For today's 10000: amateur radio operators call Morse code "CW" since it's a Continuous Wave (unmodulated) transmission while you're pressing the key. The most basic kind is a straight key which simply transmits when you push and stops when you let go. Electronic keyers often use iambic paddles/buttons where you use one switch to create a series of "dits" and the other switch to create "dahs" yourself, which is less physically demanding and lets you hit higher WPM. There are examples of both types here.
> For today's 10000
Just in case someone didn’t catch the reference: https://xkcd.com/1053/
Nice, they used an obscure reference to explain another obscure reference, requiring two nested levels of explanation.
You can't 10,000 the 10,000...
Somebody could probably throw out the probability of those two 10,000 sets overlapping. Not me though, unless it's 10,000^2...
You wouldn't 10,000 a car.
And this Jen, is the 10,000.
Mobile view https://m.xkcd.com/1053/
Hum, just posted a facetious comment in Morse and HN corrupted it. Thinking how to get it to post sans formatting/verbatim. Ideas anyone?
put a few spaces before what you type
it will produce a blockquote which I hope will remove the HN "corruption" pass
.... .- ...- . ..-. ..- -.A CW Key is apparently a switch used for transmitting Morse code. Make sure to click through to the individual pages to see them in use, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghx3r_OFmt4
Great video.
Trying to think of another activity where one hand is doing something so complex while the rest of the body practically looks bored. Nothing comes to mind.
Video games?
Some of these would make great oldschool spy- or detective-movie props, like the rubber stamp being overlooked by "stupid" detectives whilst the smart detective directly connect it to a callsign to uncover the murder victims secret life with regards to ham operations.
I fully expected the smoke alarm CW key to work by picking up smoke signals: https://sites.google.com/site/oh6dccw/smoke-alarm-cw-key
Judging by the paraphernalia, this is what happens after a Finnish amateur radio operator retires and suddenly has way too much free time.
I like the Aluminum Finger Pieces from the first URL.
The first URL, Begali are the Ferrari of CW keys, with prices to match.
Incredible workmanship and still a family-owned and run business. Worth every cent.
Got to say it’s interesting to read this comment and check the site and prices are 150~600 (the upper end being an anniversary edition aluminium and stainless beast).
Obviously really expensive for what is at the core a spring and an electric contact or two (depending on type) — which can be just one part at the expense of longevity, but as hobby pieces it seems quite reasonable, I’ve seen way worse spends from friends who fell in love with mechanical keyboards.
When you compare the price per contact, mechanical keyboards come out quite favorably!
Here we are railing against $500 mechanical keyboards, and some dude whips out $500 CW keys. The ultimate one-up.
The comparison with mechanical keyboards is spot on! Despite having nothing to do with radio or morse in any way, I was given a Vibroplex and it is quite a piece of kit - solid as a rock and obviously a tool well suited to its one task. It reminds me of some of the old tonearms used on turntables, with many springs, counterweights and possible adjustments.
These are basically a switch for "human bit-banging". Here is a more conventional one in use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPsgEdmlUf0
How many of these have they made contacts with?
They all have contacts; they operate by closing a circuit.
73 ;)
"Handmade CW from Finland" - explains everything.
What?
These are keys (buttons) for tapping out morse code. Creative, but probably not practical.
What do you mean the Moomin Triangle CW isn't practical?