The ZN-SLR is certainly amongst the best single lever keys ever made. I don't know to what extreme you like your spacing, but I typically have mine set to the point where the contact is closed and then backed off ever so slightly; I also set magnetic tension rather light. Most single levers suffer from the inability to precisely return to center and need to be adjusted to compensate for the "sloppiness". The ZN-SLR is the best I've ever seen in that respect, ie. dual-lever type spacing can be achieved.
73 - Eric NO3M SLR 034 On 10/20/10 14:50, stan levandowski wrote: > A number of Elecraft listers asked me to report my impressions when my > ZN-SLR paddle arrived. > > I'd like to report that the Tony Baleno (N3ZN) model ZN-SLR single lever > paddle has exceeded my expectations in every respect. Foremost, it is > giving me that "special feel" that I've been searching for since I tried > out a real Mercury key at W1AW a few years ago. > > My impressions are, of course, mine, and perhaps not everyone will agree > but that's OK. My report is within the following context: I've been a > Morse-only operator for over 50 years and I am "fluent" with straight > keys, bugs, a sideswiper, and the paddle. I "don't do" iambic and I > copy my own code (code readers are about as welcome as microphones in my > house). I prefer sending and receiving code somewhere in the > neighborhood of 18-22 wpm. > > The main problem that this ZN-SLR solved for me was the random "extra" > dits and dahs that came from my Scheunemann-Morsetasten SP-1 which was > also a single lever paddle and made in Germany. The SP-1 was indeed a > beautifully machined key with an integral dust cover. I just could not > get the spacing close enough for my personal style. When I did, the > random characters would start to appear. The SP-1 was not a magnetic > return key but used springs. > > When my new ZN-SLR arrived, I plugged it into the K2, set the keyer > speed to 18 wpm and sent an entire page of QST with not a single error. > I continued to test it out at speeds from 12 wpm (I'm presently making > digital files at this speed for a ham to whom I've teaching Morse) up to > 30 wpm (the fastest speed at which I can reliably send and receive). > Solid performance throughout this range! > > The "feel" of the ZN-SLR is "silky-smooth" for want of a better term, > and it makes me feel very confident that each character I'm going to > send is going to come out just as intended. Once again, this is > difficult to describe in words, but a cw op will know what I'm talking > about. > > There is no annoying "clacking" - the ZN-SLR actually makes very little > noise. This was a great relief for me because my previous SP-1 was > quite loud at the spacing I needed to use to send without the random > dits and dahs. > > Another VERY important discovery I made was that the ZN-SLR CANNOT BE > PUSHED AROUND ON MY DESK! This was a grand discovery for me. I'm an > ex-Navy radioman and, although I prefer closer spacing, I sometimes like > to slap my bugs and paddles (and even the cootie!). All my other keys > required some of that rug anti-skid material under them to stay put. > With the ZN-SLR just sitting on my wooden desk, it didn't budge, not > once, and no matter how hard I whacked it. The four rubber feet that > Tony installed seem to be made of a nice soft rubber material. I > suspect that the round base design and the center of gravity also may > play a role in the key's superior ability to stay put. Although I've > stated that I like to "slap" my keys sometimes, when using my wrist and > elbow, I also like to rest my hand on the desk and stroke the > fingerpiece with my thumb and forefinger in a sliding motion. The > ZN-SLR responds equally well, with comfort and accuracy, to this > technique. > > For a non-iambic operator, the single lever paddle, in my opinion, is a > better choice and substantially reduces sending errors. I asked Tony > Baleno to double the fingerpiece thickness for me (as suggested by one > of the Elecraft listers here) and it turned out to be a great idea. > Tony advised me that he now intends to make this a standard feature on > the ZN-SLR. > > The construction of this key is very impressive. It easily, in my > opinion, competes with the German SP-1. I never could find a single > fault with the SP-1 and I can't find one on the ZN-SLR either. I tend > to be a stickler for precision, having built a couple of experimental > airplanes. There are no tooling marks to be found on my key; no > unfinished edges, no skimping on the workmanship and finish on the > bottom! For example, there are three setscrews on the front, above the > fingerpiece. I measured them and they are perfectly spaced and the > middle one is dead center on the fingerpiece seam. It also lines up > with the exact center of my callsign plate which is just above. These > are the sort of details which, in my opinion, distinguish the true > craftsperson from the rest of the pack. > > Did I mention that the WB2LQF callsign plate was a no-charge item, as > was the nice soft brush to dust the key? > > The key arrived in an oversized box densely packed with peanuts. Inside > was a smaller box in which the key was packed with handcut foam to > protect it. More evidence of a total quality approach. > > In my opinion, I really got my money's worth. I cannot imagine ever > needing or wanting another paddle. The ZN-SLR's performance and > workmanship is a fitting companion to my all-Elecraft station. I now > feel like I'm totally surrounded in "Made in America" quality. > > I had Rose Kopp make me a ZN-SLR paddle dust cover. She called Tony for > the dimensions. It fits perfectly. Bonus: If I so choose, I can > actually use the paddle with the cover on it. > > 73, > > Stan Levandowski WB2LQF > HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years! > QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #14992 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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
