K3ng Keyer Schematic Repack [patched] May 2026
The Ultimate Guide to the K3NG Keyer Schematic Repack: Organizing Open-Source Morse Code Excellence
Key Improvements in This Repack
| Original K3NG Issue | Repacked Solution | |---------------------|-------------------| | Paddle inputs share ground with high-current key line | Separate analog/digital ground with a ferrite bead | | No pull-up resistor values specified | 10k for paddles, 4.7k for I2C, 1k for transistors | | Display wiring changes with LCD type | Standardized on I2C (only 4 wires: VCC, GND, SDA, SCL) | | Sidetone output is just a pin | RC filter (1k + 10µF) + buffer transistor before LM386 |
Sheet 3: User Interface (Minimal & Maximal)
Instead of one messy diagram, two sub-blocks: k3ng keyer schematic repack
- Minimal: 3 buttons (Tune, Command, Function) + 1 pot for speed.
- Maximal: 16x2 LCD via PCF8574 I2C backpack (saves 6 wires), rotary encoder with hardware debouncing (74HC14), and a 3-LED status bar.
2. The Input Protection Stage
A professional repack includes a small circuit to protect the Arduino pins from static (ESD) and RFI. The Ultimate Guide to the K3NG Keyer Schematic
- Schottky diodes (e.g., BAT54S) to clamp voltage.
- 1k-10k pull-up resistors on paddle inputs.
- Optional optocoupler for the key output to isolate the keyer from high-voltage tube transmitters.
2.1 The Core Microcontroller Section
The heart of the repack is the microcontroller pinout table. A good repack will include: Minimal: 3 buttons (Tune, Command, Function) + 1
- Arduino Uno / Nano (ATmega328P) pin column
- Arduino Mega 2560 pin column
- Teensy 3.2/4.0 column (if supported)
- For each key function: CW output, Paddle Left, Paddle Right, Dit/Dah memory, Speed pot, PTT out, Beacon enable.
Example entry from a repack:
| Function | Uno/Nano Pin | Mega Pin | Firmware #define |
|----------------|--------------|----------|-----------------------------|
| CW Output | D13 (or D8) | D13 | #define cw_output_pin 13 |
| Paddle Left | D3 | D3 | #define paddle_left_pin 3 |
| Paddle Right | D2 | D2 | #define paddle_right_pin 2|
| Speed Pot | A0 | A0 | #define speed_pot_pin 0 |
A repack typically presents this as a large table or multi-page diagram with clear cross-references.