K1EL Systems - CW Contest Keyers for Amateur Radio

Up to seven cables can connect to the K46:

Paddle Cable: 1/8" stereo type Sinetone Audio cable: 1/8" stereo

Audio Input cable: 1/8" stereo Keying Cable: 1/8" to radio keying plug

Audio Input cable: 1/8" stereo Keyboard Cable: USB

USB A to USB mini B (power/host connection)

A paddle cable is probably already attached to your iambic paddle. If the plug is a 1/4" style you will need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter in order to plug it into the K46.

Audio cabling is dependent on the radio receiver or transceiver you are using. The best solution is to use your radio's audio line output since the audio level is constant and not dependent on the receiver's audio gain control. Depending on the radio, line out could be on on a separate jack (1/8" or RCA) or grouped with other signals on an AUX connector. Refer to your radio manual to determine what mating connector is required and what the pinout is. If you happen to have a SignalLink Interface (or equivalent) connected to the radio's AUX connector, it may have an 1/8" monitor output which will work well as a source for K46 audio.

Alternatively, and more conveniently, a radio's headphone or external speaker jack can used as an audio source but you will find that when you plug the K46 audio cable into the radio's internal speaker will be disabled. The K46 has a solution for this; it has a built in audio splitter which routes audio through the K46 and out to a AF Out jack which connects to headphones or an external speaker. Because of the differing audio levels in these various methods, the K46 audio gain will need to be adjusted carefully. This will take some time to arrive at a workable setting. It's a fine balance between making both the K46 and the user's ears happy.

The K46 has an internal sidetone speaker which can be adjusted for frequency and amplitude.

The K46 also has a built in sine wave sidetone feature that is usefull as a CPO for Morse practice and not for on air operation since it is output on Sine ST output jack which is serparate from the Audio Out jack.

The CW keying input jack on most transceivers is either a 1/4" or 1/8" stereo phone type which normally accepts an iambic paddle input. The K46 uses an 1/8" stereo output jack so you may be able to use a 1/8" to 1/8" inch cable. Otherwise you'll need a 1/4" to 1/8" plug adapter. You will need to disable your radio's internal keyer and run it in straight key mode. In almost all cases, the PTT output will not be used, we recommended using a stereo connector and disable the K46's PTT output. The PTT ring connection is really only used to key an amplifier or activate an antenna changeover relay.

We offer an accessory cable kit that covers most setups which consists of two cables (1/8" stereo to 1/8" stereo) and one 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. One of the cable would be used for audio and the other for transceiver keying. The adapter, if needed, could be used on either the paddle cable or transceiver cable.

The USB host/power cable is a USB A to USB Mini B type which is included with the K46.