The Best CW Key / Paddle in the WORLD!!!
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- Опубликовано: 17 дек 2023
- Ok, this might be a little bit of click bait, but this was a conversation that happened within our local club and sparked some controversy.
Let me know what you think - what do you feel is the BEST CW key or paddle in the world?!?
CWon my friends! 
Наука
Like the sculpture for the desk. Traveler for mobile/portable., although you may need a sticky pad under it to keep from wandering. Also have a couple cw Morse paddles for backpacking.
Great video om.
The best CW key is always the one you haven't bought yet
Indeed!!
The best CW key is the one that gets you doing CW on the air!
💯💯💯👍
Begali is currently offline for at least one week due to a flooding disaster. I hope they do not suffer inventory or manufacturing losses.
Good thing it occurred after the Dayton event, so inventory was sold and not lost due to flooding.
For your lightweight keys with magnets on the bottom, consider buying a jeweler's bench block, for ~10 bucks online. They add about 20 oz to the paddle and have a silicone bottom that grips the desk. I went with the Owden (3" round/ 3/4" tall). Works great for my POTA paddles that attach to the metal case of my QRP rig. Now I can use my BamTech TP-III and Pico Palm Paddle at my home station.
I put magnets on everything, and use a 2 pound jewellers block.
Great idea!
Great idea! I love the BamaTech TP-III. I use a 2" steel washer taped to my desk. About a dollar at any hardware store. For POTA I tape a washer to a small clip board. I like your idea better for desktop flexibility. As far as I'm concerned POTA has changed the game. The future of CW paddles is small, lightweight, adjustable, rugged, elegant, and artistic. BamaTech nailed it.
Left, right, squeezie-squeezie!
Got a chuckle when he said that. Haha
Answer: the best one is the one that you use? I have a straight key and have seldom ever used it. Thanks for showing the different types. Just getting back to the hobby and like your content.
Thanks for watching Don! Glad you're back in the hobby.
yet another great CW video. Thank you for putting it out. We need more content like this.👍
Thanks for watching!
I'm pretty happy (for at home) with my Brass Racer (Vibroplex paddles). Maybe a little light, but I have found that if I moisten the bottoms of the rubber feet (a little spit works) and let it sit for a couple of minutes, then it has more than enough traction.
With keys - like all things - you get what you pay for. Personally, there's nothing better in the world than a Begali. If you do lots of CW, one of these is a must. You may think "I'm not paying $600.00 for a paddle". How much do you pay for a good radio though? It is a crafted instrument for sending morse code. Surely that counts for something. Some paddles: Bencher (awful), Vibroplex iambic (mediocre), Kent (better)....N3ZN (great).....Begali (best).if you use them long enough you'll see what I mean. 73 de Scott W1AL
Great commentary! All true
Why the one I own of course! Isnt that usually how those conversations start "Mine is better or bigger then yours" right? If ya Don't believe a guy, just ask him he will tell ya lol.
TJ..nice video as usual. One of the best straight keys I have ever used is a U.S. Army Signal Corp Flame Proof J-5-A. I don't use a straight key too often, but with all the keys I have, the J-5-A is the smoothest. Surprising, they are not that expensive at hamfests, etc..
I think I should keep my eye open for one of these!
I think it is misleading to refer to a sideswiper/cootie as a single lever paddle. A single lever paddle requires a keyer. It is the keyer that generates the dits and dahs. A cootie/ sideswiper is really a cousin of a straight key where the formation of the dits and dahs is entirely up to the operators' manipulations without any intervention by electronics.
Other things I would look for in a single lever or dual lever paddle are low friction movement of the arms, quality contact materials and zero up/down slop. So, they should be mechanically smooth and consistent. The up/down slop is where I think the Bencher is less than great.
Like you, I prefer to touch the paddles a little higher up. Of course that would depend on what base or non-slip material you have it on. I have replaced the stock paddles on a few of mine, but that then becomes an opportunity to modify the appearance to suit your preference, with rare wood types, carbon fiber, different color plastic, drilled with lightening holes (allegedly permitting higher speed operation (not me) and it looks more sporty!). 73
Paddle finger pieces are often asymetrical with a bulge up or down near the tip. You can swap the finger pieces right with left and move the bulge to the other direction... Move the touch point from low to high, or high to low. An asymetric single paddle finger piece can be reversed for the same effect. Often good for around a half inch adjustment.
While learning the alphabet, is it best to learn all the letters and numbers before buying a CW key? Or, does it help the learning process to practice on the CW key while learning? Dumb question? Recommendations?
This was a really good question. I would go ahead and buy something because I think it would help if you practiced sending also.
Quakehold! 88111 Museum Putty Neutral - this will hold a light CW paddle in place. Suggested by my instructor at LICW.
Love the disco ball in the PC.
Good catch!!
I have a Vibroplex Zephyr, and I think of it as a musical instrument more than a code key. It needs a musician to play it properly. But when you put the 2 together you get beautiful music.
I love it!! Totally agree!
That is a hefty collection of keys!
😀 it's only about 30% of them... 😱
Nah, the best way to aggravate an old Ham is to refer to Paddles as a "Key".
Yesssssssss! That's gonna be my next video!!
The OM himself talking about upsetting OMs. 😛
*Old man yells at cloud*
Haha! Yesss! 😎🤣
Fit hits the Shan 😂 yep buy once cry once on a good paddle. I’m always kinda bummed to see a crappy key at field day.
Tell me about it!
Great video TJ. Is that a Begali paddle with the round base? What is the weight on that one?
The Pearl weighs 3.7lb I have one, superb
The one with the round base is not a Begali Pearl. On the pearl the arms are straight, and the contacts are at the rear. The one on screen has 90 degree arms.
Thanks for another great video. I must agree weight is very important. My Begali Pearl, 3.7lb what a monster that wont move. Did you spot your name in my Bio on this months CWOPS Newsletter. I am thinking of buying a Dynamometer to set my paddle up, do you have one?
I dont, but I often thought of getting one...!
The 9A5N looks neat. Do you have one or have any experience using one?
I received this question a couple of different times from some people and I think it's time for me to buy one. I've never tried one but it really looks interesting.
I got one, a dual lever. I really like it.
Hi. Could you please recommend a good key for beginners to learn Morse code? Thanks
I would say possibly the UR5CDX keys are beautiful, work great and feel great and aren't super expensive.
Great demo. I have my eye on the UR5Dx paddle CT599 are you familiar with it? Whats your thoughts please? Thank you KI5CDQ DON
It is an excellent paddle, and it is also somewhat affordable too. I did a detailed video on it on my channel here
I just want to know where to get one of those RA1AOM keys.
The best paddle is The one you use.
❤️❤️💯💯
I do like your white PC bild!
Thanks! I do love it too
Never have your wrist bone on the desk, or you will suffer carpel tunnel.
What? No 'proper' straight key? What type of Morse operating is this? Covered in another video I hope...
Yes, this was strictly a video on paddles...
The intro is looping. Let’s make it shorter. 😀
Geez, I just saw what you mean. I'm not sure why RUclips put that in there.
There is no best Morse paddle. A Morse paddle should be individually adjusted to the hand, like a ski boot. Just my piece of cake. Very cool Video, Tnx and vy73 de HB9CSA, DL4FDM
Great input! Thank you for watching