[High-Speed-CW] Best type of paddle/electronics for high speed

[Hank Kohl K8DD]

Paul, that is an excellent question!
Asking for the "best paddle/keyer" is like asking for the best radio, 
the best antenna, the best beer!
For a lot of years - probably 35 - there was no doubt in my mind that 
the Brown Brothers paddles (I believe they were all dual lever) were 
without a doubt the best.  I tried several models of Begalis and 
personally was not impressed.  Then at Dayton a couple of years ago 
Bencher had a magnetic paddle - a copy of the N2DAN, I think.  When 
Elecraft came out with that paddle with their name on it I bought one, 
took about two days to get it adjusted the way I like it and sold two of 
my collection of Brown Brothers paddles to pay for it (and ended up with 
about a hundred extra!).
The Elecraft Hex-Key made by Bencher is the only paddle that I can sent 
40 WPM reliably for a half hour QSO.  Now the only paddle that I use 
from time to time is a Brown Bros magnetic model that they made for a 
short time.

I guess the end result is that a paddle is like a wife - at least in my 
case - pick a good one and stick with it for a very long time!  I did 
change paddles, but the wife stays for another 35 years I hope!

Suppose I would not call myself a real high speed op - 50 still sounds 
like hail on a tin barn roof most days but there's my 2 cents worth, or 
in this case my 2 WPMs worth!!

73    Hank    K8DD


Paul F. Sehorne wrote:
> Is there any consensus among the high-speed group as to the best 
> paddle/keyer types; i.e., dual-lever, single-lever, bug, no keyer, 
> iambic, etc.?
> I saw at MorseExpress <http://www.mtech.whsites.net/schurr/> a 
> reference "...the Einhebel is possibly the very best single-lever 
> paddle in the world.  Designed specifically for European-style high 
> speed operation,...".  Since there is a high percentage of European 
> callsigns on the HSC, VHSC, SHSC, and EHSC I'm wondering if there is a 
> common thread regarding hardware/electronics.
>
> I've been a ham for many years, have always liked CW, but have never 
> gotten serious about high speed until recently.  Whatever advice you 
> can give me, particularly regarding keys, bugs, paddles, etc. will be 
> much appreciated.  I can copy individual characters sent at 
> (Farnsworth) 40 wpm character speed and 5 to 10 wpm text speed almost 
> 100%, only having a problem distinguishing between S and H, and H and 
> 5, and a couple of others that have three or four dits in a row, like 
> V and 4). I can also copy W1AW code practice at 18 wpm 100% and 
> decreasing from there to about 75% copy at 25 wpm.
>
> Thanks,
> Paul, WI5F