Hi to the group I think I have an easy solution to the problem indicated here. The first problem may be the hinges of the paddles. I took a fine wire out of an audio cable and put one end under the screw on each paddle. I looped and soldered this wire to the ground terminal of the connector to the KX3. The paddles do not move enough to cause the wire to break. I use the paddles as a side swiper key any time I need a hand key and after the straight key nite on New Years the paddle I was using got intermittent. A small shot of WD40 fixed it and I have used it quite a bit since then. You may want to try the WD40 first and maybe that is all the hinges need too but I like the positive ground the wire provides.
I sure do like my KX3 and KXPA100 so expect to have lots of fun camping this summer. 73 Ken W0CZ w0cz at i29 dot net Sent from my iPad > On Feb 7, 2014, at 4:28 AM, Heinz Baertschi <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Mark Petiford wrote >> RE: "Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws >> and >> posts?" >> >> Heinz, >> In an attempt to solve the "missing dit" problem? >> Mark >> KE6BB > > Not at all, I never noticed the so-called dit Problem. > Using an early (upgraded) and a late KXPD3, both with the light(est) spring. > > Both paddles functioned flawless last year on over 100 SOTA expeditions > (more than 6000 QSOs). > The contacts become intermittent during the winter months (temp around 0C, > sometimes foggy). > Dry cleaning the contacts did always help for some time. > > The KXPD3 has become my paddle of choice for SOTA through it's reliability > (simplicity, robustness) and it's suitability for use also on higher keying > Speeds. > > That is why I am exploring an improvement. > > Heinz HB9BCB > > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KXPD3-Gold-plated-contacts-tp7583792p7583817.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
