[Elecraft] OT - Vertical Bug

[Robert Harmon]

thanks Fred !

Bob
K6UJ




On Mar 15, 2011, at 7:08 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> Sat afternoons [NA times] on the published frequencies.  You can find 
> them at www.radiomarine.org for KSM, and occasionally KPH ... same sites 
> and transmitters.  K6KPH guards 14050 Kc and 7050 Kc most of those 
> times, depending on operator availability.  It's fun to copy them on 426 Kc.
> 
> They accept visitors, check the website.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred K6DGW JN
> Auburn CA
> 
> On 3/15/2011 5:59 PM, Robert Harmon wrote:
>> Ron,
>> 
>> I enjoyed seeing the pictures of KPH and realized that Point Reyes is
>> less than an hours drive away from us.  Do you know if there is a museum there still ?
>> If so I'll go check it out.
>> 
>> Bob
>> K6UJ
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 15, 2011, at 2:01 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>> 
>>> Thank you Stan. I've seen photographs of a vertical bug but I've never used
>>> one.
>>> 
>>> I also have a Vibroplex bug - a standard model that came to me in the 1990's
>>> through an old friend's widow when he became a silent key. My regular bug is
>>> an E.F. Johnson Speed-X. The Speed-X slows easily to 10 to 15 wpm using it's
>>> nifty standard weight that has a finger grip clamp - just squeeze and slide,
>>> let go and it's securely locked in its new position.
>>> 
>>> I was surprised to find that the Vibroplex would not slow to less than about
>>> 25 wpm, even with two weights. My friend had been a commercial CW op both at
>>> sea and at KPH in California so I knew he had to slow it down to under 15
>>> wpm to match the speed wanted by the other operator. Les accomplished that
>>> with a common cable clamp secured to the pendulum. (See it at
>>> http://www.radiomarine.org/gallery/show?keyword=kphhistory&panel=pab1_1#pab1
>>> _1 Scroll down to Les Burger and click on the image to enlarge it). You can
>>> see the threaded shafts of the cable clamp sticking up through the crossbar.
>>> It works great, but it's a very heavy feel.
>>> 
>>> Talking with a number of OT Vibroplex owners whose bugs slowed down in into
>>> the 15 WPM easily without special weights and comparing keys closely, we
>>> discovered that Vibroplex made two different leaf springs for their key
>>> pendulums back in the 1960's. One was much thicker with a higher vibration
>>> frequency than the other. I've never been able to find out why they did
>>> that.
>>> 
>>> The sound and feel of a nice bug is, for me, just as basic to Ham radio as
>>> stringing up antennas and melting solder on a new project ;-)
>>> 
>>> 73,
>>> 
>>> Ron AC7AC
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> 
>>> I just want to share a recent discovery with other Elecraft listers who
>>> appreciate 'bug' keys.
>>> 
>>> The following short video is a demo I made of my new vertical 'bug'
>>> compared to the more traditional ones.  This vertical key is a fabulous
>>> slow speed performer and doesn't need a pipe wrench hanging off the
>>> forward end to slow down - it's naturally slower but dropping the weight
>>> brings it up to 35 WPM.  Until recently I knew very little about
>>> vertical keys and pretty much concluded that with so little marketing
>>> going on, they must not be very good.
>>> 
>>> GOSH,  WAS I WRONG !!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5EU6wubkaE&feature=related
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 73, Stan WB2LQF
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
> 
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