Hi, The winners of the 2019 Key Competition were announced in the October QST issue. Unfortunately (or deliberately), the ARRL praised a silly design of a non-winning Halloween key more than real ingenuity. There was not one word used to describe the individual design or uniqueness of the four winners' key entry. Highlights of the Opto-Keyer (Category Paddle): - Solid bronze construction - Optical switches in place of mechanical contacts If you would like a complete set of documentation that was submitted to the ARRL for the contest, click on the link below. It also includes detailed CAD generated construction drawings. Juergen, NV1Q http://www.hcra.org/opto-keyer
Beautiful job. Congratulations. My father was an excellent self taught machinist. He would have loved to have taught me but it wasn't my interest at the time. I wish now I had a second chance, but I'm afraid it's too late. Good job!
That's why I published the construction drawings, so people can find a good machine shop and have it made. What was also important to me was the release of the optical switch. Now it becomes "prior art" and no key manufacturer can patent this concept.
