[CW] Whew! Shinny new bug....

[David J. J. Ring, Jr.]

Jim KK4EOU,

I doubt Lee has tried the particular key he talks about.

A lot of thought has gone into that particular key.

First, it is anondized aluminum making it very light, it has modern 
bearings, probably roller bearings.

One of the advantages to the J-37/J-38 type key is that they are very 
light and can be used very quickly.

One of the advantages to the long levers of the type you are discussing 
is that they have a long "wheel" base which gives stability to the 
percussive (drumming) production of dots and dashes.

This key is as light as it can be without making the key too light so 
that it flexes.

If you join the SKCC, you will be able to buy the SKCC key which is 
identical to the Patriot except it has SKCC on it and the web page says 
the SKCC is etched into the key, I haven't been able to tell if the 
Patiot logo is etched or painted.  Etched is always preferred.

I was involved in the discussion of the Amplidan key which was being 
sold by Morse Express when SKCC formed, but supplies were limited.  The 
Amplidan was (is?) a professional quality key, but it sold for nearly 
$300 on the marine market, amateurs weren't accustomed to paying that 
for a mere key, only microphones and paddles it seems.

One fellow, I believe it was NT9K came up with this design and this 
company who had the modern computer aided milling machines to do it, 
made them.

They were excellent keys - perhaps better than the steel and brass 
Amplidan because they had lesss mass.

I'd find out if the Patriot is etched and if the price is the same as 
the SKCC key and what the difference is.

73

David N1EA


  Lee wrote:
Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 08:11:13PM -0600

> Do you want a key as jewelry or for functionality?  If as jewelry go for
> this thing.  If you want a truly super great hand key to just use, you can't
> beat the feel of a J-38 hand key.  Personally, this thing you show looks
> clunky to me, but that is just my opinion.  I use paddles and bugs, but when
> using a hand key I prefer a J-38 over everything else.  The military bought
> a zillion of them for good reason.  They are no designer key but work as
> good or better then others.  A nice one will cost between $50 and $75 these
> days.
> Lee, w0vt
> 
> 
> On 1/22/2016 8:03 PM, Ron Youvan wrote:
> >James Hull es K3PID Ron wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I am thinking about buying my first really nice straight key.  I am
> >>thinking about getting The Patriot by LNR but would appreciate some
> >>honest opinions before I drop $200.  Comments?
> >
> >>http://www.lnrprecision.com/propumpkey/
> >
> >>>Well I had a bug about 50 years ago and as I recall I didn’t do very
> >>>well so I went to a straight key. Later I moved to an Iambic paddle
> >>>and a keyer and can run it pretty well at 20 wpm. Lately I’ve gotten
> >>>the bug ( pun intended) and bought a new shinny classic deluxe from
> >>>the folks at Vibroplex. Well I got it wired up and quickly discovered
> >>>that all the hours spent using the paddle didn’t help much with the
> >>>bug. In fact they probably made it more difficult. My fist still wants
> >>>to hold the paddle to make multiple dahs.....  So if you hear me
> >>>sending CQ ( I can do that pretty well ) and decide to give me a call,
> >>>please be gentle! I still have to get use to hearing the damper weight
> >>>click when the arm swings back for a dah... maybe I can wear ear
> >>>plugs.... wait...
> >>>73 es be gentle...
> >
> >  I teach and preach iambic sending.
> >I think iambic sending allows much of the mechanical parts of sending
> >to become performed by the subconscious.
> >Bugs and straight keys not so much.
> >
> >  Iambic sending is the most advanced method of sending Morse code.
> >I see no reason to regress.  Glass arm here we come.
> 
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> =30=