[CW] What is a good straight key?

Fri May 20 10:28:40 EDT 2011

U could make a key out of an old fashioned  coiled-spring wooden clothespin or piece of sheet metal screwed fast at one end or a doorbell pushbutton or a knife switch or etc ... ;0) 

HM
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: cod947 
  To: CW Reflector 
  Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 4:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [CW] What is a good straight key?

  Danny ....  you said ..

  finding a plug that fit the transmitter cw key jack, made up a wire, and; used the two loose ends of wire - just touching them together to key. finding a plug that fit the transmitter cw key jack, made up a wire, and; used the two loose ends of wire - just touching them together to key. 

  Touching wires together to send CW ..??

  I am positive that I have worked you on 40 CW several times ...   Hi..

  Whitey  K1VV   

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: DANNY DOUGLAS 
    To: CW Reflector 
    Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 8:36 AM
    Subject: Re: [CW] What is a good straight key?

    Holy Smoke!!!   Ill just continue along with the old J38, Ive had since 1965 or so. 

     It reminds me that just about anything works.  I was temporarily at our embassy in Athens, when our relay site, north of twon, was struck by lightning (where I normally worked).  All TTY signals went down and not knowing why, I was unable to get thru to them either on cw/TTY or the phone.  After some two hours, of listening to the cw guard bands,  I received a VHF radio call, advising me of the situation.  I volunteered to perform the CW guard responsbilities in order to let other field stations, in other countries, know to abandon their normal base station and connect to with their standby sites. 

     I threw the transmitter onto a guard freq, and then found there was no key, in the whole embassy.  Seems all the regularly assigned communications people there were, and had been, non-morse trained.  I wound up finding a plug that fit the transmitter cw key jack, made up a wire, and; used the two loose ends of wire - just touching them together to key.  It worked just fine, although a bit slower than most people calling in.  HI.  I got them all advised, and then, as instructed, closed down and went home.  The lightning destroyed keylines, receivers, tty machines, and all sorts of stuff that was found fried, for the next few weeks. 

     In other words: just get the message thru.  We as hams are not spending hours sending 40 wpm traffic.  I just cant see spending that type of cash to send CW.  Instead, if you have it, spend it on antennas.  Good keys are cheap enough, and one doesn't need a Mercedes to get to work.
    Danny Douglas
    N7DC
    ex WN5QMX ET2US WA5UKR ET3USA SV0WPP VS6DD N7DC/YV5 G5CTB
    All 2 years or more (except Novice). Short stints at:  DA/PA/SU/HZ/7X/DU
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    Moderator
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      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: D.J.J. Ring, Jr. 
      To: CW Reflector 
      Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 7:11 AM
      Subject: Re: [CW] What is a good straight key?

      Unfortunately the MP Pederson key which was sold to Amplidan is no longer in production - a causality of "no code" changes in testing.  Likewise the Lennart Petterson key sold by Swedish Radio Supply - I think this is the key you're remembering as it was about $250.  The Amplidan was about $375.00.

      They are indeed a very good keys.

      I've not used the Begali Blade but I've heard wonderful things.

      My favorite straight keys are these:

      First Tier

      Marconi 365 A B C or D series.
      Amplidan or MP Pederson key - last sold for about $350.
      GHD top of the line.

      If you want to just send you name one time, wires can be used, but if you want to send for 8 hours a day you need something good.

      One excellent key that is easily found is the Navy Flame Proof key - and will compare with these as a third tier key - but is only $35 or $50 at a flea market often less.

      David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA
      SOWP, VWOA, OOTC, FISTS, CW-Ops, CFO, A1-OP, ex-FOC 1271 ARRL-LM
      Chat Skype: djringjr MSN: djringjr at msn.com AIM: N1EA icq: 27380609

      Radio-Officers Google Group -- Marine Morse Historic Recordings Page

      On Fri, May 20, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Henry Frederick Meiseles 'Meils' <meils at get2net.dk> wrote:

        Also,  the Danish M. P. Pedersen (maritime) straight key is reputed to be an excellent key -- usually sells for about $100. I find it great for moderate speeds but not for QRQ. Very sturdy, high quality construction.

        HFM, Cph. oz3o n2nr

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