[Fists] Which iambic paddle for a beginner.

Fri, 23 May 2003 09:21:38 +0200

Hi Dan & friends

I certainly use iambic keying. I learned up to 12 wpm (the morse code
requirement in South Africa) using a straight key, then bought a very old
mode B keyer (built from discrete TTL logic!) second hand and borrowed the
club's Bencher paddle. I found Chuck Adams K5FO's article "Iambic Sending"
on the web at www.morsecode.dutch.nl/iambic.pdf and used this as my guide.
(Yes, I'm one of those guys who always reads the manual before playing with
a new toy!). I learned to send everything using iambic mode B keying. I
think never having used a bug or single-paddle key probably helped, as I
didn't have to overcome any old habbits. I'm pleased to have found one area
where us newcomers have an advantage :)

Now a year later I've decided it's time to return the Bencher to the club,
and have just bought a Kent twin paddle kit. It arrived yesterday and I put
it together last night. Although I haven't had a chance to use it yet (since
they don't supply a jack plug with the kit!), my first impression is that it
is a much more solid and well engineered key than the Bencher. It also has a
much wider range of tension adjustment, which is nice. And it looks great,
although it's not for those who think that every surface should be buffed to
a mirror finish. I'll post a more detailed review on www.eham.net once I've
had a chance to use it a bit.

73,
Andrew ZS1AN
FISTS 8921

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On
> Behalf Of Daniel Metzger
> Sent: 22 May 2003 16:28
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Fists] Which iambic paddle for a beginner.
>
>
> > which iambic would be the best<
>
> Benchers give me a pain.  Feels like butterfly wings.  I
> prefer the more
> substantial feel of the old Vibroplex.  Note, I use a bug and a side
> swiper, as well as a paddle, so that may be why I like the heavy feel.
>
> BTW, does anybody REALLY use iambic keying?  I see lots of
> iambic (dual
> lever) paddles being sold, but everybody I know actually uses them in
> single-lever mode.
>
> Dan, K8JWR
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