[CW] Begali Sideswipers

[Bruce Prior]

That's encouraging to learn, Tony. The method you suggest makes sense to my fist, which has been keying, first with dual-lever, and then later with both dual-lever and single-lever paddles, for years. I'll try your method, but with much much wider contact spacing. Maybe I'll be able to send decent sideswiping CW that way.

Thanks and 73,

Bruce Prior N7RR / VA7TO


________________________________
From: CW <cw-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of w4foa at comcast.net <w4foa at comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 6:17 PM
To: CW Reflector
Subject: Re: [CW] Begali Sideswipers

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


________________________________
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<https://www.mtechnologies.com/cootie.htm>
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<http://www.i2rtf.com/sculpture-mono.html>
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<http://www.i2rtf.com/sculpture-swing.html>
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<http://www.i2rtf.com/hst-mark-ii.html>
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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