Chickadee Tap

All About the Chickadee Tap

The Chickadee Tap is an ultra-lightweight, compact straight Morse code key designed around a mechanical keyboard switch. It was created for amateur radio operators who want a simple, durable key that takes up very little room in a portable radio kit. Unlike an electronic paddle, the Chickadee Tap contains no active keying electronics and requires no external power. At its core, it is simply a switch that closes the radio's keying circuit when pressed.

This simplicity makes the Tap particularly well suited for POTA, SOTA, QRP, field operations, CW practice, lightweight portable stations, or if you want an inexpensive key that saves on your desk space.

How the Chickadee Tap Works

A traditional straight key is essentially an electrical switch. When the key is at rest, the circuit is open. Pressing the key closes the circuit and tells the radio to transmit a CW carrier. The Chickadee Tap operates on the same principle but replaces the traditional lever, spring, and contact assembly with a mechanical keyboard switch.

Press the switch:

Circuit Closed → Radio Keys

Release the switch:

Circuit Open → Radio Stops Keying

The length of each press determines whether you send a dit or a dah.

Unlike an iambic paddle, there is no electronic keyer determining the timing for you. The operator controls the timing of every element manually.

Keyboard-Based Design

One of the defining characteristics of the Chickadee Tap is its use of components commonly found in mechanical keyboards. Mechanical keyboard switches are small, lightweight, readily available, and designed to withstand a very large number of actuations (Over 50 Million Cycles Minimum). They also provide a consistent key press without requiring the larger mechanical assembly normally associated with a traditional straight key.

Using a keyboard switch allowed us to create a straight key that is:

• Extremely lightweight

• Compact

• Mechanically simple

• Responsive

• Durable

• Easy to transport

It also gives the Chickadee Tap its distinctive feel compared with a traditional straight key, and lots of customization as their are many types of keyboard switches to pick from all with their own unique look, feel, and resistance.

Straight-Key Operation

The Chickadee Tap is a straight key, not an iambic paddle. This distinction is important when configuring your radio. With a straight key, the radio simply detects whether the keying circuit is open or closed. Dits and dahs are created entirely by how long you hold the Tap.

For example:

Short press → Dit

Long press → Dah

Because the operator controls the timing, the Tap does not require an electronic keyer to generate Morse code elements. Depending on your radio, you may need to change the CW key configuration from Paddle to Straight Key, Hand Key, or a similarly named setting. Refer to your radio's documentation for the appropriate configuration.

Connecting the Chickadee Tap

The Chickadee Tap connects to the CW key input of any compatible amateur radio. Because different radios may use different connectors and keying configurations, always verify the keying requirements and connector pinout for your specific radio before connecting the Tap. The Chickadee Tap does have a solder jumper you can connect to allow greater flexibility and radio compatibility.

No External Power Required

One of the biggest advantages of the Chickadee Tap's simple design is that it requires no batteries or external power source. Its 100% passive.

That means:

• No batteries to replace

• No charging

• No power switch

• No firmware

• No configuration software

Connect the Tap to a compatible radio, configure the radio for straight-key operation, and you're ready to send CW.

For portable operation, this also means one less powered device to manage in your station.

Designed for Portable Operation

The Chickadee Tap was designed with portable amateur radio in mind. Traditional straight keys can work wonderfully at a home station, but their size and weight can become significant when everything you need must fit inside a backpack. For POTA and SOTA operators, especially those hiking equipment into an activation location, reducing weight and volume can make a meaningful difference. The Tap provides the basic functionality of a straight key in a much smaller package.

It's a great fit for:

• POTA — Parks on the Air

• SOTA — Summits on the Air

• QRP operation

• Backpack radio kits

• Field operations

• Emergency radio kits

• Travel stations

• CW practice

Throw it into your radio bag and it's ready when you need it.

Getting Comfortable with the Tap

The feel of a keyboard-based straight key is different from a traditional lever-style key. Traditional straight keys typically have mechanical adjustments for things such as contact spacing and spring tension. The Chickadee Tap instead relies on the characteristics of the installed mechanical keyboard switch.

It may take a little practice to become accustomed to the shorter movement and different feel. But keep in mind this makes it highly customizable as their are many different types of switches you can change to and even replace the internal spring. Also keep in mind switch actuation is typically far before you bottom out the switch so this helps with your speed once you get used to using it.

Start slowly and concentrate on consistent spacing between:

• Dits and dahs

• Characters

• Words

As you become accustomed to the switch, gradually increase your sending speed.

Tap vs. DoubleTap vs. Touch

The Chickadee Tap is the simplest member of the Chickadee family.

	Tap	DoubleTap	Touch
Key Type	Straight Key	Iambic Paddle	Iambic Paddle
Input	Mechanical	Mechanical	Capacitive Touch
Dit/Dah Controls	Single	Separate	Separate
Electronic Keyer Required	No	Yes	Yes
External Power	No	No	Yes
Moving Key Components	Yes	Yes	No

Choose the Tap if you want a traditional straight-key experience in the smallest and simplest package.

Choose the DoubleTap if you prefer an iambic paddle but still want the physical and tactile feel of mechanical keyboard switches.

Choose the Touch if you want an iambic paddle using capacitive touch sensing with no moving keying components.

73 and happy keying!