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write your own review of the MFJ-564x Dual Paddle Key.
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VK4JAZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 28, 2012 22:44
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I love this paddle.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have been using this paddle, which was bought new from a dealer in Hong Kong, for about a month now and haven't touched a microphone since. It took me about half an hour to get the settings right and I haven't had to touch them since.
This key produces smooth keying and has had a good impact on my sending ability. I will hang on to it.
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WA7NCL
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 21, 2012 17:36
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The usual MFJ quality
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Whenever I buy MFJ I always consider it a "partial kit". You can always count on having to modify it a little.
I bought this for camping and Fielday -- something I could take into the woods and not worry about beating it up.
When you get it, all the screws are loose. You need to tighten the ones in the base. The contact adjusters and set screw need to be removed and the split pedestal needs to be squeezed gently with a vise grips to get the locking screws to clamp the adjuster screw. The throw adjusters were threaded too sloppy so for them the only thing is to use some sort of thread locking compound after adjustment. I used clear nail polish.
After modification, it works nearly as well as my Bencher. So I am happy enough.
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KI4GJV
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2011 18:30
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This is a great paddle for the money.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Some folks seem to have problems with just about everything. This $70.00 paddle works. It don't cost $200. + and doesn't pretend to. MFJ is a easy target I guess.
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KF7YN
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Rating: 2/5
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Jun 8, 2011 16:09
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Disappointed
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought this new intended for camping, field day, etc on a "buy it now" price too good to pass up, knowing full well MFJ quality is iffy these days.
When I got it, it keyed my radio all by itself! I took it apart and noticed there was metal shaving imbedded in the right hand plastic sleeve that holds the contact post. It was obviously left over from drilling and the post hole was never cleaned out or inspected.
After prying the piece of metal out, it still continued to key my radio. I measured from post to ground and read <100K ohms. Apparently the entire plastic sleeve is impregnated with metal bits. So I cleaned it up best I could and put nylon thread tape on the screw to make it work. All-in-all, a poor copy of the venerable Bencher BY-1.
Having been a commercial CW op on a merchant ship for many years, I know CW gear and the MFJ 564 is a pile o' crap.
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N4UE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 27, 2011 15:58
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Works fine!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Not being a CW 'expert', but a lowly 13 WPM Extra, I can't believe some of the negative reviews of this paddle.
I have a 'look alike' Bencher and the MFJ is a great copy.
After reading the reviews below, all I can say is:
"If you can't adjust this paddle, PLEASE don't work on your own car or anything else mechanical!!!".
This thing could NOT be more simple.
ron
N4UE
(been hamming for 50 years)
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M0JHA
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 4, 2010 08:39
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does what its supposed to
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have only just got this today, i did a bit of searching re the unit and was met with mixed reviews. There were reports of the pivot screws being loose which is indeed what i found.
Ok now some would slate mfj for this , why? its not a £400 paddle. i simply put a very small blob of resin on the thread of the pivot stop screw , set it up and job done.
iv used the unit today and works as it should , no issues as yet. So any complaints from me ? No the slightly loose screws was a 1 min fix and if thats all thats going to be wrong with it i think i got an ok deal..
billy
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WA7KGX
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 18, 2010 17:44
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Still learning.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought one the other day on a whim.
It was only twenty bucks. It started me on a project to get going on the code.
I think I learned a few things about it when I "customized" the cord. There wasn't anything wrong with the cord that was on it; I just didn't quite like it. I got a 6 foot "guitar cable" with a limp black wire and cut it in two.
Changing the cable involved a major tear-down of the key. Parts fell off and the spring poppped out.
Two screws serve double duty as electrical connections and mounting the contact posts to the chassis. If they are not tight the contact adjustments will wander. If they are too tight one can't adjust the contact orientation. Some of the problems with drifting adjustments may be caused by these screws not being tight enough.
When I reassembled the key I set the contact spacing very tight. I didn't like it so I reset the spacing to about 1 mm.
Almost 50 years ago (arghhh!) I learned the hard way that some contacts need a certain amount of current through them to keep working smoothly. Adding a transistor to lower the switching current actually caused some contacts to lose signal. I don't know if some paddles need more current than an electronic keyer provides to keep working their best.
With a professional looking cable and plug my 564 now looks as if it cost twice as much.
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KA2DDX
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Rating: 4/5
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May 18, 2010 04:14
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Good for the price
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had one of these on the air for 3 years or more and used it extensively. The only complaint I ever had was that it won't hold it's settings and tends to get a little sloppy. But, it's performance was relatively consistent and I enjoyed it for quite awhile. It has been replaced by a Kent TP-2 (which I liked a lot) and that has been replaced by a Begali Magnetic Classic. The Begali is by far the best. For the money, the MFJ does the job reasonably well. But for higher performance, you go with something else.
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W9CPI
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Rating: 5/5
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May 17, 2010 17:20
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Works fine
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I took a much more expensive paddle off the air because of reliability problems in the heat and humidity. The MFJ-564 has worked very well these last two years. Just a bit of something on the threads of the adjustment screws to hold the setting. I think it is a great value, and would recommend it to anyone who wanted an inexpensive way to go iambic. The chrome model looks good on the desk.
Steve, ZP9EH/W9CPI
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KG4TQQ
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Rating: 2/5
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May 17, 2010 09:37
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Poor, even for the lower price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased this product from AES and when it came, it was obviously a MFJ product. I was not impressed as I had to take it apart and glue a small plastic piece on it. I found this was a problem when I tried to adjust it. I finally did get it repaired and adjusted but it was very frustrating. I was very hesitant about purchasing it because of the reputation of MFJ. I do have some things from MFJ that work great but I also have some that do not work so great. I am not going to say I won't buy from them again but I will say they are not my 1st or 2nd choice. Again, Let me repeat something that is said in many of these reviews. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!
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