CW and Maestro / Remote

Bob

Hi-

I am trying to find out how (if?) to use an Iambic key remotely using Maestro (preferred) or MacBook.

Does anyone have experience using the "CW Hotline" device (https://hamradio.solutions/cwhotline/) with their Flex?
73
Bob
WA2I

KD0RC

Hi Bob, If you have a Maestro and a Flex 6000 series radio, then you have all you need to do remote CW. The CW Hotline is not necessary.

A straight key or paddles connect directly to the back of the Maestro. Use SmartLink to connect the Maestro remotely to the Flex radio and you are ready to go!

Bob

Thank you. I have a Maestro and a Flex 6000 series radio. I was told by Michael Walker (VA2MW) when I bought it that this would not work because of keying delays. Do you have experience with this? Is there new software that has improved this?
73 Bob WA2I

W2PP

the delay may have been an issue in the past but my understanding is that the delay issue was resolved by time stamping the code. Elekraft does this and when I was talking to then they told me Flex had already done this.

KD0RC

Hi Bob, without the context of Mike's statement, I can't comment on the delays. A friend of mine has a 6400 in a farm building 100 miles or so away, and a Maestro in his home shack. He runs CW this way (key plugged into the back of the Maestro), almost exclusively. This works because the Maestro provides a local sidetone (i.e. essentially no delay from paddle closure to sidetone output).

Is this how you are configured?

Bob

Thanks Len, I have not set it up yet since the caution I received at time of purchase. I was having difficulty deciphering the posts in those forum which describe various softward/hardware solutions and something called CWX(?). I am reaching out to learn how to proceed. Thank you so much for your help.

Mike-VA3MW

Bob

If you are using a Maestro then plug the key in and give it a try. You will need to make sure that CW Delay is set a bit longer than TXD delay in the radio settings, but even if is wrong it will work and you won't break anything.

Using a Maestro is the most seamless way to do CW remotely for hand sending.

Bob

Thanks!

Antenna is down; I'll give it a try when up and running

73

Bob

WA2I