Ham Radio - The CWvox voice operated keyer for verbal Morse code

A crazy little project with a potential to help hams that have difficulty operating a key, paddles, or typing.
NOTE: I made an error on the input voltage range. The Nano can only take 7-12 volts input. I've updated the schematic over on the blog.
Link to blog write up with schematic:
kb9rlw.blogspot.com/
Github software link:
github.com/loughkb/CWvox/tree...
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[@letstrythistv]

That Nano is 7-12v not 9-16v. But this is a very very cool thing here. Great to hear it on the other side of the livestream.

[@loughkb]

How'd I miss that? I'd swear I read the other range on a spec table somewhere. I need to update the schematic. Thanks. EDIT: I updated the schematic and the blog, also added a line to the video description. I'd looked at this page, I guess it's not an official arduno. Oops. www.etechnophiles.com/arduino-nano-every-pinout-specifications-schematic-datasheet/

[@turinskiboy]

Pure genius. I hope you get swamped with people wanting to buy them from you.

[@K1QS_Radio]

You are the man! That is simply brilliant! It would be great to get some hams on the air, that couldn't normally run CW. Plus, it does look like fun! 73.

[@LavaKimo]

You could send CW hands free while driving.

[@tomkoza4670]

Very very clever, Kevin!!

[@sparkybluefox]

Kevin ! I see this as an QST magazine article ! JUST DO IT ! 73 Jerry

[@das12765]

You probably just helped many hams out there that cannot cw very well. Hats off to you Kevin!

[@kenwezeman7827]

Wow. Very nice. Do I see a QST article coming? N9QIL

[@g4lmn-ron401]

This is brilliant. I have painful arthritis in my fingers and keying is uncomfortable. I will build this and try it. Thank you so much.

[@nevellgreenough404]

One suggestion- You might want to add a high-value discharge resistor across C3 to establish a known voice input release time for various ATMEGA328Ps. As is, the decay of the input voltage to the ADC is established by undefined leakage currents of the ADC input, D1, C2 and C3. Wonderful idea, especially for the handicapped! 73's, N2GX

[@Barracuda48082]

Excellant job Kevin. Patent in the works? I'll bet there are unsteady hands or hands that never could .... waiting for the prebuilt kit to arrive. Congrats.

[@Barracuda48082]

As Jim G ( below) suggested..if cortana on windows 10, up can vocally interact as Google and a few mobile apps do, I am sure this can interface to a dictation, text to morse, and back for both, the slight hand or vision or hearing impaired. The possibilities are near endless for this engineer, creator.. thumbs up.

[@Aimsport-video]

This is a wicked evil genius sandwich, hold the wicked, hold the evil, double the genius. This deserve a QST cover story.

[@rv6amark]

I started out as a ham with a keen interest in CW instilled in me by my elmer in the late 70's. Now I am in my mid 70's and my essential tremors have become so bad they interfere with my sending, so I watched this with great interest! I had looked into various versions of "puffer" breath keying switches, but this really caught my eye. When you made that first contact, I wish you could have seen the huge grin on my face. I will certainly build this and give it a try eventually. So many projects, so little time, but this one looks like it will float rapidly to the top of the pile!!!

[@loughkb]

There have been more than a few similar comments so far. And exactly what I'd hoped it'd be useful for. :-)

[@NgakpaW]

Thanks for the detailed description of the circuit. As an old ham who is returning, it was super helpful. And overall a fun video to watch. Bravo.

[@bradenglettkd8zm69]

One of the most creative ideas I've seen in a while!

[@dbuckter8994]

An excellent presentation! Helpful. Useful. Edifying. FB production values from start to finish. Job well done Kevin.

[@loughkb]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@albertogavassa5434]

Great Kevin, smart idea, my congrats for that.

[@mgkaragas]

What an impressive home-brewed project Kevin. I bet you are extremely proud and you should be proud. What an accomplishment. ;o) Thanks and 73, K5MGK Mark

[@AussieAndyHardy]

Genius idea..!

[@Don-ev5ov]

Brilliant. The circuit description was valuable to me as a learner.

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

Absolutely brilliant, Kevin..I don’t need it yet….but I’m 78 years old, so I’m gonna build one and keep it close..just in case😆..Thank you.. John..G4IEJ

[@derrick_builds]

That is a great setup you built. Congrats on making awesomeness.

[@na5y]

What a cool idea and implementation. Awesome!

[@chrissmith7655]

Fantastic Kevin , well done !!

[@M7XCB]

That's very clever idea Kevin I bet MFJ will be making 1 after seeing this CWvox. I will be making this with my 8 years old lad. Great video

[@philtuckerm0dpk212]

Well done Kevin. I love this.

[@philipoulton7730]

The genuine pleasure when you saw it worked was great! I actually laughed out loud myself. When I was about 10, my mum introduced me to morse code and told me her name was "dit-dah dah-dit dah-dit dit". I can still perfectly "hear" the sound of her voice saying: Anne.

[@johnorrells3797]

Great to see you having so much fun!!

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍👍Brilliant idea Kevin. This is on my project list for sure.

[@hamradiohef]

Most impressive!!!! Well done! So much thought went into that. Awesome!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

How cool and what fun! Thanks for sharing, I can see a use for folk like me who are learning morse. When learning the characters, if you can learn to speak them fluently, it will help with sending. I see it as another training tool for learners as well as a hands free option.

[@DanielWiley]

That was Awesomeness Kevin!

[@vinniec5286]

Very clever! Nice work.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That's AMAZING! Love it!

[@caulktel]

Kevin that is so cool and possibly very helpful for many. Thanks OM.

[@miketaylor6700]

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! That would be perfect for someone with arthritis or Parkinson’s or other disabilities!!! Way to go!!!

[@loughkb]

Thanks, that's what I hope. Maybe someday I'll hear from someone that it helped.

[@johnsinclair3067]

You, Sir, are the Les Paul of the radio world. Great job!!!

[@JK-mo2ov]

Wow that’s incredible.

[@ke6zc]

This is a clever idea. I think this would be useful for movile CW operation, rather than having a key strapped to one's leg as some hams have done. Rather than saying "dit" and "dah," I personally would find it eaier to make tones with my mouth. That involves raising and lowering tongue. Doing "dit" and "dah" involves more tongue motion to touch the rear of the front upper and lower teeth.

[@jimgraham6722]

Thanks, well done. Voice to text to Morse would be cool. And then the reverse Morse to text to voice synthesizer. The ultimate in digital voice communications.

[@Inkling777]

Quite right. Smartphone handle speech-to-text well. Simply send the text into a Morse encoder. The iPhone app, Morse, will do speech to text and then allow what's said to beep and flash the screen. It's not designed to drive a transmitter, but it does illustrate that the principle would work.

[@chipestabrooks8652]

Very cool Kevin!

[@kennethlung3371]

Excellent!!!! Now I have to learn how to send code again. :) You the man!

[@notionocean]

Very cool, Kevin!

[@HNXMedia]

I know nothing about CW, but that was legit awesome!

[@frankwc0o]

Great product.

[@DM-fz3ly]

Nice Kevin!!! here is a suggestion. Have the LED always indicate when it "would" key if the switch was flipped. This would allow you to adjust sensitivity without actually keying the radio. You could also use a dual color LED or a second red LED to show when the radio is actually being keyed. You could also include a notch filter to prevent the keyer from picking up the return tone and keying when you do not want it to. Aside from my suggestions this is outstanding!!! You should do a build article and submit to QST. I was published in may 2009... see if you can find my article. N7KBC (by the way QST paid $75 per page back in '09)

[@loughkb]

That's exactly how it does work. The LED. Notch would be tough. Some people have high pitched voices, some have low. With the mic next to the mouth, you can drop the sensitivity where the radio's RX and sidetone don't trigger it. You can also use the headphones to avoid that. :-)

[@DM-fz3ly]

@@loughkb OK I missed that, great work!

[@letstrythistv]

@Kevin Loughin doesn't need to be a notch. Make a low pass that passes everything below 440hz. Most cw tones are higher than that and Spech (vowels) are Far lower. Just add a quick rc.

[@letstrythistv]

BTW. Ambien involves in the relpy. I might br fucked.

[@loughkb]

@@letstrythistv You might miss the beginning of a dit or dah if it's a woman using it. Or a male with a high pitch voice.

[@MoJo9919]

Great item now if only we could get the same precision with a CW receiver , I have hearing problems well done

[@stephenwade8093]

You need to patient this Kevin, this is a great idea and you should at least get recognition if any manufactures include it in future radios, SOTA hams will love this as well.

[@5x9withQSB]

Wow that is cool.....well done

[@am1rb]

Bravo ! It can be a great aid and help for disabled cw hams that quit operations due to injuries or age. Since it is like sending with a straight key it is even qualified for skcc . Well done ! 73 de 4z1ar

[@harmtuntler8555]

Well done Kevin love it, i am in a motorhome now too so might give it a try thank you cheers Harry VK2DWT

[@mark56usa]

This is awesome!

[@Hamradio54730]

Such a great idea and presentation, Gus- WD9GUS

[@wodowiesel]

oww awesome project! well done 73

[@letstrythistv]

TIL: A reed relay is a thing! And you can make one by wrapping a wire around a reed switch.

[@loughkb]

They're nice for low current draw on the coil. It doesn't take much grunt to engage them. Also good for battery operated devices where you need to switch a bit of current but don't want to kill your battery too quickly.

[@letstrythistv]

@@loughkb Good to know. I have a doesn't read switches, but I could never get a magnet positioned correctly to do any good. At least I have a use for them

[@andrewhill4226]

Excellent interesting video and thought provoking. Not a CW'er, but more options to be one. Thanks 73's Andy M6APJ

[@WECB640]

WOW Kevin, I'm most impressed. This is truly thinking outside the box. I'm confident it can be used by hams that have motor handicaps. Bravo! 73

[@renejrgensen9865]

Of all the fantastic videos you have made during time, this is the most interesting. Very fine thinking!!!! 73 OZ1JPD

[@FidoHouse]

Also leaves both hands free to transcribe incoming cw! (Better for me, at least.)

[@user-vx5ru7gh7c]

Brother, that's wild...

[@billellis5516]

Kevin, Good project. The trick is to convert normal speaking voice to key the transmitter, i.e. no verbal dah-dit-dah. Thanks. Bill, WB9CAC

[@Nicktgrief]

An old time Kevin Video!!! you'll be building junk box loops in no time Kevin 🤣. I enjoyed that one. Nick G8SYE

[@KirkMonteux]

very nice

[@muddyexport5639]

Great vid.

[@Tony770jr]

Simple, but effective... Nice job!

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Kevin....This is brilliant....and fun......helpful to people who may have a disability or motion issue too. I'm gonna build one. Thanks!73 de VK2AOE

[@johnwalker5366]

Hi Kevin ,just came across your cw vox ,video , years ago i had a serious head injury ie memory loss and shaky hands ever since ,got back into ham radio on retirement and have been taking part in rsgb ac ,ssb contests, logging still difficult for me , love to go qrp cw again too! only concern being the Arduino programming bit(failed to get Ham Pi to work !) well ill give it go, and thank you for helping radio amateurs with these projects;;G4SSW

[@dougtaylor7724]

The CW Vox Box Genius idea Kevin! Next question, how much? I would buy one to help fund the channel.

[@wa4aos]

Hi, I am 67 years old now, been a Ham since I was 15 (52 years now) and have been mostly a CW op over the years. I think that's a very clever project and one I may duplicate since my right hand is not as cooperative as it once was. I can copy at 35 wpm but on my Kent paddle, I don't go any faster than ~25 wpm. I don't expect my hand to get better. You know it's just a matter of time before MFJ takes your idea for profit and then you'll be able to buy a chinese board for $5.75 and free shipping. Shame ! One mod I'd consider is a CW monitor for the headphone on your headset and a TR switch, so the audio from your transceiver goes to the headset while copying. I think that would be cool to say dah and hear it in a CW tone at the same time.. Of course allow the tone freq to be adjusted for pitch and volume. The only problem is if the mod could be fast enough as to not cause the sender to get confused with the delay. If the delay was not an issue, saying dah and hearing it at the same time would be a real trip. It would be like your own voice pronouncing dits and dahs as tones.. Have you considered selling your project to MFJ for free but you get $1 for everyone they sell for say 10 years??? It'll probably fund some projects or maybe a dozen eggs.. LOL That really is great thinking on your part and so kind of you to provide the sketch to anyone who wants to roll their own. 73, Glenn WA4AOS dit dit

[@loughkb]

Just plug the headphones into the radio's headphone jack. :-) I left it off so the camera could pick up the radio's audio.

[@DaveW6OOD]

So… the personality in your sending will have to be called your “jaw” instead of your “fist” from here on in.

[@howardmay1951]

Awesome!

[@khook100]

Very Impressive and extremely nice of you to share with everyone.

[@keithlockstone6721]

You could add a jack so that a foot switch could be wired in parallel to Sw2. Also a press button on the top of the box for a momentary make. Keith M0KIL.

[@loughkb]

It's open source and open hardware, you can modify it however you like. :-)

[@Derrick6162]

Very clever...👍👍

[@stevesomers7366]

An awesome idea, Kevin! There are many who can benefit from this effort.

[@Kerop-KK6SEI]

Awesome job Keven! Also when creating pre-recorded audio files, using them later as micros.. Thank you, de KK6SEI

[@galileo_rs]

Fun project, sent a submission to HackaDay, maybe they will feature it.

[@galileo_rs]

Just got a note from HaD, the article will be up in a few days.

[@G_C340]

Wonderful👍👍👍

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Very fun👍

[@astrorad2000]

That is awesome Kevin! What fun and a device that should help any HadiHams get on CW too.

[@BrianKolb71]

Hi Kevin I've been watching you for a long time. I purchased a chameleon loop antenna from your videos on them I want to learn Morse code which is better to learn with a straight key or paddle? 73 from Chandler AZ

[@loughkb]

I always tell people to learn with a straight key first. That way you learn the proper spacing and keying to send clean code. Once you have that base understanding, you can move over to paddles with a new skill already in place.

[@keithschreiter3885]

Very, cool. Now to make this even better, what about taking the CW you hear out of the speaker. And turn it down, Then take the AF fixed level out from the back side of the radio and, turn it into the sounds of the click and clacks that you would hear out of a 1910's sounder. Work with several hams in a net or?. Keith N9QDS

[@loughkb]

Neat. But it might be distracting. I am interested in seeing how people expand on the project down the road. I did think about tapping the line level audio out of the radio and comparing in software as a sort of anti-vox though. It would complicate things, requiring a second connection to the rig.

[@clintonhunter6821]

This is very cool, I wonder if you could connect a tablet or RPi that is running speech to text and have it output the letters to the arduino and then convert to CW and transmit.

[@loughkb]

A pi has GPIO pins. Just do it all in the same device. It might be 'wordy' though. CW ops like abbreviations.

[@KG5RK]

Kevin, Can you say "CW MOBILE" ??? !!! Love it ! 73

[@TheArtofEngineering]

What is amazing ...also ....is that the "dit dah" way of speaking code is such a great analog of actual code! Makes the argument against dashes and dots even more powerful. Morse truly is an auditory system and dit and dah is where it is at! Many systems such as braille or sign language have a steep learning curve...this voice to CW is totally natural. I imagine any stroke victims who are aphasic (have lost speech) and were hams may also benefit (at least with other hams...or non hams with decoding!). 73

[@jamesmoore6424]

I love this... My mum is proundly deaf and I made an amber flashing indictor light that sat on the tv in the late 80s for her the microphone sat by the front door which was also where the phone was. I had a latch timer on it so it would go for around 10 seconds. But looking at what you are doing I kind of remember reading something about building a speech to cw encoder... Same back end I suppose.

[@marcinmichigan2772]

now to develop some voice recognition text to dits/dahs and it will be complete !

[@wa4aos]

Oh, one more thought... We have all heard of and drooled over the nice Begali paddles. Have you considered calling your voice paddle a, "By-Golly voice paddle" [Definition of By Golly: (used for emphasizing what you are saying.)] And as play on the Begali name. < Begali --- By Golly >... PERFECT name for your keyer. All through the 60's, 70's and even the 80's it was very common to hear Hams say By Golly, just as they would say Fine Business OM. What a perfect name for a human voice keyer/paddle By Golly !!!!! 73 de Glenn WA4AOS

[@DeeegerD]

I guess if you have a hand handicap.

[@gastello1977]

It is a bomb! Thank You! But what should I use than - SOS or Mayday 😂

[@ericreif1032]

How would using audio out from a phone or PC through a headphone jack function with this setup? For example playing a morse code audio file on a phone connected to this circuit with a male/male headphone jack?

[@loughkb]

That would trigger it just fine. Your transmitter should follow the recorded Morse.

[@RevWarDrummer]

Do you have any plans to provide step-by-step instructions? Or kits? I haven't done an electronics project on Arduino in about 8 years. These days I'm more in the "remedial" category.

[@Obeeewaan]

cool... 😎

[@n9uib]

how fast could the CW go ?? 20WPM or faster ??

[@loughkb]

There will be an upper limit, based on the tail delay of 18 microseconds. Probably also an upper limit to how fast someone could speak the dits and dahs *clearly*. I'd guess around 16-18 WPM. But that's just speculation.

[@hl5bxw]

You are laughing like a child. And I was too! :-) I hope this helps somebody. It sure will. Do you think it will work OK in outdoor situations with some noise like heavy wind?

[@loughkb]

If you had a microphone with a good windscreen, and you have it right next to your mouth, you should be able to get it to work well enough outdoors.

[@thed8229]

When are you going to build a box that'll help me hear cw better? 😂 This is VERY COOL! I have to build one.

[@jerrykr7kz]

Where to get the headphones?

[@loughkb]

as I believe I mentioned in the video, they were just a cheap computer headset I picked up at the store, like walmart.

[@RevWarDrummer]

Is component C2 a 2uF capacitor or a 2.2uF?

[@loughkb]

It's a 2uf, but not that critical, you can use a 2.2uf.

[@d.s.r.c]

Excellent work Kevin... already thinking about how you might only key on 'recognised' words, so you don't have to switch off the keying :o) 73, G0HYN

[@h2osmokey]

Do you think you could get it to work with letter phonetics ??

[@loughkb]

not with an arduino. maybe if you had a Raspberry Pi and some kind of speech recognition software, and then a look up table and translation to Morse, and then additional keying. that would be a whole different animal.