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Summary of Contents for MFJ MFJ-495
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Memory Keyer Model MFJ-495 INSTRUCTION MANUAL CAUTION: Read All Instructions Before Operating Equipment MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. 300 Industrial Park Road Starkville, MS 39759 USA Tel: 662-323-5869 Fax: 662-323-6551 VERSION 0D COPYRIGHT 2001-2009 MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC.
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Customers using this manual should report errors or omissions, recommendations for improvements, or other comments to MFJ Enterprises, 300 Industrial Park Road, Starkville, MS 39759. Phone: (662) 323-5869; FAX: (662) 323-6551. Business hours:...
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Setup Commands ........................... 23 Message Memory........................... 27 Quick Speeds ..........................28 THE TERMINAL Using the MFJ-495 with a Terminal Program ................29 Setup Commands ........................... 29 Message Memory........................... 34 Uploading and Downloading Messages..................34 Loading a Memory Block from the Computer..............34 Sending Contents of a Memory Block to the Computer ...........
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Figure 3. Qwerty Keyboard Layout ....................5 Figure 4. Dvorak Keyboard Layout ....................5 Figure 5. MFJ-495 Menu Flow and Button Action Chart............... 7 Figure 6. Code Weight........................12 Figure 7. Keying Delay and PTT Hang Time Timing ..............13 Figure 8.
The MFJ-495 has controls for volume and speed on the front of the unit. The paddle jack connects to any iambic or single lever (dual contact) key paddle. The keyboard port allows use of an optional keyboard for keyboard keying operation.
These buttons are also time-sensitive. Note: The F1 to F4 on the MFJ-495 will be referred to as “button” and the F1 to F4 on the keyboard will be referred to as “key” throughout this manual.
Power: Accepts a standard 2.1 × 5.5 mm coaxial plug with positive center and negative sleeve. This unit requires 12 volts DC. An optional 500 mA power supply, the MFJ-1315, is available from MFJ Enterprises, Inc. This unit requires a minimum of 50 mA at no volume and without using a keyboard and a maximum of 300 mA at maximum volume into an 8-ohm audio load with a typical keyboard.
* is active-high. • Serial Port: Accepts a standard 9-pin serial plug for connecting the MFJ-495 to a computer for ASCII file transfers or monitoring your sending on the computer screen. A 9-pin-to-9-pin serial cable is needed. If your computer has a 25-pin serial port, use a 9-pin-to-25-pin adapter.
Figure 4. Dvorak Keyboard Layout. Connecting to a Computer You may connect the MFJ-495 to a computer using the 9-pin DIN serial port on the back panel. If your computer has a 25-pin serial port, you can use a 25-pin-to-9-pin adapter.
How to Use the Menu System You may set up the MFJ-495 to perform any of its many functions by making the appropriate selections from its menu system. This system consists of seven main menus and 22 setup menus. You make your selections using the five buttons under the LCD display - Menu, F1/Previous ◄, F2/Next ►, F3/Down...
“GO” (dah-dah- dit dah-dah-dah). You may then key in a message using the paddle, keyboard or terminal. Refer to “The Memory” section on page 36 for explanation of the MFJ-495’s message memory. Command [COM] Button Use to enter the command mode and the keyer will respond with “CO”...
Setup Menus The setup menus allow you to set up how the MFJ-495 works and behaviors. There are 22 setup menus arranged in a “wrap-around” structure. To access these setup menus, press and hold the Menu button for two seconds.
Figure 7. Keying Delay and PTT Hang Time Timing. Tone The Tone menu allows you to set the audio frequency in the range of 305 to 1006 Hz. The MFJ-495 features smooth, clean audio, with sine wave output, instead of the harsh square wave audio used by many other keyers.
MFJ-495 Memory Keyer Instruction Manual 5 milliseconds, avoiding the "spikes" that cause distracting key clicks. The MFJ-495's audio sounds like that of a good CW transceiver. Keying Output Rise Time Decay Time Sidetone Audio Figure 8. Rise Time and Decay Time Timing.
The Paddle menu allows you to select how the paddle works. With the automatic option, the keyer functions as an iambic keyer for use with a dual-lever paddle. As an iambic keyer, the MFJ-495 has dot and dash memories, for "squeeze keying," and functions just like other iambic keyers, both standalone keyers and those built into radios.
Using the MFJ-495 with a Paddle Plug an iambic or single lever paddle into the Key Input jack of the MFJ-495. A ¼-inch stereo phone plug and a two-conductor shielded cable should be used. If separate shielded cables are used, the two shields should be tied together and connected to ground.
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Notice hand-key mode may not be used to enter messages or commands. Note: In hand-key mode using the paddle, the MFJ-495 will not display the code sent or record to the keyer memory. Also, the difference between this and the Hand-key command is that this command affects the paddle only.
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Tone – sets the sidetone frequency to approximately ##0 Hz, where ## represents two digits in the range of 30 to 99. The MFJ-495 features smooth, clean audio, with sine wave output, instead of the harsh square wave audio used by many other keyers. Also, the MFJ-495 produces each dit and dah with a rise and decay time of approximately 5 milliseconds, avoiding the "spikes"...
The keyer will respond by sending an end-of-message character (di-dah-di-dah-dit) and automatically insert “]” to the end of your message. Refer to “The Memory” section on page 36 for explanation of the MFJ-495’s message memory and how to use the embedded commands to enhance your message.
When you plug in a standard IBM style AT keyboard, your keyer becomes a powerful keyboard keyer. The MFJ-495 uses the letter keys A-Z, the number keys 0-9, the function keys F1-F12, the space bar, the arrow keys, and the punctuation characters that have Morse equivalents. Prosigns have been assigned to some of the other punctuation characters for quick operation.
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Note: In hand-key mode using the paddle, the MFJ-495 will not display the code sent or record to the keyer memory. Also, the difference between this and the Hand-key command is that this command affects the paddle only.
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Tone – sets the sidetone frequency to approximately ##0 Hz, where ## represents two digits in the range of 30 to 99. The MFJ-495 features smooth, clean audio, with sine wave output, instead of the harsh square wave audio used by many other keyers. Also, the MFJ-495 produces each dit and dah with a rise and decay time of approximately five milliseconds, avoiding the "spikes"...
ENTER key with the close square bracket “]” as the end-of-message key. Refer to “The Memory” section on page 36 for explanation of the MFJ-495’s message memory and how to use the embedded commands to enhance your message.
Set the baud rate to 1200, data bits to 8, parity to none, and stop bits to 1. Also, set the flow control to Xon/Xoff. Now turn on your MFJ-495. You should type something on the computer.
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(#=H) mode. With the automatic option, the keyer functions as an iambic keyer for use with a dual-lever paddle. As an iambic keyer, the MFJ-495 has dot and dash memories for "squeeze keying" and functions just like other iambic keyers, both standalone keyers and those built into radios.
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Tone – sets the sidetone frequency to approximately ##0 Hz, where ## represents two digits in the range of 30 to 99. The MFJ-495 features smooth, clean audio, with sine wave output, instead of the harsh square wave audio used by many other keyers. Also, the MFJ-495 produces each dit and dah with a rise and decay time of approximately 5 milliseconds, avoiding the "spikes"...
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It also supports four different configuration settings for different contest exchanges. reVerse – reverses the sense of the dot and dash paddles. When using paddles, the MFJ-495 normally expects the dot paddle to be connected to the tip of the plug and the dash paddle to be connected to the plug's ring.
Uploading and Downloading Messages: To send messages either from your computer to the MFJ-495 or from the unit to your computer, you use a terminal program on the computer that is capable of transferring ASCII data. Configure the terminal software for 1200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit.
While computers store a carriage return as two characters (the carriage return followed by a linefeed), the MFJ-495 stores only the carriage return and generates the linefeed following it during playback. The additional linefeed thus does not need to be transferred to the Keyer.
Also, a complete set of QSO exchange can be prepared and loaded into the MFJ-495. The memory is non-volatile, so it is saved even when the power is turned off and it does not require battery backup to preserve the recorded messages.
(di-dah-di-dah-dit). Self Test A self-test routine will check the functions of the MFJ-495. This routine checks the display, the paddles, the front-panel buttons, the remote port, the internal memory and the audio circuitry. During the self-test, you may stop the test by turning off the unit;...
If you have any problem with this unit first check the appropriate section of this manual. If the manual does not reference your problem or your problem is not solved by reading the manual you may call MFJ Technical Service at 662-323-0549 or the MFJ Factory at 662-323-5869. You will be best helped if you have your unit, manual and all information on your station handy so you can answer any questions the technicians may ask.
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MFJ Enterprises, Inc. warrants to the original owner of this product, if manufactured by MFJ Enterprises, Inc. and purchased from an authorized dealer or directly from MFJ Enterprises, Inc. to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from date of purchase provided the following terms of this warranty are satisfied.
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MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. MFJ-495 Manual 300 Industrial Park Road Version 0D Starkville, MS 39759 Printed In U.S.A. 06/2009...
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Do you have a question about the MFJ-495 and is the answer not in the manual?
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