Software for DL4YHF's QRP keyer

DL4YHF's PIC-Keyer

last updated: July 2005.

Main site now at: http://freenet-homepage.de/dl4yhf/key_soft.html
Backup site (often a bit too slow): www.qsl.net/dl4yhf

QRP keyer software

The keyer software (or "firmware") is available as HEX-file which you have to load with your PIC programming tool. There are dozens of "PIC programmer" descriptions available, you may use any of those. I am using a very simple interface for the serial port, which is driven by a simple PIC programmer software (for Windoze) which is available somewhere else on these pages.

Sorry but I can not send programmed devices to you (too little time, too much QRL). You will have to program the PIC yourself or find someone who can.

keyer1.zip (original program for the PIC16F84)

keyer628.zip (for the PIC16F628)

This archive contains the HEX-file as a ZIP-archive. The PIC16F84 is alreay a quite old part, the 16F628 has more memory (also for the CW message). The PIC16FF628 is cheaper than the F84 now.
Note: Since July 2004, you don't need the 3.3 MOhm-resistor in the 16F628 variant any longer, because now the PIC's internal "slow" R/C-oscillator is used !

Since the old homepage of Silicon Studio seems to have disappeared, try these sources of plans for simple PIC programmers (look for something capable of programming the PIC16F84 or PIC16F628 !)

Because there were some requests for the source code of the keyer program, here it comes (only for real PIC-freaks ;-). It contains the sourcecodes for both the PIC16F84- and PIC16F628-variant of the keyer. Please note that "future development" only takes place for the 16F628, the 16F84 is outdated, so firmware development for this chip has been frozen.

This file will be unzipped in to an assembler source file (keyer1.asm) which can be loaded with a good texteditor (it's more than 100kBytes large). However, you only need this file if you want to modify(!) the keyer firmware. If you find some good improvements to the keyer software, please let me know !

Keyer firmware modifications

Vlad, RX3QFM, modified the 16F84 firmware for VHF "QRO" work, with modified PTT control. There is a 300 ms delay before playing the 1st recorded message, and a 9 second pause in "loop mode".

keyer_rx3qfm.zip (PIC16F84, modified by Vlad RX3QFM, sourcecode + hexfile)