assembly even for beginners.
• Simple and quick “menu” setup functions accessed with front panel buttons
• Message entry using your paddle
• PCB-mounted, 1/8″ (3.5mm) jacks for your key, rig and ear buds or headphones
• PCB-mounted speed control potentiometer
• On board lithium coin cell battery (included) and battery holder
• On board speaker for sidetone
• Dual 2N7000 keying output MOSFETs for solid-state rigs and some tube gear, handles up to 60 V positive or negative.
• Ultra low power operation – A single lithium coin cell can last up to a couple of years depending on use.
• Dot and dash memories for easy code with perfect timing and spacing
• Works equally well with single-lever or dual-lever keys using iambic “squeeze” or non-iambic keying
• Dual Speed feature – Speed is adjustable from 5 to 60WPM from the menu. You can use the speed control pot to adjust from 5 to 63 WPM, and instantly revert to the stored speed at any time!
• Speed control range (min/max) can be set to your preference (5-30 WPM standard, you set to whatever you want)
• Variable pitch audio sidetone can be turned OFF or ON
• MCW mode uses the keying output as PTT to send audio Morse code over voice radios – now you can practice Morse on the air with your friends using 2M or 70cm FM.
• Adjustable weight
• Selectable iambic Mode A or Mode B as well as Ultimatic and semi-automatic “bug” modes
• Hands-free Tuneup mode lets you select a steady carrier or 50% duty cycle dits
• Beacon mode allows repeating messages with user-specified delay up to 99 seconds
• Straight key autodetect – plug in a straight key and press a pair of buttons, and the keyer will automatically use straight key mode with all memories available! (Please note that this means message playback is available. Message recording requires a paddle.)
• Message pause – insert a pause to manually send RST or other information in the middle of a saved message.
• QSO/serial number can be inserted in a message, auto-incremented and decremented. You can set or reset the QSO number from the setup menu. Counts up to 65536, which should be enough for the biggest contests.
• Optional leading zeros can be sent for QSO numbers less than 3 digits.
• Cut numbers can be selected for QSO numbers in stored messages. Zeros, nines, both or neither can be selected.
• Transmitter QSK delay compensation – Lengthen elements by a preset number of milliseconds to correct for transmitters that tend to shorten dits and dahs in QSK mode.
• Paddle switching – effortlessly select left or right handed operation without switching wires or turning the key upside down
• No battery required to retain settings or memory!
• Easy to integrate into new homebrew or kit rigs, or add it to your older equipment.
• “Factory Reset” option to restore all default settings to your PicoKeyer

The PicoKeyer uses FLASH and EEPROM memory to store all settings and message memory, meaning NO backup batteries and NO lost settings.