[Elecraft] KXPD3 and single-lever paddles

[Bill W4ZV]

Dennis L. Haarsager wrote
>> my ability to squeeze the paddles as fast as my "CW brain" is
> working  is probably impaired over what it was back in the day.

As Sverre correctly points out in his article:

"The issue must be tolerance to errors, not just efficiency."

For those who truly squeeze as required by true Iambic (as opposed to many
who use a dual paddle key as a single lever in non-Iambic), timing the
squeeze is more critical than slapping a single lever back and forth.  For
the HST guys, timing at ~60 WPM rates becomes very critical.  For older
hands that have lost some fine motor control, timing is also critical
although at much lower speeds.

For sending at typical QRP speeds, there's no need to spend $335 for a
Begali Adventurer.  Here's a video of the $30 Whiterook MK-33 sending at ~25
WPM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xK01E39GQ38#t=23

For another $10, they make a leg strap which is nice for portable or mobile
operation.  I recently gave a MK-33 and leg strap to my stepson Christian
KF4LXB for his birthday.  Here's his report:

http://www.uwharrieqrp.com/2013/09/new-addition-to-portable-kit-whiterook.html 

Of course you can also roll your own with some old relay parts.  I did this
for my KD1JV ATS-3 Transceiver that I sometimes use for SOTA activations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wutov8MVr6Q

BTW you're near several SOTA summits in case you like to hike and operate
outdoors with your KX3.  

73,  Bill  W4ZV




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