[Elecraft] OT: in defense of the BY-series

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi all,

I've heard criticisms of the Bencher BY-series paddles over and over again  
on this reflector, and honestly I don't have any idea what these critics  
are talking about.  Of course, I learned to send iambically on one from  
the beginning.  I've never used a bug, and I didn't even use a straight  
key for very long.

I guess I don't hit the arms hard enough for them to feel "mushy".  I  
tried a hex key and it didn't do anything for me; I don't like the grossly  
non-linear feel of the magnet return, which feels way too "clicky" for  
me.  I tried an original Mercury key -- same feel, didn't like it.  I much  
prefer the long spring of my BY-2, which assures that the tension is  
practically constant across the gap.  And I can't imagine setting the  
tension so lightly that the paddle sticks and hangs up.

I haven't tried a Schurr or a Bengali, and I imagine that those are fine  
paddles.  To me, my BY-2 is a wonderful instrument that is finely  
adjustable over the range of parameters at which I feel comfortable.  I  
use it every day, and I would never want to get rid of it.

I submit that those who say that the BY-series paddles are poorly designed  
or lousy or plain just use a different style of keying that is not suited  
to the BY-series.  I feel sure that most such critics learned to send on  
devices other than iambic paddles, and still use some of the old habits.   
There's nothing wrong with that, but that fact doesn't make the BY-series  
lousy.  Admittedly I'm relatively new to CW, but I can send up to about 25  
wpm effortlessly (faster than I can receive of course).  I know several  
people who use Bencher BY-series paddles a lot faster than that.

In any event, one's personal paddle is obviously a very personal choice.   
Trying a paddle yourself beats listening to advice from a reflector any  
day.

Sorry about helping to flog the dead horse...

73,
- Rob W7GH



On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 07:35:37 -0700, David A. Belsley <belsley at bc.edu>  
wrote:

> The BY paddles are plain and simply not at all like a fine sports car.   
> They are more like an old-style Beetle (or possible a Yugo).