[High-Speed-CW] Paddles

[Mike D.]

A friend bought the Vibroplex iambic and I tried it for a few seconds. While
I liked the nostalgic look, but it seemed clunky.

Are the Ten Tec paddles, the ones built by Vibroplex?

I used Bencher paddles, until I got the WBLs. For some reason, I don't like
the paddle height. I was always grabbing them at the top of the plastic
finger pieces. When you do that, they don't pivot properly. I used to put a
paperback book underneath them to raise them up.

Another buddy has a Brown Bros, paddle and loves them. I thought they were
kind of smooth, but didn't play with them long.

73 de Mike, N9BOR
A-1, FISTS, JARL A-1, SMC
http://www.qsl.net/n9bor

di dah dit - The only Roger Beep you'll ever need.
Let your fingers do the talking � Morse code.
My designated driver is a 12BY7A.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Art [mailto:artky1k@uninets.net]
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 7:33 PM
> To: Mike D.
> Subject: Re: [High-Speed-CW] Paddles
>
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> I've gone through quite a few paddles since my novice days (1971).
>
> The Vibroplex (Iambic) is a high mass unit and you have to pound the crap
> out of it. It feels solid and smooth (with those ruby bearings), but has
> problems at 40 wpm and up due to the moving mass.
>
> The Ten Tec paddles are the worst of both worlds although the snap action
> is a worthy attempt at making something that feels good and solid
> with low
> moving mass.
>
> The Bencher is by far the best performer, it has very low moving mass and
> the contacts do not bounce. A little tap is all it takes too-no
> pounding on
> the paddles as with the Vibroplex Iambic. It feels the worst of them all
> tho, very flimsy feeling. But, goes well past 40 wpm without any problem.
>
> I also tried a Brown Brothers straight key/iambic combo. It was smooth as
> silk and a bit heavy feeling. If a set of the Brown Brothers
> paddles found
> it's way here, I'd love to try them for an extended period to see
> how they
> run. When I tried them, it was at a contest station, so I ran them for
> quite a few hours, but only as a quest op at a m/m contest station.
>
> I've noticed the market is filled with lotsa alternatives these
> days, but I
> haven't tried them. There might be something better these days.
>
> Regards,
>
> Art