[Elecraft] Good morse key?

[David Wilburn]

What is the difference between English and American style?
-  

David Wilburn
k4dgw at k4dgw.com
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982


On Wed, 2007-11-14 at 07:09 -0700, Darwin, Keith wrote:
> Hey Justin (& the group)
> 
> If you're interested in a straight key, I have a couple of
> recommendations
> 
> http://skccgroup.com - The Straight Key Century Club.  A great bunch of
> straight key (and bug) users.  Great place to be if you are doing slow
> manual CW.
> 
> www.MorseX.com  - Morse Express.  Marshall sells a number of keys and is
> a great guy to deal with.
> 
> You'll need to figure out which sending style you will use.  American
> doesn't work with all keys, European (for me) works with every key I
> try.  I send European style.
> 
> For practice, I put my K2 in test mode and send away.  Sidetone sounds
> but the rig won't transmit.
> 
> Straight Keys:
> 
> - Navy Flameproof 26003A.  Get 'em used on e-bay for $30 to $70.  Get a
> NOS model straight from Bunnel for about $95
> http://jhbunnell.com/navykey.shtml.
> 
> - German Junker.  Get NOS models from Morse Express.  Cost about $100.
> My absolute top pick for straight keys.  Ugly, functions wonderfully.  I
> drilled & tapped the knob mounting hole and put a navy knob on mine.
> Hog heaven.
> 
> - Kent.  Costs about $150 from AES or HRO (don't recall which).  You can
> also order directly from Kent http://www.kent-engineers.com/ and get the
> kit model.  Available with wooden or metal base.  Wood base is noisy,
> like a wood block.
> 
> - J38.  Another WWII vintage key.  Lots of guys love 'em.  Cost on e-bay
> seem to be in the $30 to $50 range.  I've never used one so I can't say
> much.
> 
> - Begali.  I hear good things, but haven't used one.
> http://www.i2rtf.com/ 
> 
> - Vibroplex.  I hear mostly mediocre things.  Probably a nice $100 key
> selling for $175.
> 
> - Bencher.  Most Bencher straight key owners end up with something else.
> Bencher seems to be the one that people don't stick with.  Either the
> upgrade or they quit using the straight key.  Morse Express has a good
> price on them.
> 
> - LTA.  Available from Morse Express.  I've owned an LTA Marconi key and
> it was quite good.  Very pretty key, functions as well as the Flameproof
> and nearly as well as the Kent or Junker.
> 
> - GHD.  Expensive but I hear good things.  Not to many using the,
> probably due to price.
> 
> - Swedish pumper.  I hear great things.  On my short list of keys to
> try.
> 
> - Hi Mound.  I hear great things about their Swedish model and little
> about the others.
> 
> - Amplidan.  Wonderful,  I missed my chance to buy a NOS key for $350.
> They're all gone now.  Good luck finding one.  Good luck finding one
> that is affordable.  I'll stick with the Junker for $100.
> 
> 
> Enough for now.  I probably have you and the whole list in information
> overload.
> 
> 73!
> 
> - Keith N1AS -
> - K2 5411.ssb.100 -
> - K3 Wave 3 -
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Justin Croonenberghs
> 
> I've been off this list for a good long while...quick question. Any
> picks for a good starting morse key? I've played around with the paddles
> and maybe want to start with a straight key...
> 
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