Touch Capacitive Morse Tutor by Kent Engineers

Ham4CW

Ham4CW

Administrator
These tutors are a great improvement on their earlier keypad selection models. Modes and speeds can be selected rapidly, and many parameters can be changed on the fly while the tutor is producing code.

It is possible to use you own key with this unit, using the tutor as a code practice oscillator. The tutor is self contained and provides a useful mixture of modes to keep the aspiring student happy.

There are two gripes I would hold against this unit, one is the inability to be able to change the CW tone produced (the tone is fixed in the firmware within the PIC device used. The other minor issue is that the touch capacitive method while fine if the tutor is used indoors on a desk say, if you try to use the unit in you pockets it has a tendancy to falsely trigger the input selection system, and the tutor will appear to randomly change modes or stop in mid session.

I have used these tutors for a number of years now, both at home, in the car and at work, and in all cases they have operated fine.
 

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To use it portable so that you could listen on the go.

It doesn't matter anyway as I use an MFJ-418 instead. Clips on the belt, and with a pair of earphones it works great when out walking or at work so as not to disturb others.
 
Found another 'quirk' with these tutors if you are using them as a practice oscillator.

If you have just switched the unit on and nothing has been selected (at this point the upper LED will be blinking at a medium rate), the the oscillator keys fine. However, if you have selected an item/mode and any one of the LEDs happens to be blinking rapidly, the the keying becomes erratic every few characters (makes it sound as though you have dodgy contacts or a faulty lead).

After trying a few different tests the best results were always obtained by turning the tutor on from 'cold' and using it to practice sending without touching any of the sensors I.E. not selecting anything.

73, Mark...
 
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