microHAM micro Keyer III

The micro KEYER III is the first station controller with a 24 bit sound architecture for all modes. Regardless which mode you use - phone, morse or digimodes, everything which can be done with the sound card benefits from this new 24 bit system. The micro KEYER III makes it work.

The built-in 24 bit USB sound card offers various benefits: for one it has and again much better signal to noise ratio than other simple sound devices and also in comprision to the predecessor MK-2; on the other hand this technology offers a much larger dynamic range. Both these enhancements provide a better decoding even of weak signals like you find them for example at EME and FT-8 modes. A general benefit of such an interface is the fact, that the internal soundcard of the computer remains free for it's traditional purposes - playing sound from the operation system or video. You only need one cable from the interface to the computer - everything including the audio signals are carried by the single USB cable. The 24 bitUSB soundcard of the micro KEYER III has two separate channels, supporting transceivers with two separate audio outputs (like one for main and one for sub receiver).

Here are the possibilities of the new micro KEYER III in in particular. Changes and enhancements to the predecessor are marked like this .

General Functions MK-3

• Only one cable(USB) from interface to computer
• Operation without computer possible (Keyer, Sequencer etc.)
• Full galvanic isolation of all devices (Computer, radio, amplifier etc.)
• Internal 24 bit audio architecture
• Asynchronous data transfer by USB
• Does not require dpecial drivers (Standard USB Audio Class Device)
• Internal oscillator with very low phase noise -145dBc/Hz @1kHz
• Very large dynamic range: 110 dB typ., (105 dB Min.)
• Separate and simultous useable USB audio inputs for Line-In and Microphone
• Very low noise floor: less than 10 µV_eff
• Additional optical S/PDIF in- and output
• iLink connection for integration with other microHAM devices
• Realtime control on built-on OLED display
• Silent switching of all signals without relays
• Digital signal processing of all analog signals including microphone inputs

CAT control MK-3

• Two independant CAT ports for use by two independant applications (Logger, Digimode-SW)
• Baudrate up to 57k6, inclunding handshake control
• Built-in level converters for CI-V, FIF-232, IF-232 or RS-232 levels
• Support for CAT protocol of most manufacturers like Elecraft, Icom, Kenwood, Ten-Tec, Yaesu and others
• Tracking of an SDR receiver operated in parallel (Kenwood or Icom protocol)

Phone Features MK-3

• Two microphones connected (Headset mix, hand held mic)
• Manual or automated microphone selection
• All settings manageable through the menu, no more jumpers to set
• Individually settable parameters like gain, bias voltage, emphasis, ALC for electret and dynamic microphones
• Monitor for transmit audio, e.g. for recording the contest signal or documentation of DX
• Digital voice recorder/keyer with 9 tracks per bank, each up to 120 s duration, as many banks as you like

Digital FSK/AFSK/PSK Features MK-3

• Lowest distortions by using 24 bit AD conversion with very high dynamic range
• Two audio channels for two separate receivers
• Very low noise floor for best decoding
• Transmit/Receive switch on MK-3 front panel
• Separate PTT output for digimodes to mute microphone input
• Highly reactive RTTY tuning scope with crossed ellipses
• FSK keying without jitter, supported by real hardware UART
• Precision sampling for true 45.45 Baud at RTTY
• Continous diddle characters without stutter
• Word length of 5/6/7/8 Bit length, with 1/1.5/2 stopp bits
• Precise sampling for audio based P-FSK keying
• and much more

Telegraphy

• Genuine v3 WinKey™ Chip for precise keying
• Key speed control on front panel
• Paddle connection with de-bounced contacts
• Optical display of keying speed
• Sidetone for paddle keying
• Monitor for transmitted telegraphy signal, e.g. for recoding during a contest
• Automated use of serial contest numbers
• Memory keyer with optional PS/2 keyboard

Other functions

• 1 Watt AF amplifier for monitor and sidetone
• Highly configurable blue LC display, two rows, backlit
• OLED display for various settings, tuning display etc
• Sequencer for LNA, PTT via OptoMOS switch, no relays
• Separate power supply with protection circuit
• Separate On/Off Switch
• Additional CI-V CAT connection for operation of a suitable amplifier or other devices
• Additional serial port (ILink) for integration of other devices, like SteppIR- or Ultrabeam antenan controller, or tuners
• Works with FH-1/FH-2 keypad for keyer memory recall
• Backwards compatible: uses the same DB-37 Kabel as the original micro KEYER

Note: microHAM USB Device Router and microHAM Device Configurator are compatible with all 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Vista, XP, 2000 and 2003.