microHAM microKEYER II (USB Radio Interface)
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| Frequency | n/a (USB rig-control/digital interface) |
| Power | A single-USB all-mode interface: CAT rig control, CW/FSK/AFSK keying, PTT, PA/LNA switching and a sound codec. No RF. |
| Modes | n/a |
| usb | single USB A-B to the PC |
| radio | DB37M to the radio |
| io | MiniDIN-6 external control + PTT for LNA/RX switching |
| power req | USB / 13.8 V DC. |
All-in-one single-radio interface; genuine FSK RTTY; built-in keyer; clean single-USB integration.
Single radio (SO1R); DB37 radio cable is rig-specific; premium vs a basic sound-card interface.
A complete single-radio station interface - the microKEYER II folds rig control, keying, PA/RX switching and audio into one USB box.
The microHAM microKEYER II is an all-in-one station interface that connects a computer to a transceiver and handles essentially every link between them. Inside one box it combines a high-quality sound card (microHAM's CODEC, through which all mic and receive audio is routed), full radio-control (CAT) support across the major standards - RS-232, Icom CI-V, Kenwood and Yaesu TTL - and the keying lines for CW, FSK and PTT. To your software it simply appears as a set of virtual serial ports, so logging and digital programs see the radio, the keyer and the sound card cleanly.
That integration is what sets it apart from a basic sound-card dongle. It supports the full range of modes - CW and voice plus RTTY, PSK31, SSTV, OLIVIA, MFSK and WSJT (FT8) - offers dual-channel audio for radios with dual receivers, and includes a built-in buffer/sequencer so it can safely key an amplifier or low-noise preamp in the correct order. It runs on USB (drawing under 100 mA) plus a 13.8 V supply (about 400 mA).
The trade-off is complexity: it is more capable, and more involved to set up, than a simple SignaLink or DigiRig, and it costs more, so it rewards a careful read of the manual. It has also been succeeded by the microKEYER III, so check availability if buying new. For a serious digital/contest station that wants everything integrated, it is excellent. Compare it with the simpler DigiRig and SignaLink USB.