[Elecraft] High End Paddles

[David A. Belsley]

Darrell:
   The better you get, the less satisfied you will be with the  
Bencher BY-1.  The HEX is quite nice.  I'm not sure what the Bencher  
folks mean by it's being better for people who are used to bugs.  I  
suppose they mean that, because it is heavy and hard to knock around,  
those with robust habits will be better accommodated.  But the HEX is  
perfectly capable of being used by a very, very light touch.  So I  
guess I find their statement misleading.  The Begali paddles are  
quite wonderful, and the Kent are very good.  The WBLs are  
outstanding, but hard to come by. The Mercury paddles are refined HEX  
paddles, and while they are really quite nice, I don't think they are  
worth the rather substantial additional price. The Elecraft version  
of the HEX is a great value.  I suspect if you get a Begali, a HEX,  
or a Kent, you will be very happy.  Within this upper range of items,  
people tend to think that what they have is the best.  That means  
they are all doing the job just fine.

best wishes,

dave belsley, w1euy



On Jun 15, 2006, at 11:56 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote:

> I sure have enjoyed this thread on high end paddles. I have so far  
> mostly used
> just a straight key, but with my new K2 and it's built in keyer I  
> would like
> to give iambic operation another go.
>
> I had a Heathkit uMatic keyer, model SA-5010, with the capacitive  
> touch
> paddles. Had lots of trouble getting used to those paddles so I  
> purchased a
> Vibroplex Iambic Deluxe. Well, I was not much better with those, so  
> I gave up
> on the world of keyers and went back to my straight key. I did use the
> memories in the uMatic though.
>
> A few years later I discovered the article by Chuck Adams, K7QQ, on  
> using an
> iambic paddle. I found I was using the slap the paddle around the  
> desk method
> and seldom used the iambic function of the keyer but treating the  
> paddles
> more like a single lever. Resetting the Vibroplex paddle as Chuck  
> recommends
> and learning to send with a light touch helped, but I still was having
> trouble. Ended up selling the paddle when someone wanted the paddle  
> for their
> collection and I needed a few bucks.
>
> With the new K2, and the need to test the built-in keyer, a friend  
> lent me his
> Bencher BY-1 paddle. What a difference! Although I still need lots of
> practice, I can use this paddle.
>
> Reading the Bencher web site it suggests that the BY-1 series is  
> better for
> those using a light touch than the Hex Paddle, which is for those  
> more used
> to a bug.
>
> That seems to run contradictory to what I read in this thread and  
> on eHam. So,
> do those of you who have used both the BY-1 and Hex Paddle agree with
> Bencher's views? Is the BY-1 really better for those using a light  
> touch?
>
> With little money to spend, and a KPA100 and KAT100 also on the  
> wishlist, I am
> wondering if I should look for a good used BY-1, and save for a  
> better paddle
> down the road. I doubt I will reach 20 wpm for a few years and I am  
> just
> learning how to properly use an iambic paddle. Is there a downside to
> learning with a BY-1 and then moving to something else?
>
> Or would it be better to learn with a better paddle from the start?  
> The HEXKEY
> and Begali Simplex would run in the $215-250 range in Canadian  
> dollars. The
> Begali magnetic paddles would add another $140 to the price. The  
> Begali
> Signature would set me back about $475. Used Bencher BY-1's from  
> eBay would
> cost me less than $100 Canadian dollars.
>
> Probably not the best apples and oranges comparison, but I doubt I  
> will find
> many used HEXKEYs, Begalis, or other high end paddles for sale. I  
> would also
> be hesitant about buying such an expensive key on eBay for fear of  
> getting
> one that has been abused.
>
> I'd like to hear your opinions and thoughts on my paddle selection,
>
> Darrell
>
>
> -- 
> Darrell Bellerive
> Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
> Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
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-------------------------------------
david a. belsley
professor of economics