[CW] Begali Sideswipers

[w4foa at comcast.net]

Bruce, 
I am reluctantly replying to your note because there are a lot of opinions on keys, keying, etc. 
However, I've been sideswiping for a long time and learned from two of the very best (IMHO). 
In particular, you have NOT been making a mistake, at least in item 1).  It is only natural for one, when using a sideswiper key (similar to a bug) to begin the sideswiper keying exactly at you would with a bug.  For example E I S H A F J L P R U V W all begin with thumb, others begin with index finger.  Why would one make the initial movement different from a bug?  Assuming of course that most SS guys have sent on a bug before using a SS. Just my thoughts and opinions and do not wish to engage in a long running email debate on the subject. 
73Tony W4FOA 
  

----- Original Message -----

From: "Bruce Prior" <n7rr at hotmail.com> 
To: "CW QTH reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 12:47:19 PM 
Subject: [CW] Begali Sideswipers 



I'm no sideswiping expert. Reading the Jerry L. Bartachek KD0CA article https://www.mtechnologies.com/cootie.htm 
The Art of Side-Swipery, by Jerry L. Bartachek 
www.mtechnologies.com 
Want to try your hand at "side-swipery?" One commercial cootie key is made today, and is available from Morse Express-- the GHD GF-501 speed key. 




I see that I've been making two sideswiping mistakes: 

1) Instead of starting each character with the index finger, I was merely going left and right, even with letter spaces and word spaces in between. 

2) I was using far too narrow contact spacing. 


It's true that the Begali Sculpture Swing is expensive at 460 euros http://www.i2rtf.com/sculpture-swing.html . However, Begali also sells the HST Mark II for less that half that price at 218 euros http://www.i2rtf.com/hst-mark-ii.html . The Mark II has a switch in the rear, allowing the same paddle to be used either as a cootie key or as a regular single-lever keyer paddle. The original Begali HST may be available at hamfests, but I wouldn't recommend it. In my opinion, the original HST lever was too long. The HST Mark II is better. That said, it doesn't hold a candle compared to the superb Begali Sculpture Mono at 425 euros http://www.i2rtf.com/sculpture-mono.html , which is the best single-lever keyer paddle that I've ever used. My Sculpture Mono governs my Elecraft K3 almost daily. 




73, 

Bruce Prior N7RR / VA7TO 
Sculpture mono - Begali's Web site 
www.i2rtf.com 
The Sculpture Mono, like its famous sibling, the Sculpture dual lever key, it was designed to represent the ultimate key of its type, combining materials and state-of ... 

Sculpture Swing - Begali's Web site 
www.i2rtf.com 
The Sculpture Swing is a no-compromise cootie key and, like its siblings in the growing Sculpture line of paddles, it was designed to represent the ultimate key of ... 
HST Mark II - Begali's Web site 
www.i2rtf.com 
The HST Single Lever key was inspired by a design that several of the top competitors at the High Speed Telegraphy Competition in Pordenone (HST 2008) were using. 





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