We live in an age of “smart” everything—devices that require firmware updates, cloud logins, and RGB lighting. The Hawaiki Keyer 5 is a dumb tool. It is a hammer. It does exactly what you tell it to, instantly, every time.
The Hawaiki handles the "memory" of iambic B perfectly. If you squeeze both paddles at the end of a word, it correctly completes the last dot or dash. This felt buttery smooth with my Begali Traveler paddles.
The unit is sold as a (with SMD pre-soldered, thankfully) or as a fully assembled board. It does not come with an enclosure, though 3D-printable files are available. hawaiki keyer 5 review
The Keyer 5 uses —it presents itself to the OS as a standard keyboard. Every button is a programmable hotkey (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+F12).
The Hawaiki Keyer 5 is not for everyone. But for the CW operator who enjoys the spirit of Amateur Radio experimentation, it is a revelation. It proves that open-source hardware can rival—and in some ways surpass—commercial offerings. Just be prepared to get out your soldering iron and your terminal window. We live in an age of “smart” everything—devices
Disclaimer: My review unit was the pre-assembled board version.
Unlike the Winkeyer’s software-only speed control, the HK5 has an onboard trimpot (or optional external pot). You can set minimum/maximum speed via CLI, and the keyer will beep out the new speed in Morse when you turn the knob. For field ops who don’t want to plug in a laptop to change speed, this is gold. It does exactly what you tell it to, instantly, every time
73, de K4JP
Using a high-speed camera (240fps), we measured the round-trip latency from physical press to OBS scene change:
Is the Hawaiki Keyer 5 just another Arduino-based gadget, or is it a legitimate competitor to the Winkeyer ecosystem? I spent three months using the HK5 in my shack—from casual weekend rag-chewing to the high-pressure environment of the CQ WW DX Contest. Here is my definitive review.
While there are other keying plugins on the market, the Hawaiki Keyer 5 stands out for its balance of features, performance, and affordability. If you're looking to elevate your video production workflow and achieve seamless keying results, the Hawaiki Keyer 5 is definitely worth considering.