vibroplex bug
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Hi
I presently own an Elecraft hex key and a speedex straight key, but have been thinking about buying a vibroplex bug to use in contest that don't allow electronic keyers. It's been 30 yrs since I have used a Vibroplex bug and was wondering which way it operates. Do you send the dits with the thumb and the dahs with the index finger? Or is it the reverse? I've been sending the dits with my thumb and the dahs with the index finger too long to try doing the oppsite. Even using a straight key tends to mess me up with the keyer. Thanks Scott N5SM _________________________________________________________________ Need a brain boost? Recharge with a stimulating game. Play now! http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=club_hotmailtextlink1 _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by N5SM
At 12:00 PM 26/07/07, you wrote:
> Do you send the dits with the thumb and the dahs with the index finger? Yes. John k7up _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by N5SM
I think if I were to buy a new bug today (I've thought about it), I'd
get a VIZ bug rather than a Vibroplex. I believe the VIZ to be a bit better built and I hear they are more easily used at the slower speeds (15-20 wpm). What contest doesn't allow keyers? Maybe the SKCC sprints? - Keith N1AS - - K2 5411.ssb.100 - -----Original Message----- ... but have been thinking about buying a vibroplex bug to use in contest that don't allow electronic keyers. _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by N5SM
FYI, Vibroplex offers an extension arm (called Vari-speed) to slow down their bugs and it makes fine tuning speed easy. I put one on my old Lightning Bug and it will slow down to below 15 wpm. Ken, W5HYN -----Original Message----- >From: "Darwin, Keith" <[hidden email]> >Sent: Jul 26, 2007 2:18 PM >To: "elecraft@Elecraft List" <[hidden email]> >Subject: RE: [Elecraft] vibroplex bug > >I think if I were to buy a new bug today (I've thought about it), I'd >get a VIZ bug rather than a Vibroplex. I believe the VIZ to be a bit >better built and I hear they are more easily used at the slower speeds >(15-20 wpm). > >What contest doesn't allow keyers? Maybe the SKCC sprints? > >- Keith N1AS - >- K2 5411.ssb.100 - > >-----Original Message----- >... but have been thinking about buying a vibroplex bug to use in >contest that don't allow electronic keyers. >_______________________________________________ >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 _______________________________________________ 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 |
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On Jul 26, 2007, at 12:51 PM, Ken W5HYN wrote: > > FYI, Vibroplex offers an extension arm (called Vari-speed) to slow > down their bugs and it makes fine tuning speed easy. I put one on > my old Lightning Bug and it will slow down to below 15 wpm. > I bought my first bug 55 years ago as a 5 WPM novice. That arm wasn't available then, so I drilled a hole in a piece of steel and attached it to the top of the weight with a longer screw. Bob, N7XY _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by N5SM
Scott McDowell wrote:
> Hi > I presently own an Elecraft hex key and a speedex straight key, but have > been thinking > about buying a vibroplex bug to use in contest that don't allow > electronic keyers. > It's been 30 yrs since I have used a Vibroplex bug and was wondering > which way it > operates. Do you send the dits with the thumb and the dahs with the > index finger? > Or is it the reverse? I've been sending the dits with my thumb and the > dahs with > the index finger too long to try doing the oppsite. Even using a > straight key tends > to mess me up with the keyer. > Thanks > Scott N5SM Standard bugs have dits on the thumb. You could [maybe still can] get a "left handed" bug, but they were expensive. Most lefties I knew, including me, just learn to use a bug or paddle right-handed. We have to adapt to a right-handed world anyway :-) although current keyers and radios usually let you "switch sides" from a menu. All of the Vibroplex bugs were/are notorious for high-speed dits. As a teen, I couldn't afford one, but I did have a very proletarian looking WW2 surplus J-36 made by Lionel. It was easily slowed to 7 or 8 WPM with the stock weight. I took some heat from the OT's at the Coastal Marine Station I worked at while a senior in high school over it, and it was certainly not as sleek and shiny, nor did it have a wood carrying case like theirs, but I also didn't have to kludge weights such as you can see on the Vibroplex at radiomarine.org/historic-5.html A friend who was a former USCG radioman, recently gave me his Vibroplex. I try to use it on SKN, but it's a chore. Switching between a bug and keyer is harder than one might think. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2007 CQP Oct 6-7 - www.cqp.org _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bob Nielsen
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At 02:54 PM 26/07/07, you wrote:
>-----Original Message----- > >On Jul 26, 2007, at 12:51 PM, Ken W5HYN wrote: > > > > > FYI, Vibroplex offers an extension arm (called Vari-speed) to slow > > down their bugs and it makes fine tuning speed easy. I put one on > > my old Lightning Bug and it will slow down to below 15 wpm. > > > >I bought my first bug 55 years ago as a 5 WPM novice. That arm >wasn't available then, so I drilled a hole in a piece of steel and >attached it to the top of the weight with a longer screw. > >Bob, N7XY > >-------------------------- > >Clothespins and (my favorite) large alligator clips hung onto the pendulum >have done such duty too. Position them so they don't interfere with the >damper action. I wrapped solder around the weight, that worked. John k7up _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by k6dgw
Fred,
I had the same problem 30 yrs ago. Ended up working the keyer with my left hand and the vibroplex with my right. Instant switching is possible without any mistake. Hope this helps. 73 Arie PA3A ------------------ I try to use it on SKN, but it's a chore. Switching between a bug and keyer is harder than one might think. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2007 CQP Oct 6-7 - www.cqp.org _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by N5SM
----- Original Message ----- From: Charles Allison To: [hidden email] Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 8:20 AM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] vibroplex bug Chris, My wife got the bug bug, the straight key bug, the iambic key bug... fairly recently too. She is a dedicated but fairly slow cw operator as well and keeps a 1960 vintage vibroplex, a blackwidow iambic and a modern russian knockoff of the world war II Junkers german key all tied to her K2 at the same time. She's also got 3 or 4 more bugs, mostly Vibroplex. One can buy weights for the Vibroplex to slow it down and I think she's got 2 weights on her regular key. One of the keys had a 4-40 screw hole tapped in the side of the weight. It was explained that this used to be done by some operators that installed a copper tube, squashed and drilled, to provide an extra weight as a lever that could be used to immediately change speeds by pushing the top outward or inward - without having to loosen the weight screw, position the weight and then tightening the weight screw down again. best regards, Charles wb5izd Message: 1 Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:08:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Chris Kantarjiev <[hidden email]> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] vibroplex bug To: [hidden email] Message-ID: <[hidden email]> I got the bug bug about a year ago, and found a 1923 Vibroplex in decent shape. Yeah, the dot rate is way too fast to learn with. After exploring many options for slowing it, I went to a local hobby shop and got a bit of brass tubing that has an ID that is a slip fit over the rod. About 6" did it for me - slows the dots right down and still allows me to do some adjusting. 73 de chris K6DBG _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Arie Kleingeld PA3A
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Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> When I do use a keyer these days (e.g. my KX1 in the field) I use it like a > 'bug', tapping the dash lever for each dash, etc. Not an ideal solution, but > it helps avoid my reverting to keyer muscle memory and 'forgetting' how to > use a bug again. For me, that happens very quickly. If I let myself, it only > takes a few minutes to be whizzing along with an Iambic keyer again, then it > takes hours to regain some semblance of decent timing on the bug. I've found that squeeze keying is different enough from side-to-side bug operation that only a small amount of practice is needed to get the ability to use the bug back. This was not the case when I used to use a single-lever paddle. > Years ago I suggested a "bug mode" in the Elecraft keyers in which they > would simply produce the outputs a bug does: key down as along as the dash > paddle is closed and a string of dots at the speed set when the dot paddle > is closed. It never happened. I suppose there aren't enough of us > bug-oriented masochistic curmudgeons around to make it worthwhile ;-) I've tried such things and they never work because (at least for me) the tactile feedback from the momentum of the bug weight is important to my timing. -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by charles allison-2
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Guys,
Gert, PA3GUF makes handmade bugs. Wanna see the Blue GUF Racer? A GUF speed X bug? A camelback key? Or an admirality key? All handmade. Watch the slideshow on his site. I have tried out many of his bugs and I love them. www.pa3guf.nl Enjoy 73 Arie PA3A _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AC7AC
These are kind of neat:
http://www.extendadot.com/ Tony W7GO _______________________________________________ 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 |
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