Have you ever used a KY-116/U / J-37/J-45 Telegraph Key with Leg Clamp?

2018-09-22T12:25:55-04:00

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Sep 22 at 2018 2:44 PM

2018-09-22T14:44:49-04:00

Nope!

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Sep 22 at 2018 2:46 PM

2018-09-22T14:46:46-04:00

Looks fascinating but no. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thoughts?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Sep 22 at 2018 3:01 PM

2018-09-22T15:01:19-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I was a commander of an SF signal detachment in the mid-seventies. Our principal communications tool was the AN/GRC-9 (the Angry Nine). We used CW, so all the operators used the J-45 telegraph key with a leg clamp. Most of the time, an assistant was cranking the hand generator! Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Stephan Porter COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 22 at 2018 10:37 PM

2018-09-22T22:37:28-04:00

Used one in Antarctica when SSB wasn't punching through when way out from McMurdo on a traverse. Problem was only one RM knew CW so I worked to keep to a schedule if the bands were crap. If MAC Center heard me off hours, they knew it was a problem and would get him out of his rack. Fortunately didn't need to go that route. A bit of a pain until the fingers thawed, but nice to have if you need it. It ran into a AN/PRC-74 (Called "Prick" for a reason). I was a 5 WPM ham radio type at the time with no MIL training in it. Came in handy though. My MIL taught skill of writing backwards was worthless mostly because I was commissioned but was worthless to everyone when digital displays replaced the vertical plots. Another RP question that brings out the fossil in us greybeards.

Response by SFC William Turner made Sep 22 at 2018 11:47 PM

2018-09-22T23:47:18-04:00

yes, with a AN/GRC 109 Radio set.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 11:41 AM

2018-09-23T11:41:09-04:00

I used the KY-116/U leg key and the migraine-inducing headphones with an AN/PRC-104B in 1997-98 in SFQC. In Robin Sage, the net control was about an hour late coming up one day, I was listening to all the other teams trying to call. One of them was incredibly slow. His call was O5M, so I sent "O5M sucks at code" at 18 GPM. Everyone started sending at once thinking net control was up. I sent it again at 5 GPM. One guy sent back a one word reply "dammit". I'm pretty sure it was O5M.
Never used the key at work after Sage, but I did rewire one to use with an Icom 718 at home.

Response by SFC Denver Druesedow made Oct 26 at 2021 4:20 PM

2021-10-26T16:20:12-04:00

All of the time SF Commo