USB Paddle Interface

• The USB paddle interface allows sending with an actual paddle or straight key instead of the computer keyboard. The adapter connects to a computer with an included USB-A to USB-C cable, and has a 3.5mm TRS jack for the paddle / straight key connection. It has been tested on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android.
  
  The price is $25 USD plus shipping. Choose US or international shipping. International shipping includes CA, EU, UK, IN, MX, JP, PH, and AU. All other shipping destinations please contact us before ordering.
  
  Please verify your shipping address before clicking purchase. We receive many orders where the customer has not used PayPal for a long time and moved in the interim. This results in delayed deliveries, misdirected, and lost mail.
  
  Shipping Destination Please choose shipping destination country US Shipping ($6) $31.00 USD International Shipping ($22) $47.00 USD
• Wiring Information - Wiring your key or paddle for use with the VBand Paddle Interface is the same as for a keyer or radio. You need a cable with a male 3.5mm (⅛”) 3-conductor stereo TRS connector on one end and whatever connectors are appropriate for your key/paddle on the other. For use with a straight key, connect the tip to one side of the key, the sleeve to the other and leave the ring unconnected. For use with a paddle, connect the tip to the “dit” connection, the ring to the “dah” connection, and the sleeve or ground connector to the common.
• Troubleshooting - The adapter works by simulating pressing left and right control keys on a keyboard. Under Windows, you may need to disable Stickykeys if it is configured to work with control keys. If you hear the USB disconnect sound when you use the key, please contact us.
• Important Notice - The VBand Paddle Interface is designed to be used with conventional straight keys and paddles. Compatibility with external keyers or electronic paddles is not guaranteed. Also note that use of a Y adapter to connect your key to your rig and the VBand Paddle Interface at the same time may result in damage to one or both devices.

Contact Us

• We welcome all feedback from our users: questions, comments, suggestions, complaints, and praise.
• You can email us at support@hamradio.solutions.
• You can also reach us, along with many other vband users, on our Discord Server.

Quickstart

• Set your callsign and/or name, and any other options you prefer on the Settings tab.
• Click a channel on the Channels tab to connect to that channel.
• In paddle mode, use the [ key for dits and the ] key for dahs.
• In straight key mode, use either of those keys to send.
• Left and right control keys can be used in place of the [ key and the ] key.
• The text box in the second tab can be used as a scratch pad to copy what you hear.
• To interface an actual paddle or straight key, check out our USB Paddle Interface on the Store tab.
• Users can create private VBand channels. Create the channel name in the settings tab and share with your friends. Append " (ND)" to the name to make it decode only.

Apple iOS Compatibility

• Be sure to disable Dictation in order to use our VBand adapter with an iPhone or iPad. This can be found under Settings -> General -> Keyboard.

Clone and Counterfeit adapters

• Warning - We have received numerous reports from users who have purchased clone VBand adapters that are not compatible with our website, even though they claim to be. We do not support these adapters.
• You can find our supported adapter on the Store tab above. We offer a 100% money back guarantee on all products sold on our website. If it does not work on your computer system, we will refund the adapter including the cost of shipping.

Notes

• Channel & Users - For all channels except the Practice Channel, the Channel tab shows all users connected to that channel, and code any user sends will be sent to all other users in that channel. You can mute other users by clicking the blue speaker icon in the upper right corner. On channels that allow decoding, you can show or hide the decoded text by clicking the blue "A" icon.
• Practice Channel - The practice channel does not send your code beyond your computer. It can be used to practice sending and see how well you are decoded.
• Words Per Minute - The WPM shown for each user consists of 2 numbers. The first is the speed of the characters sent. The second is the effective overall speed considering any additional Farnsworth delay between characters.
• Website focus - The VBand website must be in focus to send. If you click on a different tab or window, the adapter and your key presses will not be read.
• Recommended Browsers - We have had the most success with Chrome. Firefox is also known to work well. Internet Explorer is not recommended.

QSOBot

• Overview - QSOBot is a new feature of VBand. To enable it go to the settings menu and then click the "Enable QSOBot" checkbox. Once the checkbox is enabled, QSOBot will respond in the practice channel. Simply call CQ or send something to activate. QSOBot will respond and carry on a standard QSO. Please provide feedback to support@hamradio.solutions so that we can continue to improve it.
• Exchanges - QSOBot will react to the common exchanges used in a QSO. It will expect RST, Name (OP), and QTH. If you don't supply these, QSOBot will ask for them. Once these are completed you can feel free to engage QSOBot and tell it what Rig, Antenna, Weather, and temperature you have. It will respond to a 73 any time and close the QSO and reset. It will also initiate its own close if you provide all the aforementioned information. It is intended to be a practice exchange where you can hone your sending and receiving.
• Resetting - To reset QSOBot, simply call CQ with your callsign.

Troubleshooting

• No audio on Safari - When you are on the VBand site, select the menu item Safari > Settings for This Website... and change "Auto-Play: Stop Media with Sound" to "Allow All Auto-Play". Click on the background web page, and refresh the page with View > Reload Page or CMD + R. When the page is reloaded, it should play sounds.
• Latency Issues - On some systems, there can be a noticeable delay between pressing a key, and hearing the sound from the speaker. This delay is due to the press being sent over USB, the Javascript code processing the press in the browser, and the sound system buffering. If this delay is a problem, we recommend closing all other applications and browser tabs, and anything else that can reduce CPU load. Try disabling Bluetooth headphones. Try to avoid using HDMI for sound. If that doesn't help, you can use an external keyer with a sidetone generator, switch to straight key mode, and mute your own audio in VBand by clicking the blue speaker icon for your user.
• Micro USB cables - Some Micro USB cables do not support data and can only be used for charging. The older USB adapter with a micro USB jack requires a data cable to function.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I leave a channel? - Typically you leave a channel by selecting a new channel to join. You can also leave by refreshing the website.

VBand on YouTube

Links to useful sites

• The Long Island CW Club
• Learn CW Online
• Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy

• This is a family friendly website. User Callsign/Names and communications should be appropriate for all ages.
• Harassment or discrimination of any type is not acceptable.
• No bots or scripts of any type are to be used as they go against the spirit of why this website was created and may interfere with its operations. Exceptions to this may be granted to those needing special accommodations by contacting HRS at support@hamradio.solutions.
• This website uses cookies to store information on your local computer. These cookies only contain information needed to retain your configuration settings and improve your overall experience when returning to our website.