A CW Key is apparently a switch used for transmitting Morse code. Make sure to click through to the individual pages to see them in use, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghx3r_OFmt4
Trying to think of another activity where one hand is doing something so complex while the rest of the body practically looks bored. Nothing comes to mind.
Some of these would make great oldschool spy- or detective-movie props, like the rubber stamp being overlooked by "stupid" detectives whilst the smart detective directly connect it to a callsign to uncover the murder victims secret life with regards to ham operations.
For today's 10000: amateur radio operators call Morse code "CW" since it's a Continuous Wave (unmodulated) transmission while you're pressing the key. The most basic kind is a straight key which simply transmits when you push and stops when you let go. Electronic keyers often use iambic paddles/buttons where you use one switch to create a series of "dits" and the other switch to create "dahs" yourself, which is less physically demanding and lets you hit higher WPM. There are examples of both types here.
Love these! On the record player, would be fun to play Morse code “records” where the message was encoded by selectively removing spots of copper from the rotating plate.
Recently my much older friend said "nobody knows how to properly adjust a Vibroplex[1] any more"
I've not willingly sent CW in about 40 years, but I think I'm going to ask him to show me how to adjust one, just to know.
I've learned more about repairing vacuum tube equipment than I'll ever need to know, I'm actually thinking I could do it. It's the 1000+ volts in amplifiers that scares the sh*t out of me, and why I'll not be doing that myself, thank you very much.
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[ 4.6 ms ] story [ 44.6 ms ] threadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW_Operators%27_Club
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_key
Trying to think of another activity where one hand is doing something so complex while the rest of the body practically looks bored. Nothing comes to mind.
https://www.i2rtf.com/keys---paddles.html
https://www.n3znkeys.com/
https://www.vibroplex.com/
https://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_...
https://cwmorse.us/
https://putikeeg.com/
https://www.9a5n.eu/paddle.html
I've not willingly sent CW in about 40 years, but I think I'm going to ask him to show me how to adjust one, just to know.
I've learned more about repairing vacuum tube equipment than I'll ever need to know, I'm actually thinking I could do it. It's the 1000+ volts in amplifiers that scares the sh*t out of me, and why I'll not be doing that myself, thank you very much.
[1] https://www.vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d12_SEMI-AUTOMATIC_...