Re: "2" or "3" Paddle
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Which one?
This is something like the guy with more than one watch, he never knows what the time really should be. There is so much discussion about the two paddles it seems to me they both are good and it really comes down to just which one an operator owns to use. (Yes, read reports from owners of both but could not read a specific reason one was chosen over the other - in the same operating scenario.) So where I’m coming from is I’ve never used either. I learned on a Vibroplex Lightening Bug but now with the advent of electronic keyers don’t want to dig it out to really use. And am wondering if it makes any difference which I get when ordering a new radio. Ie, which would be the easiest to take up and use considering my experience. At this time I'm thinking the “3” because it has a longer pivot arm - maybe the same or close to the what the bug has. This might not really be all oranges though since the fore arm will most likely just rotate instead pushing the dash lever with finger movement along with the arm movement as with the bug. Guess when I order a radio I’ll just order its specifically designated components - unless there is something constructive to be said by anyone? P.S. Someone specifically wrote the beveled paddle pads on the “2” were more comfortable. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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It's an interesting question. I've been using the 3 for a few years on my kx3. I'm actually considering going to a winkey and external paddle so that I am able to get N1MM functional. I'm actually a little frustrated with the present 3 paddle. From a convenience point of view it is great but I have a persistent recurring problem of incorrect responses. Sometimes i think it may be due to dirty contacts and sometimes stray RF? I dont know which. I always remove the key after use for storing. I clean the contacts regularly. Sometimes it is a joy to use, and at other times not so much. Maybe this is common to all paddles? I'm not a heavy user or super CW op. I've posted the issue before.
Have fun. I guess everyone eventually uses multiple keys in the same way we have multiple antennae. Brian VE3GMZ Sent via BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox for Android Original Message From: [hidden email] Sent: May 4, 2020 3:07 p.m. To: [hidden email] Reply to: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] "2" or "3" Paddle Which one? This is something like the guy with more than one watch, he never knows what the time really should be. There is so much discussion about the two paddles it seems to me they both are good and it really comes down to just which one an operator owns to use. (Yes, read reports from owners of both but could not read a specific reason one was chosen over the other - in the same operating scenario.) So where I’m coming from is I’ve never used either. I learned on a Vibroplex Lightening Bug but now with the advent of electronic keyers don’t want to dig it out to really use. And am wondering if it makes any difference which I get when ordering a new radio. Ie, which would be the easiest to take up and use considering my experience. At this time I'm thinking the “3” because it has a longer pivot arm - maybe the same or close to the what the bug has. This might not really be all oranges though since the fore arm will most likely just rotate instead pushing the dash lever with finger movement along with the arm movement as with the bug. Guess when I order a radio I’ll just order its specifically designated components - unless there is something constructive to be said by anyone? P.S. Someone specifically wrote the beveled paddle pads on the “2” were more comfortable. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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I think so. I switched from a Bencher HexKey to a N3ZN Single Lever
since I have never been iambicized. Although left-handed, I've always paddled with my right, there was a time when your log was sacred and I can't write legibly right-handed. I hoped the single-lever would be a bit more forgiving of the growing arthritis in my hands, which it has been. When I bought the Begali MagPro, it went on the right and I moved the N3ZN to the left. I tend to use the Begali in contesting, the ZN for rag chewing. The Vibroplex bug, a BY-1, and the straight key are on the shelf. I have a second BY-1 for the K2/10 in the "Summertime GO Bag." Apparently, you can never have enough telegraph keys. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 5/4/2020 12:43 PM, [hidden email] wrote: > Have fun. I guess everyone eventually uses multiple keys in the same way we have multiple antennae. > > Brian VE3GMZ > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
I've never used the KPDX3 but I bought the KPDX2 when I got my KX2. At first I was disappointed in because it wasn't consistent in feel or accuracy. I spent some quality time with it carefully adjusting the play in the pins that hold the paddles and the spacing and now it's very usable. The KX2 appears to be designed for very low current through the paddle contacts. If there is any corrosion at all on the stainless steel contact or post, keying be inconsistent. A larger gap so there is more 'swing' for the contact will help. Now I use a small burnishing wand and clean the contacts each time I install the paddles on the KX2. Works well. I normally use a full-sized iambic paddle with my K3 and I've found it takes a minute or two to get used to the smaller finger pieces and spacing. Not a big deal. I also tried the QRPGuys single lever paddle for the KX2 for a while but went back to the KPDX2. A higher quality (more expensive) single lever paddle would likely be better. Still debating that with myself (see Skip's comments about aging fingers). GL & 73, Brian, K0DTJ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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What kind of small burnishing wand are you using?
Brian VE3GMZ Sent via BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox for Android Original Message From: [hidden email] Sent: May 4, 2020 7:10 p.m. To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] "2" or "3" Paddle I've never used the KPDX3 but I bought the KPDX2 when I got my KX2. At first I was disappointed in because it wasn't consistent in feel or accuracy. I spent some quality time with it carefully adjusting the play in the pins that hold the paddles and the spacing and now it's very usable. The KX2 appears to be designed for very low current through the paddle contacts. If there is any corrosion at all on the stainless steel contact or post, keying be inconsistent. A larger gap so there is more 'swing' for the contact will help. Now I use a small burnishing wand and clean the contacts each time I install the paddles on the KX2. Works well. I normally use a full-sized iambic paddle with my K3 and I've found it takes a minute or two to get used to the smaller finger pieces and spacing. Not a big deal. I also tried the QRPGuys single lever paddle for the KX2 for a while but went back to the KPDX2. A higher quality (more expensive) single lever paddle would likely be better. Still debating that with myself (see Skip's comments about aging fingers). GL & 73, Brian, K0DTJ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Brian Hunt
When I built a single lever paddle, I used silver wire for the
contacts since I had heard that all the normal corrosion products of silver are also conductive. I haven't had any problems with it, although it doesn't get much use. It might be worth while looking for a paddle with silver contacts. 73 Bill AE6JV On 5/4/20 at 7:08 PM, [hidden email] wrote: >The KX2 appears to be designed for very low current through the >paddle contacts. If there is any corrosion at all on the >stainless steel contact or post, keying be inconsistent. A >larger gap so there is more 'swing' for the contact will help. >Now I use a small burnishing wand and clean the contacts each >time I install the paddles on the KX2. Works well. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz |"After all, if the conventional wisdom was working, the 408-348-7900 | rate of systems being compromised would be going down, www.pwpconsult.com | wouldn't it?" -- Marcus Ranum ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Hiya Tommy.
I own both the KXPD2 and KXPD3 and strongly prefer the KXPD2. The KXPD3 was bought at the same time as my KX3 and served well for several years. However I never "liked" it - found it clunky to send on and the sharp edge of the paddles bit into my fingers, so I was on the lookout... Then I tried the KPXPD2 at SeaPAC - and bought one on the spot. I have never used the KXPD3 again. As a point of reference, here in the home shack my preferred sending implements are not paddles at all, but Vibroplex Lightning Bugs - of which four sit on my desk as I type this... As always, YMMV :-) 73 Chris NW6V ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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I’m not a super accurate cw op and not familiar with the keys you guys are using but I like the longer keys as I believe that the extra leverage will allow a stronger return mechanism which in turn should aid in overcoming the “ less than perfect “ action of most twin paddle keys that I have used.
Bob. K0RKH Sent from my iPhone > On May 6, 2020, at 4:45 PM, Chris R. NW6V <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hiya Tommy. > > I own both the KXPD2 and KXPD3 and strongly prefer the KXPD2. > > The KXPD3 was bought at the same time as my KX3 and served well for several > years. However I never "liked" it - found it clunky to send on and the > sharp edge of the paddles bit into my fingers, so I was on the lookout... > > Then I tried the KPXPD2 at SeaPAC - and bought one on the spot. I have > never used the KXPD3 again. > > As a point of reference, here in the home shack my preferred sending > implements are not paddles at all, but Vibroplex Lightning Bugs - of which > four sit on my desk as I type this... > > As always, YMMV :-) > > 73 Chris NW6V > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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This is one reason I am wondering which to buy. My arthritic hands do not function as smoothly as they used to.
> On May 7, 2020, at 8:21 AM, Robert Hand <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I’m not a super accurate cw op and not familiar with the keys you guys are using but I like the longer keys as I believe that the extra leverage will allow a stronger return mechanism which in turn should aid in overcoming the “ less than perfect “ action of most twin paddle keys that I have used. > Bob. K0RKH > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On May 6, 2020, at 4:45 PM, Chris R. NW6V <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Hiya Tommy. >> >> I own both the KXPD2 and KXPD3 and strongly prefer the KXPD2. >> >> The KXPD3 was bought at the same time as my KX3 and served well for several >> years. However I never "liked" it - found it clunky to send on and the >> sharp edge of the paddles bit into my fingers, so I was on the lookout... >> >> Then I tried the KPXPD2 at SeaPAC - and bought one on the spot. I have >> never used the KXPD3 again. >> >> As a point of reference, here in the home shack my preferred sending >> implements are not paddles at all, but Vibroplex Lightning Bugs - of which >> four sit on my desk as I type this... >> >> As always, YMMV :-) >> >> 73 Chris NW6V >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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