Are you referring to a straight key for code or a keyed driven by some
kind of switch?  

If the former a simple lever is all that is involved with a fulcrum
point with a spring to provide tension to raise the lever at the contact
end thus allowing raise the  breaks in a continuous make contact state.
Of the switch.  

While I have not built one getting good ball bearing  action on the
fulcrum pivot point may be difficult for good high speed switching.  

If you can work with brass materials or stainless steel with a brass
spring  this might do well.  Look through some older issues of QST CQ or
whatever for articles in this area.  

Personally I would go find a good key and choose a good mounting surface
of exotic work or perhaps nickel plated or some other type of base and
go from there and not try to duplicate the key itself.  On the other
hand if you can have access to good milling equipment go for it.  

If a keyer is your goal, likewise look for kits or articles in the
magazines for such an animal.  

Satisfying projects I have built have included loop antennas vhf and uhf
antennas as well as hf ones as well along with mobile mounting stands
for hf and vhf/uhf rigs operating desks kits of electronic keyers etc
have been worthwhile projects through the years.  Good luck and let us
know what you come up with.  It all takes time and our first projects
are not always best.  

My first attempt at a solid state tr switch dramatically failed.  I
still do not know why and never did try to figure it out.  I returned to
using my trusty Dow Key relay.  Now there is an item I wish I still had.
73 kd7jn....  



 

-----

BRETT WINCHESTER

[log in to unmask] 

208-639-8386

###

 

 


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of matt V
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: code key

hi all,
I was wondering how to go about making a code key for myself, i just
want to be able to say i did it, if infact i can, and who knows, anyway
i attempted to make some electronic in summer school at the school for
the blind now not sure what its called, or if it is still nebraska
school for the visually handicapped but i remember getting all the parts
for what i was going to build, going to radioshack to get the wstuff,
and ending up draining the 9 volt battery, i wasn't making a code key
however some other show off in the class made his and was bragging but
that was the first i realized all my ham stuff went in one ear and out
the other sadly, it was supposed to be a timer of some sort with a
buzzer, a switch(button more
exact) and a battery.  well, as i said i ended up draining the 9v when i
pressed the button  and not to mention the book the teacher borrowed the
pages out of and let us thermoform, the lines with intermitant dots did
not make a load of sense to me, im thinking i would have had a half a
clue but obviously i didnt.  I want to make things cuz i think it would
be kind of fun but where would be a simple-ish start, i'm thinking a
code key I just hope the stuff i learned from the previous licenses
wasn't a total waste i guess the only thing i learned in that summer
class was how to drain a battery really quick :p