Kent KT1 Hand Key
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| Frequency | n/a |
| Power | A passive manual straight (hand) key, not a radio. It is a simple on/off switch; the operator times the dots and dashes by hand, so no electronic keyer is involved. |
| Modes | CW (manual straight/hand key) |
| Weight | 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) |
| key | Two-terminal straight-key switch; a 36-inch cable is included, and the operator fits the plug to match the radio's KEY jack (a 2-conductor/mono plug for straight-key mode) |
| power req | None; it is a passive manual key. No electronic keyer is used - the operator forms the timing by hand. |
A heavy, precise straight key built to professional standards: solid-brass construction, sealed ball-race bearings for a smooth pivot, silver-plated contacts, and fine knurled adjusters for exact gap and tension. The heavy steel base keeps it planted, it can be set up for either hand, and a 36-inch cable is included.
It is a manual straight key, so it is for hand-sent Morse, not iambic keyer use, and you fit your own plug to the included cable to match your radio. At around 159 euro plus VAT it is a premium price for a straight key, and at 3 pounds it is a desk fixture rather than a portable key.
The Kent KT1 is a professional-grade straight key: solid brass on a heavy steel base, sealed ball-race bearings, silver contacts and fine micro-adjustment, suitable for amateur, training and commercial use. It suits an operator who wants a precise, durable hand key for traditional Morse; those who want iambic keyer paddles should look at Kent's twin paddle or another paddle.
The Kent KT1 is a professional straight key, also called a hand key, for sending Morse the original way: the operator opens and closes a single switch by hand, timing the dots and dashes themselves, with no electronic keyer involved. R.A. Kent Engineers in the UK builds it from individually selected brass components, hand-assembled, on a heavy steel base that keeps it firmly in place during use.
Its quality is in the mechanics. The pivot runs on high-precision sealed ball-race bearings for a smooth action with very little friction or side play, the contacts are silver-plated, and the gap and tension are set with fine-pitch screws topped by knurled instrument heads for micro-precise adjustment. The steel base measures about 162 by 63.5 by 12.5 millimeters with a one-inch solid bearing block, and the whole key weighs about 1.4 kilograms, or three pounds. It can be configured for either hand, and Kent positions it for training, commercial and military use as well as amateur CW.
For connection, a straight key is simply a two-terminal switch that plugs into the radio's KEY jack set to straight-key mode. The KT1 comes with a 36-inch cable, and the operator fits a plug to suit their radio (a two-conductor, mono plug). It sells for about 159 euros plus VAT.
It is the hand-key member of Kent's range. For iambic keyer use the Kent TP1-B twin paddle is the paddle in the same family, and another classic straight key is the CW Morse straight key.