A local newbie bought a Vibroplex Vibrokeyer at a recent hamfest. He brought it to me to help him get it adjusted.
After adjusting the spring tension (too tight no matter how 'loose' the adjustments made it), and the contact spacing, I noticed that it didn't key the keyer to which it was attached... and when it DID (infrequently) cause the keyer to emit a tone, the electrical contact of either level was not consistent. Using an ohmmeter I confirmed that the GND lead of the connecting cable was in deed electrically connected to the base of the keyer AND the the yoke holding the dual levers. But NEITHER lever gave continuity to ground...! Removing the keying levers revealed that this was in fact, one of the few paddles which came with synthetic ruby bearings which had not long ago been crushed by excessive tightening of the adjusting screws. However, given that the ruby bearings were still in place, they provided for the levers to be well above ground potential to the base, and thus to the keyer itself. The ONLY method I was able to find that each keying lever might have been 'electrically connected to the keyer base was via the (contact-return 'tension' spring in each lever. I've tried to find a contact method for Vibroplex but have had no luck finding ANYTHING, unless I want to place an order for parts or service. Does anyone happen to have a phone or e-mail address for Vibroplex? And more importantly, can anyone confirm that the ONLY source of grounding between the Vibrokeyer levers and the base of the paddle is via the contact return springs? If so, man, that's a HORRIBLY POOR connection to be relying upon. Thanks for your time, 73, Tom Hammond N0SS ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
