[Elecraft] "Bug" for K2

[Vic Rosenthal]

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> I have a 1960's model Vibroplex "Standard" that I use from time to time. The
> biggest issue with it is getting the thing to slow down properly. With the
> largest Vibroplex weights it runs well over 20 wpm. 

Vibroplex over the years has used different thicknesses of mainspring. 
I've seen 0.012" to 0.018".  The thinner ones will go slower.  In my 
experience, the ones from the early '60's tend to be the best.  I have 
an Original from 1960 which has the thinner spring, so perhaps Ron's is 
a bit older.  In my opinion, the best Vibroplexes are the Lightning Bug 
and Champion from this period; the speed adjustment is nicer than the 
Original.  I have found no detectable difference between Standard and 
Deluxe models; the jeweled bearing of the Deluxe is fragile and that's 
about it.  I don't think much of the bugs manufactured after the New 
York period (up till 1978).

If you are using a mechanical bug with a modern rig (like my K2), you 
may find that the keying is not totally clean due to contact bounce. 
Putting a piece of foam inside the hairpin spring may work to some 
extent, but I found that the best solution is to use the bug to key a 
reed relay with a diode and capacitor across the coil.  There are also 
solid-state circuits to accomplish this.

Ron is correct that the Johnson Speed-X is an excellent bug.  They are 
getting hard to find.   I used to have one and am sorry I sold it.

Morse Express sells some really beautiful bugs made by GHD in Japan, 
some with optical sensors that solve the bounce problem: 
<http://www.mtechnologies.com/index.html>  I had one of these, but for 
some reason I prefer my old Vibroplex.

More than you probably wanted to know!

Vic K2VCO