Darrell:
The better you get, the less satisfied you will be with the
Bencher BY-1. The HEX is quite nice. I'm not sure what the Bencher
folks mean by it's being better for people who are used to bugs. I
suppose they mean that, because it is heavy and hard to knock around,
those with robust habits will be better accommodated. But the HEX is
perfectly capable of being used by a very, very light touch. So I
guess I find their statement misleading. The Begali paddles are
quite wonderful, and the Kent are very good. The WBLs are
outstanding, but hard to come by. The Mercury paddles are refined HEX
paddles, and while they are really quite nice, I don't think they are
worth the rather substantial additional price. The Elecraft version
of the HEX is a great value. I suspect if you get a Begali, a HEX,
or a Kent, you will be very happy. Within this upper range of items,
people tend to think that what they have is the best. That means
they are all doing the job just fine.
best wishes,
dave belsley, w1euy
On Jun 15, 2006, at 11:56 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote:
I sure have enjoyed this thread on high end paddles. I have so far
mostly used
just a straight key, but with my new K2 and it's built in keyer I
would like
to give iambic operation another go.
I had a Heathkit uMatic keyer, model SA-5010, with the capacitive
touch
paddles. Had lots of trouble getting used to those paddles so I
purchased a
Vibroplex Iambic Deluxe. Well, I was not much better with those, so
I gave up
on the world of keyers and went back to my straight key. I did use the
memories in the uMatic though.
A few years later I discovered the article by Chuck Adams, K7QQ, on
using an
iambic paddle. I found I was using the slap the paddle around the
desk method
and seldom used the iambic function of the keyer but treating the
paddles
more like a single lever. Resetting the Vibroplex paddle as Chuck
recommends
and learning to send with a light touch helped, but I still was having
trouble. Ended up selling the paddle when someone wanted the paddle
for their
collection and I needed a few bucks.
With the new K2, and the need to test the built-in keyer, a friend
lent me his
Bencher BY-1 paddle. What a difference! Although I still need lots of
practice, I can use this paddle.
Reading the Bencher web site it suggests that the BY-1 series is
better for
those using a light touch than the Hex Paddle, which is for those
more used
to a bug.
That seems to run contradictory to what I read in this thread and
on eHam. So,
do those of you who have used both the BY-1 and Hex Paddle agree with
Bencher's views? Is the BY-1 really better for those using a light
touch?
With little money to spend, and a KPA100 and KAT100 also on the
wishlist, I am
wondering if I should look for a good used BY-1, and save for a
better paddle
down the road. I doubt I will reach 20 wpm for a few years and I am
just
learning how to properly use an iambic paddle. Is there a downside to
learning with a BY-1 and then moving to something else?
Or would it be better to learn with a better paddle from the start?
The HEXKEY
and Begali Simplex would run in the $215-250 range in Canadian
dollars. The
Begali magnetic paddles would add another $140 to the price. The
Begali
Signature would set me back about $475. Used Bencher BY-1's from
eBay would
cost me less than $100 Canadian dollars.
Probably not the best apples and oranges comparison, but I doubt I
will find
many used HEXKEYs, Begalis, or other high end paddles for sale. I
would also
be hesitant about buying such an expensive key on eBay for fear of
getting
one that has been abused.
I'd like to hear your opinions and thoughts on my paddle selection,
Darrell
--
Darrell Bellerive
Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
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-------------------------------------
david a. belsley
professor of economics
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