Chickadee Touch - Iambic Morse Code Key

The Chickadee Touch is a compact, ultra-lightweight capacitive touch iambic Morse code paddle designed for amateur radio operators who want a unique, responsive, and highly portable way to send CW.

Based on and inspired by the Capacitive CW Touch Key Circuit project by M0UKD, the Chickadee Touch replaces traditional mechanical paddle switches with capacitive touch sensors. Simply touch either side of the paddle to send a dit or dah — no mechanical movement required.

With no traditional paddle mechanism and an incredibly compact design, the Chickadee Touch is especially well suited for POTA, SOTA, QRP, and portable operations where minimizing both size and weight matters.

Key Features

• Capacitive Touch Operation — Send dits and dahs with a simple touch rather than pressing a mechanical switch.
• Iambic Paddle Design — Independent dit and dah touch controls for use with your radio's electronic keyer.
• No Moving Paddle Parts — Capacitive sensing eliminates the mechanical paddle mechanism found in traditional keys.
• Ultra-Lightweight — Designed for portable operators looking to keep their station as light as possible.
• Compact & Portable — Easily fits into a POTA, SOTA, QRP, or portable radio kit.
• Durable Design — Fewer moving components, durable PLA case and cap make it well suited for regular use in the field.
• ESD & Power Protection — Integrated protection helps protect both your radio and your key.
• Open Source - As with all my projects, the Chickadee Touch is open source and available in my Github Repo.

A Different Way to Send CW

The Chickadee Touch provides a completely different feel from a traditional mechanical paddle. Instead of physically moving or pressing a paddle, your fingers simply make contact with the touch surfaces. The electronics detect the touch and activate the corresponding dit or dah input to your radio's keyer.

With virtually no finger movement required, the result is a fast and responsive CW experience in an exceptionally small package.

Built for Portable CW

When you're carrying your station into a park, hiking to a summit, or assembling an ultra-light QRP kit, every ounce matters. The Chickadee Touch gives you a full iambic paddle without the size and weight of a traditional mechanical design. Its compact form factor makes it easy to keep in your radio bag so it's ready whenever you want to get on the air. It's an excellent companion for Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA), QRP operations, field kits, portable stations, and everyday CW operation.

Just Touch and Send.

No mechanical paddles. No complicated adjustments. Just a lightweight touch interface for sending CW wherever your radio takes you.

A special thanks to M0UKD for the original project and inspiration behind the Chickadee Touch!

73 and happy keying!