[CW] Begali Intrepid - Big and Clunky? Or a Delicate Dancer?

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Phillip,

Piero Begali misunderstood me about the spacing. The spacing is 23mm. It's
consistent on all the Russian Bugs with Two Paddles like UA3AO and UA3AMY
both use. The extra paddle is used "sideswiper style" with the dash sending
finger alternating between the regular dash paddle and the "extra" (added)
dash paddle to send additional even numbered dashes. For example in letter
"Y", the character is sent normally for the first three code elements, the
last of which is a dash. Then the finger that made that dash moves from the
regular dash paddle to the right and hits the additional dash paddle and
makes the last dash. Numbers profit most from this type of key, but overall
sending quality of dashes is improved because they come out much more
uniformly.

73

DR
N1EA

On Thu, Jun 15, 2023, 19:20 PHILIP SCHECHTER via CW <cw at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Hi David,
> Your modifications are quite interesting. I'm wondering why you need such
> a wide spacing between the dip in the sides?
> I also have an intrepid, I confess to not using it much since I greatly
> prefer a paddle. there is a video online, that I referred to, that address
> is 103 idea about how to set up the intrepid. It wasn't very helpful for
> me. Bruna has mentioned to me that her father is a total fan of bugs. The
> intrepid was intended to be the representation of his of what he thought
> would be the best bug possible, and a masterpiece for him, when I was
> finally done with my initial set up, it did take hours, I got it to work
> like a delicate  bug that could handle a range of speeds. Now it mostly
> sits on the back bench only to be used during an occasional SKCC event.
> I am interested in your ideas regarding the wide spacing of the finger
> pieces. Do you know who that Begali has made this paddle in chrome. It was
> available in Dayton for $1000. It might have been the last one available.
> I look forward to your strategy regarding spacing of the finger pieces.
> 73,
> Phil, NE0S
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 15, 2023, at 17:02, David J. J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:
>
> 
> I have heard comments that Piero Begali's INTREPID bug is "big and clunky".
>
> It is heavy, and it stays put on any operating desk.
>
> But the mechanism itself is rather like a mechanical clock - not large
> like Vibroplex or Speed-X or McElroy, but quite delicate and responsive
> like a sports car but still being able to send at quite slow speeds.
>
> Here a series of dots at the slowest speed my INTREPID sends at.  My
> INTREPID has been modified by my design to have an extra dash paddle, it's
> an ongoing prototype with Mr. Begali.
>
> Video:  http://qsl.net/n/n1ea//tmp/slow_intrepid.mp4
>
> I estimate the dot speed of this Begali prototype of a "Russian Bug with
> Two Paddles / Cootie Bug" style INTREPID as being 14 WPM.
>
> [image: Begali_Russian_Cootie_Bug.jpg]
>
> The big rails on either side of the delicate vibrator are to protect the
> vibrator and to hold the many adjustment screws.
>
> A nice key, it took me a while to get used to it as it has a much lighter
> touch than a Vibroplex, McElroy or Speed-X semi-automatic - or any of the
> other speed keys I've ever used.  It's unique but it does a great job.
>
> I think it's a delicate dancer that can do any type of dance, including
> Morse rock-and-roll or even chamber music.  It swings and rocks!
>
> Highly recommended!
>
> 73
> DR
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