Remote paddle CW options?

Steve - AK0M

What are you using for remote paddle CW in Windows and MacOS/iOS environments?

I am interested in being able to do remote paddle CW without sidetone latency, preferably while wearing headphones. I know this is a challenging problem, particularly in a Windows SmartSDR environment.
I am aware of these possible options:

RKI - Remote Keyer Interface (Windows)

WKFlex - (Windows)

MORCONI - (Windows)

Built-in native functionality SmartSDR for Mac/iOS using paddle interface

CTR-MIDI, CTR-Dial (Mac and iOS)

Halikey (Mac and iOS)

Are these all the options? Have you settled on one that provides tolerably low sidetone latency? Can you get sidetone through headphones mixed with receiver audio?

73, Steve AK0M

Gord-VA7GP

About 3 of your options:

RemoteKeyerInterface -

RemoteKeyerInterface groups.io Group

RemoteKeyerInterface uses a serial-port (or USB-to-Serial). Your key simply toggles one pin, and the PC software:

*generates a sidetone, at a frequency and level of your choosing (and also risetime)

*connects with SmartLink to your remote radio

I used RemoteKeyerInterface for perhaps a year, and it worked very well. I disliked that it didn't save settings, so each day I had to cut-paste login to SmartLink, adjust sidetone. But again, it worked.

Sidetone was naturally mixed with SmartSDR audio, both coming from my Win11 PC through the speakers. There is not really any perceptible sidetone latency, just whatever your PC hardware introduces, because the sidetone is local (not generated by your Flexradio, not sent over any networking). That said, I did notice some PC-based sidetone latency, but only when I strained to listen for it.

Software can generate a PTT signal for you, or another serial-port wire can be hooked to a switch and provide you with manual-PTT control.

RKI seems to send "key-down" and "key-up" messages to the FlexRadio, although I didn't need to open Port 4992 for FlexAPI to work. However it's done, it supports your personal keying "drawl" and your friends will know it's you.

MORCONI

Definitely a step up, mostly because the config is retained (in the SDCard file that you edit). There are a number of community builds that can take in your SmartSDR audio and mix it with the sidetone, although Max's product doesn't do this out-of-the-box. Sidetone frequency and volume is similar yin-yang: it takes a bit of trial-and-error adjusting SDCard values, but once you've got it set, it's retained "forever". Right now I am using my Morconi with lightweight headphones (ie cheapy airline quality) that also allow me to hear SmartSDR as well, mixing "through the air" 😀

Like RKI, the sidetone is local and "latency-free". Your actual Flexradio keying will be a bit different (delayed, due to Internet latency), but you'll not hear this, nor even care. Unless you're a super-fast QSK break-in kind of operator. This device-based sidetone is better than PC-based, IMHO.

I bought a recent version of Max's pre-built units, and the speed-knob includes a push-to-PTT feature… depress the speed-knob and start sending; hit it again to return to receive.

In addition to the usual Flexradio SmartLink ports (4993, 4994), you'll need to open 4992 to allow FlexAPI communication (same as for any other direct API device).

WKFlex

I tried this, and it worked, but … I didn't love the wait-for-entire-character thing, before actual sending. And although I love my WinKeyers, I eventually found it a bit more bulk and more "stuff" than I wanted. The Morconi (pre-built, by Max) is perhaps 1/6 the size. Both are USB-powered, but WinKeyers can also have a battery.

Summary: Out of WKFlex, RemoteKeyerInterace and MORCONI, I picked MORCONI. Today, I would look beyond Max's pre-built unit, for a richer set of features (SmartSDR audio mixing, memory pushbuttons, etc). MORCONI is good, and better every day, but can be hard to always stay abreast of the latest community evolutions.

HTH!

N5NHJ

Just a side note: MORCONI is a standalone network device, it works independently from the OS where you run SmartSDR.