I work a little CW around 3845-50, using a 78 years old bug. Run into a lot of bug operators in that part of the band.
But very few CW ops run homebrew or vintage equipment. Mostly riceboxes, although many say they run them on CW only and never operate SSB.
I don't know if the code readers can copy my sending with the bug or not, but if not, no great loss. What's the point of working CW with a keyboard and code reader? RTTY (Baudot or ASCII) or PSK do a much better job.
Don,
Funny you should mention using a bug on cw,--after 46yrs+ I came
across a bug and was playing with it for practice,--am getting the "knack"
of it after using a hand key all these years.
As far as cw ops using homebrew equipment,--you are right very few do, I do, and when I mention I am using a homebrew rig or an old DX-40,--
the OT`s really perk up and usually will tell me what memories the old rig
brings back, and what they started with, etc.
As far as a keyboard and code reader,--I used an MFJ interface for about
a month,--and the "novelty" wore off real quick.
I went back to the "old fashion" method, of copying and sending and that`s
when the "fun" came back.
73,s K1MVP