SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/hame-key-clicks-fix

What is the most common method of reducing CW key clicks?

Slow down the rise and fall times of the keying waveform.

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  1. Reduce keying waveform rise and fall times
  2. Insert high-pass filters at the transmitter output
  3. Increase keying waveform rise and fall times ✔

Why: Abrupt on and off keying makes sharp edges that splatter across nearby frequencies. Softer edges keep the signal tidy.

Huh, didn't know that: Too much transmit audio is a common cause of overmodulated AFSK digital signals (E8D07).

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What do you call a logic chip with an extremely short signal rise time? Leading-edge technology.
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References

Answer: Increase keying waveform rise and fall times. Abrupt on and off keying makes sharp edges that splatter across nearby frequencies. Softer edges keep the signal tidy.

  1. NCVEC 2024-2028 Amateur Extra Question Pool, 4th Errata (Feb 4, 2026) ncvec.org/downloads/2024-2028%20Extra%20Class%20Question%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20with%204th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    A. Increase keying waveform rise and fall times
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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