| Author | neale(original author) and Brett KE9BOS (Current Author) |
|---|---|
| ke9bos@pigletradio.org | |
| License | MIT |
- Lets you key even if you move focus to another window
- Works with Vail
- Works with VBand, but the window has to remain focused
- Optional sidetone generator, which helps with latency
- Implements all nine keyer modes from Vail, in the adapter, so you lunatics can try to key at 50WPM with no latency issues
- Plays received signals in the adapter, so you can turn off your computer speaker
- Free firmware updates for life
- Can be wired up in about 5 minutes
Vail Adapter benefits video (4:46)
- Seeed Studio XIAO SAMD21 (Available from Amazon or Adafruit QT Py)
- PCB can be ordered from (JLCPCB or PCBWAY) yourself or from Brett KE9BOS as a bare PCB, kit with all parts needed, or assembled - email ke9bos@pigletradio.org
- Buzzer Speaker
- You need one of each of the below for V1.1 pcb(purple), or only the first one if you have a v1 pcb(black):
- Seeed Studio XIAO SAMD21 (Available from Amazon or Adafruit QT Py)
- Buzzer Speaker
- Panel Aux Jack
- Adafruit TRRS Trinkey M0 - USB key-sized board with built-in TRRS jack
- Piezo buzzer (connect via STEMMA QT connector)
- Note: No buttons, capacitive touch, headphone jack, or radio output. Settings changed via MIDI only.
- See TRRS_TRINKEY_BUILD.md for detailed instructions
- Arduino Micro — 5V AVR alternative to SAMD21 boards. DIY/breadboard-only; there is no Micro-targeted PCB.
- Wiring: D2 = Dit, D1 = Dah, D0 = Straight Key, D10 = Piezo, GND = ground. Full walkthrough including headphone-jack and optional radio-output wiring → doc/advanced-install.md.
- Limitations vs. SAMD21:
- No capacitive touch (hardware not present on ATmega32U4)
- No button menu (no resistor ladder support)
- No LED status indicators
- CW memory slots shortened: 3 × ~12 seconds (vs. 25 seconds on SAMD21)
- Radio output on A2/A3 uses 5V logic — check radio tolerance or use a level shifter
- Flashing: uses WebSerial + AVR109 (Caterina bootloader). No UF2 drag-and-drop — flash from vailadapter.com (activate the 🧪 Test channel, then DIY No PCB → Arduino Micro) in Chrome/Edge/Opera, or via
arduino-cli upload --fqbn arduino:avr:micro.
To contribute to this project please contact ke9bos@pigletradio.org Feel free to buy me a coffee if you find value in this project and want to see more improvements made with time. https://buymeacoffee.com/ke9bos