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WTB - Kent single lever paddle

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Ralph Tyrrell

WTB - Kent single lever paddle

Well I think I do. I bought a Vibroplex back in 1950 and got used to it.
I tried to go iambic in the mid 70s and failed, tried again with the K1 in 2003 (mode a). Using an iambic key is too many mistakes for me.

I optained an MK-33 Whiterook single lever key and it works well, but has no adjustment and is not heavy enought to stay put without putting my other hand on it to hold it.

So any comments from Kent single lever key owners?

Does anyone want to sell one?
Does anyone in the US sell them?

Thanks,

73, W1TF, K3 #696, K1 # 1423

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

Ralph,

I do not have a single lever paddle for sale, but I suffer from similar
problems. If you cannot find a decent single lever paddle at a price
your ham budget can afford (the Bengali is outside my price range), I
suggest that you try one of the K1EL keyers in Ultimatic mode - it works
for me - it makes a standard paddle respond almost like a single lever
paddle, press the dash and it gives dashes, press the dot and out comes
a dit - it just feels right to my brain.

I have been asking periodically that the Elecraft built-in keyers
support Ultimatic mode for folks like us, but so far, it has been low on
the priority list (but is not being ignored).

73,
Don W3FPR

Ralph Tyrrell wrote:

> Well I think I do. I bought a Vibroplex back in 1950 and got used to it.
> I tried to go iambic in the mid 70s and failed, tried again with the K1 in 2003 (mode a). Using an iambic key is too many mistakes for me.
>
> I optained an MK-33 Whiterook single lever key and it works well, but has no adjustment and is not heavy enought to stay put without putting my other hand on it to hold it.
>
> So any comments from Kent single lever key owners?
>
> Does anyone want to sell one?
> Does anyone in the US sell them?
>
> Thanks,
>
> 73, W1TF, K3 #696, K1 # 1423
>
>
>
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Augie "Gus" Hansen

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Ralph Tyrrell

Hi Ralph,
> So any comments from Kent single lever key owners?
>
> Does anyone want to sell one?
> Does anyone in the US sell them?

I bought the Kent Single-Level paddle ($140) from HRO here in Denver a
few months ago. Having seen some discussion on this reflector I thought
I'd give it a try. I've use Iambic keying with dual-lever paddles since
the beginning of my ham career and have found that switching to a
single-lever technique is not for me.

I'll sell this Kent paddle with an attached shielded cable and 1/8" plug
for $125 shipped. If interested let me know.

Gus Hansen
KB0YH

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Eric Tichansky

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Ralph Tyrrell

Take a look at N3ZN's single lever key:

http://www.n3znkeys.com/modelznSL.html

While the price might be a bit higher than you're looking at, his keys
are excellent quality and craftsmanship. I prefer my N3ZN iambic key
over the revered Profi sitting beside it in the shack. The Profi has
better and more solid feeling space adjustments, but the ZN paddle just
feels better in action.

Regards
Eric NO3M (ex. NI3S)

Ralph Tyrrell wrote:

Jack

RE: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I have a single lever Kent paddle. I bought it when I had a microHam CW
Keyer attached to an IC-706. That keyer had an option to select a single
lever paddle mode. I believe it was the Ultimatic option. It worked well
and I preferred it over my Bencher paddle used in mode A. The keyer would
also monitor your keying and you could "see" how well you were sending. It
was great.

I am now using the same Kent key on the K3. Things are not quite right. When
I use the TEXT DECODE function I see that letters like C often come out as
NN! It is as if the K3 keyer is expecting the dot after a dash to be keyed
during the dash down time (or so close after that the timing becomes to
critical). AS IF SQUEEZE mode was still possible. The end result is that
instead of using the large muscle "slap" style that makes the single lever
paddle so easy you must use the tiny finger movements of an iambic paddle
with the same kind of light touch and small movements in order to get the
inter character spacing correct! I was glad to see comments reflecting this
"problem" in the responses to this thread. I hope that firmware will
correct this soon. Right now I am getting better with my straight key than
I am with my Kent paddle! Referring to the comments by Don W3FPR, yes you
can use an iambic paddle as a single lever paddle by choosing Ultimatic mode
but you also can just not squeeze. The difference for me was that the
single lever Kent paddle has a different feel. Even using my Bencher in
Ultimatic mode or just NOT squeezing I still made mistakes because of the
small muscle precision required. With the Kent paddle, the spacing can be
opened up and the tension increased and this combined with the fact that you
can use your arm/shoulder (i.e. large) muscles to do the work rather that
the tip of your fingers and thumbs and wrist (i.e. small muscles)to key.
BTW, the very high speed cw ops use single lever paddles because the tiny
movements of iambic keyers cannot be controlled well at high speeds. Last,
but not least, the Kent paddle is heavy and stays put and looks good. If I
had the money I might bought a Bengali single lever paddle but I got the
Kent by making an offer lower than the buy it now price on an eBay auction
that was accepted!!!!

Jack AE6GC KX1 1403, K3 1433.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 7:44 PM
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WTB - Kent single lever paddle

Ralph,

I do not have a single lever paddle for sale, but I suffer from similar
problems. If you cannot find a decent single lever paddle at a price
your ham budget can afford (the Bengali is outside my price range), I
suggest that you try one of the K1EL keyers in Ultimatic mode - it works
for me - it makes a standard paddle respond almost like a single lever
paddle, press the dash and it gives dashes, press the dot and out comes
a dit - it just feels right to my brain.

I have been asking periodically that the Elecraft built-in keyers
support Ultimatic mode for folks like us, but so far, it has been low on
the priority list (but is not being ignored).

73,
Don W3FPR

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M0XDF

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I think I'd like to see Ultimatic mode too, I'm thinking I'll have to
learn Iambic though, because most rigs don't support Ultimatic.
But Ultimatic does sound like the easier and frankly, more logical mode.

Maybe I'll have to borrow a friends keyer to give it a try.
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
--
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think
we're not. In either case, the idea is quite staggering.
-Arthur C Clarke, science fiction writer (1917- )

On 26 Aug 2008, at 03:44, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Ralph,
>
> I do not have a single lever paddle for sale, but I suffer from
> similar problems. If you cannot find a decent single lever paddle
> at a price your ham budget can afford (the Bengali is outside my
> price range), I suggest that you try one of the K1EL keyers in
> Ultimatic mode - it works for me - it makes a standard paddle
> respond almost like a single lever paddle, press the dash and it
> gives dashes, press the dot and out comes a dit - it just feels
> right to my brain.
>
> I have been asking periodically that the Elecraft built-in keyers
> support Ultimatic mode for folks like us, but so far, it has been
> low on the priority list (but is not being ignored).

Darwin, Keith

RE: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

A lot of people talk about how difficult squeeze keying is to learn. I
sure don't want to lessen their position, but I confess I find it
baffling. To me squeeze keying is very natural and intuitive. I went
from a straight key to a keyer years ago without learning a bug or
cootie key. Maybe that had something to do with it. I learned iambic
squeeze keying when I was doing CW at 8 wpm. Maybe that had something
to do with it.

Many years later I learned to use a bug (lot's of fun BTW). It did take
me a while, but that had more to do with learning to form dashes
manually. Learning to not squeeze was the easy part. I guess after
years (decades) of buggin', many ops find it hard to retrain the muscles
and brain to send CW with a slightly different pattern.

I'm interested in a single lever paddle so I can use it as a cootie (my
next mountain to conquer).

73!

- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -

-----Original Message-----
From: David Ferrington, M0XDF

I think I'd like to see Ultimatic mode too, I'm thinking I'll have to
learn Iambic though, because most rigs don't support Ultimatic.
But Ultimatic does sound like the easier and frankly, more logical mode.

Maybe I'll have to borrow a friends keyer to give it a try.
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
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Terry Myers

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by M0XDF

Built in keyers change from rig to rig, so buy a key you like and a keyer
you like and just move it from rig to rig. There are fewer menus to learn
and fewer adjustments. Not to mention fewer cw errors sent.

I have the Kent single level paddle and a Super CMOS III keyer that are my
favorite combination. I have tried many others, but this is my favorite
setup. My first keyer was a Accu-keyer I built from a handbook article. I
sold it for something new and regretted it. I tried many keys and keyers
over the years and found that simple was best.

It came down to two paddles for me. The Vibroplex and the Kent and the Kent
won because it did not require the hand to be raised above the table
surface. Both are good paddles, but that made the difference for me.

I made a Plexiglas dust cover for the Kent and then built my Super CMOS III
keyer in an enclosure that would sit on top of the dust cover.

There you have it.

Terry, KQ5U

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WTB - Kent single lever paddle

>I think I'd like to see Ultimatic mode too, I'm thinking I'll have to
>learn Iambic though, because most rigs don't support Ultimatic.
> But Ultimatic does sound like the easier and frankly, more logical mode.
>
> Maybe I'll have to borrow a friends keyer to give it a try.
> 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
> --
> Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think
> we're not. In either case, the idea is quite staggering.
> -Arthur C Clarke, science fiction writer (1917- )
>
> On 26 Aug 2008, at 03:44, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>> Ralph,
>>
>> I do not have a single lever paddle for sale, but I suffer from similar
>> problems. If you cannot find a decent single lever paddle at a price
>> your ham budget can afford (the Bengali is outside my price range), I
>> suggest that you try one of the K1EL keyers in Ultimatic mode - it works
>> for me - it makes a standard paddle respond almost like a single lever
>> paddle, press the dash and it gives dashes, press the dot and out comes
>> a dit - it just feels right to my brain.
>>
>> I have been asking periodically that the Elecraft built-in keyers
>> support Ultimatic mode for folks like us, but so far, it has been low on
>> the priority list (but is not being ignored).
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

DW Holtman

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by M0XDF

Hello,

Question about the Vibroplex key, the Vibrokeyer. Is it a sideswiper, or
does it have automatic dots completion like the original model?

Best,
DW Holtman
WB7SSN

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 7:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WTB - Kent single lever paddle

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by M0XDF

David,

If you want Ultimatic mode, look at the K1EL keyers (Google for URL),
the K12 is the low end keyer that supports Ultimatic and is priced at
$17 USD with no enclosure - it is small enough to fit inside many
transceivers but I put mine in a small box to be used with several
different transceivers.

Ultimatic makes us 'slap paddle' users able to generate better code.

73,
Don W3FPR

David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
> I think I'd like to see Ultimatic mode too, I'm thinking I'll have to
> learn Iambic though, because most rigs don't support Ultimatic.
> But Ultimatic does sound like the easier and frankly, more logical mode.
>
> Maybe I'll have to borrow a friends keyer to give it a try.
> 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
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M0XDF

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

Thanks Don, I was just looking at the WKUSB, but will look at the K12
because I could do the same.
I guess since the keyers use the key in jack of the K3, I can still
use the message records of the K3 too? And not quite sure what the PTT
jack on the WKUSB is for?
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
--
What is the purpose of the giant sequoia tree? The purpose of the giant
sequoia tree is to provide shade for the tiny titmouse.
-Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (1927-1989)

On 26 Aug 2008, at 15:35, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> David,
>
> If you want Ultimatic mode, look at the K1EL keyers (Google for
> URL), the K12 is the low end keyer that supports Ultimatic and is
> priced at $17 USD with no enclosure - it is small enough to fit
> inside many transceivers but I put mine in a small box to be used
> with several different transceivers.
>
> Ultimatic makes us 'slap paddle' users able to generate better code.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
>> I think I'd like to see Ultimatic mode too, I'm thinking I'll have
>> to learn Iambic though, because most rigs don't support Ultimatic.
>> But Ultimatic does sound like the easier and frankly, more logical
>> mode.
>> Maybe I'll have to borrow a friends keyer to give it a try.
>> 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174

M0XDF

Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Terry Myers

Yes, I thought that is probably the way to go, but it does mean I'd
have to carry the keyer around and I liked the idea of having the
keyer in the K3 (not to mention that I hope to use a KX1 someday).
Thanks for confirmation of that being the way to go.
Ideally, elecraft will implement Ultimatic in the K3 - soon ?
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
--
If all is not lost, where is it?

On 26 Aug 2008, at 15:17, Terry Myers wrote:

> Built in keyers change from rig to rig, so buy a key you like and a
> keyer you like and just move it from rig to rig. There are fewer
> menus to learn and fewer adjustments. Not to mention fewer cw
> errors sent.
>
> I have the Kent single level paddle and a Super CMOS III keyer that
> are my favorite combination. I have tried many others, but this is
> my favorite setup. My first keyer was a Accu-keyer I built from a
> handbook article. I sold it for something new and regretted it. I
> tried many keys and keyers over the years and found that simple was
> best.
>
> It came down to two paddles for me. The Vibroplex and the Kent and
> the Kent won because it did not require the hand to be raised above
> the table surface. Both are good paddles, but that made the
> difference for me.
>
> I made a Plexiglas dust cover for the Kent and then built my Super
> CMOS III keyer in an enclosure that would sit on top of the dust
> cover.

k6dgw

Re: Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
> If you want Ultimatic mode, look at the K1EL keyers (Google for URL),
> the K12 is the low end keyer that supports Ultimatic and is priced at
> $17 USD with no enclosure - it is small enough to fit inside many
> transceivers but I put mine in a small box to be used with several
> different transceivers.
>
> Ultimatic makes us 'slap paddle' users able to generate better code.

Yes! I am a slapper and will be until I'm SK. I've tried to learn "the
squeeze," but it's been very much like my trying to learn to play the
piano. Trust me, you don't want to hear me try. Except for my
proletarian-looking WW2 Lionel J36 that I modified to a single lever for
the keyer I built in high school, I've always used Benchers ... they
seemed to be plentiful, not too costly, and ubiquitous [love that word!].

Then I bought a HexKey from E'craft. Wow! What a difference in feel!
Currently, I have the Hex on the K3 and the shiny chrome Bencher on the
K1EL. Not only do I like the Hex better, I like the ability to adjust
the keying weight on the K3 in small increments. I'll keep my K1EL, if
for no other reason than I assembled it into the enclosure of my choice.

God willing, I will be at N6A for the Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct. We're
hoping to work a bunch of Elecrafters on both phone and CW. If you want
Alpine County CA, we're your guys. We're usually your ONLY guys!

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2008 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 08
- www.cqp.org
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AC7AC

RE: Re: WTB - Kent single lever paddle

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