DSWK => never again

The DSWK chip is back in stock:

http://wb9kzy.com/dswk.htm

Previously I had used the PIC16F628a chip for both the DSWK and the various Zerobeat kits.  But then I went to a PIC16F627a chip as a cost reduction for the Zerobeat kits.  Since the DSWK doesn't sell quite as well as the Zerobeats (there is a point with any item where everyone who wants one has gotten one) I just keep 2 in stock.  So after two DSWK orders last year I had been waiting on re-ordering the blank chips for no particularly good reason and got caught without any in stock.
 

The DSWK is the last "brain replacement" type of "kit" that I'll ever try.  The DSWK began as a request by a customer who didn't care for the stock DSW keyer.  He also wanted some other features.  Looking at the DSW kit, it was a big job to replace the stock PIC, lots of DSW kit variations and changes along the way.  The DSWK is a clean sheet design, I didn't have any technical knowledge of the stock PIC other than the schematic and the manual.  Compared to something like the Si5351 PLL chip the AD9832 or AD9835 DDS chip is much easier to program.  But it still required a lot of math routines.  I ended up purchasing a couple of used DSW rigs:

as I recall the blue anodized one is for 20

lots of flying leads - the DSWK is under there somewhere !

  And then came up with a chip that worked (or so I and my original customer thought).  But then I got customer complaints and had to call back the chips sold for re-programming - it was a huge hassle.

Some time later the same customer asked about a new chip for another QRP rig =>  I said NO THANKS !  :)

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm