United ScientificSupplies TGKY01 Telegraph Key

I was looking for a CW key to add to my traveling QRP kit, and this little key for the bill! It’s not anything revolutionary, it just does the job nicely. Not a speed key, but for something that allows you to send dits and dahs, it’s great! Would be a good first key for someone who is just learning the code.

I have been using these to teach Morse Code to Scouts working on the Signs, Signals & Codes Merit Badge. To earn this badge, they need to decipher a Morse Code message and then use Morse Code to spell their names and send a message to another Scout. I use a pair of these telegraph keys in troop meetings and classrooms to work with Scouts learning this skill. From their feedback, I can say this is a popular activity and the youth enjoy using them.

Maybe it's just the inexperienced person here who knew nothing of telegrams and needed one as a prop, but I was hoping I would get a complete working one that could be linked somehow - it's basically what you see in the photo and nothing else. Good and sturdy enough but you'll need to order other parts to get this working. Wish it were more clear before buying :( Still, a good piece that might benefit someone for experiments and all

I have my amateur radio license and had an interest in learning Morse code. My wife, unexpectedly, bought this key for me as a gift. I had to purchase a cable separately to connect the key to my transceiver. I am happy with the key for now. A real good key can cost $200. So, why not try this key before dropping $200? I have been studying the code now for a couple weeks and the key works fine for me. I can make the dits and dahs at approx. 10-12 wpm with this key.

Teaching students about Morse code. This was not great, made very cheap!

Anyone who buys an $8 telegraph key knows something about telegraph keys knows what $8 buys. It's nothing than a thin strip of springy stainless steel you press to close a contact. There's no return spring; the springiness of the metal strip keeps the contacts apart until you tap the knob. The gap is adjusted by bending the metal strip to individual liking and the contact points are durable - you won't live long enough to wear them out. It's a cheap backup key or something to use in the rain besides your antique J-38. You can't rest your fingers on the knob since the arm isn't spring back-tensioned prevent unintentional contact closure. The arm also won't reset as rapidly as it would if spring-returned, but no one can send code fast enough to outrun the action anyway. Last, I drilled a different hole to remount one of the terminal connections. Take a look at the ad photo and you'll see why.

Worked very well for her experiment.

I like the telegraph key! I display Railroad artifacts at historical festivals, so this is perfect for kids to get a feel for telegraphy.