MFJ-494, 496 Super Keyboard

Object/Artifact

-

Radio Alpha

Image: Joe Veras, K9OCO

Image: Joe Veras, K9OCO

Name/Title

MFJ-494, 496 "Super Keyboard"

Description

CW / RTTY Keyboard

Category

Keys, Electronic, RTTY, Code Practice Set

Made/Created

Manufacturer

MFJ Enterprises

Date made

1981 - 1982

Valuations

Notes

See text

General Notes

Note

QST, Feb 1981, p. 116. QST, Jan 1982, p, 117. The 494 Super Keyboard’s modes included CW, Baudot, and ASCII, and it worked as a memory or code practice keyer as well. In the CW mode it had two programmable memories (30 characters total) and special keys for the KN, SK, AR, AA, and BT pro-signs. Five-level Baudot was transmitted at 60 wpm, and the ASCII speed was 110 baud with both upper- and lower-case transmitted. Plugging in a paddle turned the 494 into a full-featured memory keyer. The code practice modes included random-length groups of random characters or eight lists of repeatable five-character groups. Options include: MFJ-53, AFSK plug-in module MFJ-54, loop keying plug-in module MFJ-61, clock module References Review. QST, Jul 1982, p. 41.