[Elecraft] KX3 CW Glitch with KXPD3- UPDATE

[Ken Lopez]

I meant to say that I ran into Eric, not Wayne.  Wayne is pretty talented, but probably not so gifted that he can be in two places at once...

Ken 


On Jul 26, 2012, at 2:04 PM, Ken Lopez wrote:

> Thomas,
> 
> The first KXPD3 I got with my rig was behaving very erratically, dropping dits or dahs at random, and often locking up and sending strings of dahs or dits, even after many adjustments.  Maddening.
> 
> After I made my comments on the reflector, Wayne sent a private email suggesting that I have Customer Service send me a new one for exchange so that they could analyze mine.  Moments later, Howard from CS contacted me and suggested the same.
> 
> Yesterday I took advantage of the fact that Im in Monterey for a week, only 20 minutes from Watsonville.  I dropped my four year old K3 off for the hardware updates and to add a KXV3a for a soon to be ordered P3.  The K3 had never left the desk top in four years, and works flawlessly.  
> 
> At the same time, I met with Howard of CS to examine and exchange KXPD3 paddles.  Mine was behaving badly, and Howard took it apart and made some changes and adjustments.  It was better, but still dropping dits.
> 
> The new KXPD3 is quite a bit better so far.  I have only had a short time to test it, but it does seem like an improvement.  I know they are working on solving the issues with the paddles, so I'll be patient and wait for the "ultimate solution", whatever that may be.  I know they are looking at contacts, and other issues to solve the problems.
> 
> Thanks to Wayne for being so attentive, and Howard for the service help and swap.  Also, thanks to Dale, who is tackling my K3 and trying to have it ready before I return to LA.  As an added bonus, I ran into Wayne in the hallway.  I hadn't spoken to him in a while, and that was a pleasant interlude.
> 
> All in all, a rewarding visit.  And I'll be back in a bit to pick up the K3 if all goes well.  
> 
> Thanks Elecraft!
> 
> Ken N6TZV
> 
> 
> On Jul 24, 2012, at 10:39 AM, Thomas Horsten wrote:
> 
>> Ken,
>> 
>> I'm a bit sorry to (mostly) agree with your points. The Elecraft folks are certainly better rig designers than key makers. I'll say that the paddle is usable up to maybe 25 WPM and above that it becomes too erratic. The contact spacing needs to be far wider than what I'm comfortable with to avoid spurious contact, and it needs to be beaten much harder than what I'm used to.
>> 
>> On the other hand comparing it to my Begali Sculpture is not fair. But I did write to Piero and ask if he'd make a paddle for the KX3, this was before the posts in this group, and he replied that he already was working on a prototype - I'm already signed up for it. But it would be nice if the Elecraft key could be modified to make it a little better with close contact spacing. Not sure if it's doable, but I'm open to any suggestions.
>> 
>> So far, I'm planning to try rounding the contact screws like suggested by Wayne, and clean them up with DeOxit. Let's see how far that goes towards helping this issue. As I haven't been able to do more portable than back garden operations (weather only turned good this weekend!), so far I've mostly taken my Begali Sculpture out in the garden with me, but it won't be going with me on longer trips.
>> 
>> 73, Thomas M0TRN
>> 
>> 
>> On 24 July 2012 18:17, Ken Lopez <kjlopez at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Steve, and All,
>> 
>> I have similar problems with my KXPD3.  This little paddle is cute and ingenious.
>> But it drives me crazy!
>> I've adjusted, changed springs, adjusted, fiddled, disassembled it, cleaned contacts.
>> NOTHING seems to fix the generally clunky and inaccurate sending, random dits or dah strings, etc.
>> The KXPD3 has less finesse than my 1962 Vibroplex Bug, and needs as much spacing and force to operate.
>> 
>> I'm fed up with it.  I'll be using my Palm paddles until Begali makes their Adventurer paddles available.
>> 
>> Ken N6TZV
>> 
>