AEA CK-2 Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual

AEA MODEL CK-2

Instruction Manual

AEA MODEL CK-2

Congratulation on your decision to purchase the versatile AEA Contester. You will find it is truly a
gem for CW operation.

The Contester has two basic modes of operation. With the Memory Load Switch, you may select
memory load or memory send function. Control for each mode is then transferred to the keypad for
full feature programming.

Once you have read the directions in full, you will be able to send any one of up to ten prepro­grammed messages at the touch of a button. The memory includes a flexible automatic serial num­ber generator. You will also be able to use the automatic repeat mode. And last but not least, you
will have a programmable keyer with selectable speed, tone, dot-dash ratios and automatic and
semiautomatic (bug) capabilities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Top Panel Description ................................................................... 1

Rear Panel Description ................................................................. 1

Hook-up Instructions

1. Power ............................................................................ 2

2. Paddle ........................................................................... 2

3. Straight Key ................................................................... 2

4. Transmitter .................................................................... 2

Check-Out Procedure

Keyer Send Mode ......................................................................... 3

Memory Load Mode ...................................................................... 4

Automatic Message Repeat .......................................................... 5

Operating Instructions

Keyer Operation

1. Speed Change and Set ................................................. 6

2. Sidetone Change ........................................................... 6

3. Automatic and Semi-Automatic Operation .................... 6

4. Dot-Space, Dash-Space Ratio's (weighting) ................. 6

5. Dot-Dash Memory ......................................................... 7

6. Transmitter Tuning ........................................................ 7

7. Mistakes ........................................................................ 7

Memory Operation

1. Memory Locations ......................................................... 8

2. Memory Loading, Real Time & Automatic ..................... 8

3. Memory Erase ............................................................... 8

4. Memory Retention ......................................................... 8

5. Maximum Loading Speed .............................................. 8

6. Serial Number Load & Set ............................................. 9

7. Extra Word or Character Spaces .................................. 9

8. Memory Full Warning .................................................... 9

9. Semi-Auto (bug) Memory Loading ................................ 9

Memory Send Operation

1. Sending a Message ....................................................... 9

2. Interrupting and Restarting a Message ......................... 9

3. Serial Numbers in Memory Send .................................. 10

Editing Message in Memory

1. Edit Capabilities ............................................................. 10

2. Insertion ......................................................................... 10

3. Deletion ......................................................................... 10

Automatic Message Repeat

1. Message Location ......................................................... 10

2. Delay Interval ................................................................ 10

3. Operation ....................................................................... 10

Appendix A .................................................................................... 11

Appendix B .................................................................................... 12

Abbreviated Instructions ............................................................... 13

Parts Pictorial ................................................................................ 14

Schematic ..................................................................................... 15

Parts List ....................................................................................... 16

Technical Specifications ................................................................ 17

1

TOP PANEL DESCRIPTION

REAR PANEL DESCRIPTION

HOOK-UP INSTRUCTIONS

2

1.

Power

To Perform the Check-Out Procedures in the following section and familiarize yourself with the
CK-2 it is first necessary to apply 13 volts to the power input jack on the Rear Panel of the CK-

2. This may be easily accomplished by connecting the cord attached to the optional AC-1 or
AC-2 wall adapter to the power socket on the Rear Panel of the CK-2.

If you do not have one of the optional power supply units, it is necessary to supply 10 to 15
volts DC to the CK-2 from any external source (including batteries) capable of delivering at
least 200 ma. Use the mating power connector supplied for interfacing the the CK-2 and the
power source. BE SURE TO OBSERVE PROPER POLARITY. The center pin is positive. The
CK-2 may be used in an automobile by using the optional DC-1 power cord.

2.

Paddle

Wire your external keyer paddle to a stereo phone plug using two conductor plus shield cable
(available from any Radio Shack store). Connect the shield to paddle common and the other
wires to the dot and dash contacts. By convention, for right-handed operators, the thumb
should activate the dot contact and the index and middle fingers should operate the dash con­tact.

3.

Straight Key

A straight key may be used for sending, but cannot be used for memory operations. Use a ster­eo plug with the key across the tip (dash) terminal and the sleeve (common) terminal. The CK-2
must programmed for Semiautomatic mode. It is not possible to load memory with a straight
key.

4.

Transmitter

The Contester will key virtually any modern amateur radio transmitter. There are two output
jacks which are diode protected against inadvertent hook-up to the wrong keying polarity. The
ground side of the RCA phono jack (keyer output) should be connected to the transmitter chas­sis ground on the key input jack. The center conductor of the CK-2 keyed output jack should be
connected to the "hot" terminal of the transmitter key input jack. Use a shielded coaxial cable
for best R.F. immunity. Use the + keyed output jack to key cathode keyed and most transistor
keyed transmitters. Use the – keyed output jack to key grid-block keyed and some transistor
keyed transmitters. If you connect your transmitter key input to the wrong CK-2 keyed output,
either the transmitter will not key, or it will be keyed continuously. To correct the situation, sim­ply plug the output line into the other output jack. No damage should occur to either the trans­mitter or the CK-2 if you connect to the wrong keyed output jack!

3

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE

We recommend that you perform the following functions to quickly acquaint yourself with the Con­tester and to ensure the unit is operating properly.

Keyer Send Mode

1. Turn the power switch on.

2. On the keypad, press and release [*][1], then hold your finger on [1]. The monitor tone will in­crease in frequency.

3. Press [*][*][1] and hold [1]. The monitor tone will decrease in frequency.

4. Send a series of letters with the external paddle to "get a feel" for the perfect code the CK-2
produces.

5. Press [*][2][0][#][7] and send more Morse characters. Note that the length of the dots has short­ened by one half.

6. Press [*][*][2][2][4][#][0]and send more Morse characters. Note that the length of the dashes
has increased by four-thirds.

7. Turn the power switch off and back on. The monitor tone will return to 500 Hz and the dot and
dash ratios will return to perfect 1:1 and 3:1 respectively.

8. Press [*][*][8][0][2] and note that the speed has slowed to 2 WPM.

9. Press the dot paddle and very quickly (before the dot has finished sending) press the dash pad­dle and then let up quickly. After the dot has finished and a proper intracharacter space in­serted, a dash will automatically be sent. This is called Dash Memory.

10. Similar to step 9, press the dash paddle quickly and then press the dot paddle momentarily.
After the dash is finished and an intracharacter space is inserted (automatically), the Keyer will
send a dot automatically This is called Dot Memory or automatic dot insertion.

11. Press [*][3] and repeat step 10. Note that the Dot Memory is no longer present.

12. Press [*][4] and repeat step 9. Note that the Dash Memory is no longer present.

13. Press [*][*][3] and then [*][*][4]. Note that both Dot and Dash Memories are re-enabled.

14. Enter [*][*][8] and a two digit number corresponding to a sending speed you feel comfortable
with. (If less than 10 WPM use 0 as the first digit.) Practice sending at that speed for about a
minute. Because the CK-2 has almost perfect dot and dash ratios and spacing, many operators
feel the speed calibration is low. Actually the CK-2 probably has the best speed calibration on
the market. It is calibrated using the FCC definition of "PARIS" being the standard word. (See
Appendix B.) You might also note that many practice code tapes are actually faster than the ad­vertised speed.

15. Press [*][*][6] and note that a tone will appear as long as you hold the dash paddle. This is
called Semiautomatic or "Bug" mode. Turn the unit off and back on and the keyer will return
to fully automatic operation.

16. Press [*][*][5] and very quickly release the [5] button before the feedback tone stops. The CK-2
should then key continuously until you press any keypad button or touch either paddle. This is
the Automatic Tune feature. The automatic Tune feature does not operate in the Memory Load
mode. (If you hold the



button down, the CK-2 will not go into the Tune mode.)