Oct 26, 2024
Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer
I was adding a batch of ham radio newsletters to the Internet
Archive's Digital Library of Amateur Radio And Communications, and
I noticed the word "Atari" on one of the pages.
In the September 2019 issue of Solid Copy, the newsletter of
The CW Operators Club, Nick Kennedy had written: "Few hams who are
both CW [morse code] enthusiasts and programmers of
microcontrollers have been able to resist trying their hand at a
keyer or two. I’ve done several in the past 30+ years, starting
with one for the 6502 in an Atari 800 and on through PICs, AVRs and
now...the Arduino."
So I contacted Nick, amateur radio call sign WA5BDU, to find
out what his Atari project was all about.
First, a tiny bit of ham radio background: Morse code, that
language of dots and dashes, can be sent over the radio waves using
a Morse code key. Even if you know nothing about ham radio, I bet
you picture a basic Morse code key: when tap the little lever, it
makes an electrical connection that makes a sound. That's called a
straight key. Avid Morse code enthusiasts may prefer a fancier
"paddle" key: with two levers, one for short beeps and one for
longer ones. A keyer is a device that is connected between the
paddle key and the radio: it allows the sender to control timing of
the transmitted signals, and other factors.
Nick's software, WA5BDU Computer Keyer, turned his Atari
computer into a keyer. He wired his Morse code paddle and his ham
radio to joystick port 2. As he sent a message using his paddle,
the Atari interpreted the signal, adjusted it as necessary,
displayed the outgoing message on the screen, and sent the signal
to the radio. Or, Nick could simply type on the Atari's keyboard to
send Morse code messages, skipping the paddle key altogether.
Nick sent me the keyer program and source code — as well as a
packet radio terminal program that he wrote, and a tank game
written by his brother. Check the show notes for links to all of
those.
Our interview took place on January 21, 2023.