A follow-up from an old conversation. I bought one of the CW Morse
single-paddle keys and I've been using it to work on the firmware of the
keyer I've built.
I got the version with the yellow paddle and I got it with the iron
base. First impression is that it is small and light. I've been afraid
that if I hit it too hard, I'm going to break it. It's not like some
other keys that are large chunks of metal that would hurt you if they
fell on you, although the iron base gives it enough weight that it
doesn't want to walk while I'm sending with it. So how does it work?
Well, the action is smooth and reliable. The feel is pretty good and
it's easy to adjust. They included a hex key that fits into a little
hole in the back. I wish the paddle was thicker, because I'm used to my
Bencher iambic paddles with 3/4 inch spacing, but that's the only real
complaint that I have. Well, that and there's this 3D printed cap that
goes over the contacts and bearings and stuff that's mostly held on by
wishful thinking. It seems likely that it will eventually be lost.
I've knocked it off a couple of times already.
Overall, I'd have to say that I like it.
On 1/7/2021 9:38 PM, Mark Brantana via BVARC wrote:
Jonathan,
I could not have said it better myself. My covid income is giving me a
new appreciation of my spending. I am an engineer, so I have been used
to spending what I want. We used to be able to buy a J-38 for a couple
of dollars. These days quality can be expensive. Maybe I should look
into building something.
Mark
On Jan 7, 2021, at 3:50 PM, Jonathan Guthrie via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
I just wanted to see if I was looking at the same keys that you were.
Making a key is easy. I once made a telegraph key from a peanut can
and a couple of nails. Making a good key is harder.
On the other hand, spending three hundred dollars for a key is not
something I'm going to do on a whim. If I buy a key I'm confident
is good, I want to be sure it's something I am going to use, and I've
used squeeze keys for 40 years. Lately I've been thinking that I
want to get a single-paddle key so I can practice using it either
without a keyer or with a keyer configured in semiautomatic mode, but
the stratospheric cost of most keys has made me hesitate to pull the
trigger. These are modest enough price-wise that I could possibly
justify buying one just to try it out.
On 1/7/2021 3:16 PM, Mark Brantana via BVARC wrote:
Jonathan,
Yes. There are three different models. They appear to be 3D printed.
This also made me wonder if I shouldn’t fire up Inventor and design
my own. These seem to be about the most reasonably priced keys, and
I was really looking to see who might have experienced them. Thank
you for your question.
Mark
N5PRD
On Jan 7, 2021, at 10:20 AM, Jonathan Guthrie via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean by acrylic key. I see they've got a
bunch of inexpensive keys that appear to be 3D printed. Is that
what you're talking about?
On 1/7/2021 3:52 AM, Mark Brantana via BVARC wrote:
What does anyone think of the GigaParts Acrylic keys ? They come in several
models and colors, with Al base or plastic. Anyone try one?
Mark
N5PRD
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