Hello all,

The CW plugin seems to be causing heartache for potential HS4 CW ops so here is a simple alternate working solution that I have been using for quite some time:

Requirements:

1. HS4 Audio Control Plugin

2. HS4 Codec Selector Plugin (not mandatory but if you have one, use the CODOFF option)

3. Behringer U-CONTROL UCA 222 Audio Interface (www.behringer.com)

4. CW Touch Keyer IAMBIC Paddle (www.cwtouchkeyer.com) or any paddle or key with a tone generator

You do not need the CW plugin or the Interface Adapter !!!

Connections:

1. Plug the Behringer U-CONTROL UCA 222 adapter which allows you to connect audio devices to your PC into a spare USB slot

2. Connect a CW Touch Keyer or similar IAMBIC paddle with a tone generator from the speaker output of the tone generator into the Behringer UCA 222 audio input

3. Select “USB Audio CODEC” in the Audio Control Plugin in HS4 (you may have to restart HS4 to see this option but no software drivers are required in either Windows or Mac)

To transmit CW:

1. Leave the mode button on USB

2. Adjust the HS4 POWER output to 5W and the MIC gain to minimal ALC as required

3. Activate the PTT light on option and then depress the PTT and key the paddle when you want to TX CW and depress the PTT again to return to receive mode.

This method works in both Windows and Mac and provides a clean CW signal directly from the tone generator to HS4.

73
Bruce

Outstanding, Bruce. Mind if I share this with the group on Facebook? John

John,

No probs. The idea is to get more CW ops active on HS4 by making it easier to use.

73
Bruce

Bruce,
Typo for the audio interface. It should be (http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA222.aspx) for the 222. Thanks for sharing this. I ordered mine today! ~Walt/KC1DVT

Bruce,

Thanks for your excellent post and this is going to be the way forward for me!

I purchased the CW plugin and have tried this with the dissected mouse method as there was no other option for my Mac for RS232 / USB interface (interface adaptor). Very disappointing results. Reading the recent Facebook posts this is common even using interface adaptor. Apparently missed characters and crap quality at the receiving end are common under Win OS as well, using either method.

At the sending end the sidetone generated characters using iambic do not sound crisp. Kelly mentioned the latter in a Facebook post and advised to turn off all other running applications. Tried this and doesn't make any appreciable difference (Using here; a high end iMac, i7 processor with 16GB ram SSD etc!)

I did work you back in March on CW using my ancient Samson ETM3b squeeze keyer (42 years old and still works) Sidetone output to speaker near microphone! Not ideal but remember we rattled away at circa 25wpm with no problems! Your method will take out the local "QRM" of my chiming clock and my XYL watching TV in background!!

Will keep the CW plugin for time being! - Am sure Kelly will sort this? We are never going to have full QSK using VOIP, this is perfectly understandable given the medium involved but I find it amazing that the simplest mode of communication ever is proving to be such a problem in HS4.

We really need more info such as yours in this forum Bruce. Not everyone likes or uses "Facebook"! Thanks so much for posting here mate!
Lets get CW really up and running on HS4!

73 de G4BSW

Nice work Bruce.
Fix everything here on FB so everybody can see it when they are looking for help.

Regards
Jaap
19HS907