[Elecraft] CW

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

If you want to take advantage of the built-in keyer and message
memories, you'll need a set of "paddles" rather than a "key" - in the
sense those of us who were pounding brass in the 60's think of a "key". 

The K2 will handle iambic paddles, if you are interested in
"squeeze-keying".  I caught onto it rather quickly with my original
accu-keyer and enjoyed the ease of making any letter with alternating
dits and dahs (like a "C") by simply squeezing the paddles so the "dah"
paddle contacted slightly ahead of the "dit" paddle. 

You are fortunate that you have NOT been using a "keyer" with paddles
lately. There are at least two timing schemes used. One adds a dit or
dah or not after the current one being sent depending upon when you
release the paddle(s). Switching between them tends to drive mere mortal
Hams nuts (some of the exalted CW aficionados claim they can switch
between the two in an instant). Since you obviously don't have years of
recent experience in the "wrong" system, the K2 will be a joy to operate
with its internal keyer. 

While you can use a conventional key with your K2, you won't be using
the keyer or the message memories with it. You can't load the message
memories from a manual key. But the K2 works very will with a
conventional key. I use both a WWII vintage J-38 straight key and a
1950's-vintage E.F. Johnson "Speed-X" Semi-automatic key (a.k.a. "bug").


E.F. Johnson sells a good straight key brand new for less than $40.
That's something like $5 in "1950-money". Not a bad deal. I think HRO
has them among others. If you want the classic "bug", Vibroplex still
sells new ones for about $170.00. Sure, that's a bundle of money - just
about equal in "spending power" to the $30 or so that they cost new in
1950. See http://www.vibroplex.com/

You can still find both types of keys at Hamfests and on the internet
auctions sites too. Unless you are going for what the collectors
currently think is "in", you can find them at decent prices. 

Vibroplex also makes some very good paddles. I have a set of the "Brass
Racer" paddles. Mine are originals made by Scotia, but I bet the
Vibroplex version is just as smooth for about $140. A LOT of the ops on
this reflector can offer better input than I about the nuances of the
greatest paddles available out there today. After all, I still swing a
bug handle and let the "paddles" look pretty on the display shelf. 

Sure, the keys and paddles look expensive today compared to $5 or $25
back in the 50's. But back in the 50's you could buy a brand new car
family-sized car for $2,000 or a new three bedroom house on a large lot
for $5,000 to $8,000. Things have changed! 

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

 Postal guy wrote:

 I had been away from ham radio since the late 60's and the K2 is one of
the factors that got me interested again....  Now that I've relearned
CW, I want to take advantage of the built-in keyer. I was expecting to
find a good selection of used keys on sites like ebay. Instead, just
about everything now is a "collectors item" that commands a high price.
Even the lowly plain-jane telegragh key goes for more than I could ever
believe possible. I should have hung on to my 60's chrome Vibroplex,
(and my Fender Stratocaster guitar).

  Anyway, I'm curious about what key you guys are using with your K2's.
And are you willing to depart with one you have laying around.