[NLRS] CW paddle/key and rover operation

[kf0q@arrl.net]

I have always used my bencher paddle in the rover and home as well 
(last year I purchased and extra one so I could leave one home)  FYI 
too - the MFJ clone is OK as well and a bit lower cost.  The most 
important point to make is that whatever you use make sure that it 
feels comfortable. (practice makes sense).  I have my bencher setting 
on top of a mount that I made out of pine that straddles the center 
console of my Cherokee.  The mount has some velcro on the sides that 
grip the carpet of the "hump" and although isn't quite perfect it 
does a pretty good job.  To fasten the paddle to the pine I use the 
same method that I use in the shack - flexible poster stick.  The 
poster stick comes in small pieces that conform to any shape and do a 
great job of anchoring the key to most any surface.

A few other points that I think are important for rover/cw work:

1. Don't forget that some rigs i.e. (IC706mkII) can send CW with the 
mic U/D switches.  While crude it does work and quite frankly can 
work very well  - (this is however a stationary sending technique).  
Never be afraid to try it  - I have had resounding success getting 
q's in the log this way.  (read here my fist is equally bad either 
case -)
2.  CW/mobile quite possible as well (not with method 1 above) I have 
been able to snag some contacts on the fly with little trouble.

Final thoughts:  After lengthy sessions of sending for long periods 
of time in the rover (poor band condx etc) I started experimenting 
with the driver seat position and found that tilting the seat back a 
bit further for me was more comfortable. (make look strange but never 
too proud to get the "q" -)

Good luck with the Rover operations out there!

73,
Matt
KF0Q EN44ea