[Elecraft] CW Key Recommendation

[Fred Jensen]

American Morse Equipment has a variety of small paddles.  I have their 
porta-paddle mounted on my field ops clipboard with Super-Velcro, and it 
works great.  Not sure why you want a small one like the KX3 however, 
you'll have to figure out how to hold it down.  It's hard to beat a 
Bencher BY-1 ... cost-wise, you can buy several for the price of a 
Begali <anything>.  It takes a bit of adjustment to get it right for you 
but the wrench to do so comes with it.

Your K3 does Iambic-A and -B, pick one.  I've never found an obvious 
advantage to Iambic and don't use it, but be advised, -B sends a 
trailing dit all by itself under some circumstances.

Regarding starting on a straight key:  That subject is in the top five 
subjects in ham radio that have migrated directly and completely into a 
religion -- with arguments pro, con, and ambivalence extending to 
infinity. :-)  Do whatever you feel comfortable with.  If your goal is 
to converse using Morse at speeds above 12-15 WPM, better start with a 
paddle and keyer.  If you are prone to carpal tunnel syndrome [formerly 
called "glass arm"], go directly to paddle, do not pass GO, and do not 
collect $200.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2016
- www.cqp.org

On 6/24/2016 9:21 AM, rick jones via Elecraft wrote:
> Could someone recommend a desktop key that is close to the size and
> action of the key attached to the KX3? This Advanced class ham has
> not sent code in decades and I would like to start sending on my K3
> so can someday use a KX on CW from a remote location. I will be
> practically starting from scratch but I'm guessing there's no reason
> to start with a straight key right? Thanks for your thoughts! Rick
> N3IKQ ______________________________________________________________