|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Kent Twin Paddle Key |
|
Reviews: 103
|
Average rating: 4.7/5
|
MSRP: $149.95
|
|
Description: RA Kent Dual Paddle Keyer
|
|
Product is in production.
|
|
More info: http://
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the Kent Twin Paddle Key.
|
KC9GT
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 18, 2011 23:29
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Outstanding value and great customer svc from Valley Ham Shack
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I recently purchased the Kent TP-1 kit and was very impressed. Very good component quality and nice design at an excellent price. I appreciate the Begali, Shurr and others, but for $130 this key can't be beat. It feels very good and settings remain consistent. I purchased it from Valley Ham Shack and had a minor problem with my kit. Brian was very responsive and sent out the new part immediately. Great customer service.
|
|
LA9DAA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 2, 2011 13:57
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Superb !
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have 2 of these and they are my favorite paddles. Also owned lots of other paddles; Begali Graciella. Schurr profi etc. All sold because I prefer the very stable and never failing Kents.
|
|
K2JF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 2, 2011 03:23
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
much better than expected
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I've had paddles by Begali, N0SA and K8RA and while they're all well made and works of art I'm finding that the Kent paddles are my faves. They're the only ones that are wider left to right which really seems to provide better stability on the desk. I don't have to worry about using too heavy a fist to prevent the paddles from moving around.
|
|
ON4LDU
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 29, 2011 14:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great and Silent !
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Got my Kent 2ndhand from my friend ON5SA Michel.
Just little dust off and some adjustements later...What a great surprise abt this paddle !
Spacing is less than 0,05 mm and it keeps the adjustement since more than 1 year.
I've got some others, Bencher, Begali, Ten tec Keyer, Kenpro...For the moment my favourite.
If you got one, sure you'll love it.
73's de Al
|
|
EI3GD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 5, 2011 15:16
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Get one!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Just received a 2nd hand Kent from a fellow Ham via eBay. I was a little anxious after reading some reviews below, but all were laid to rest when I get this on my desk. It's a solid piece of engineering. It can be set for the lightest of fingers with iphone-like sensitivity, or heavy for desk pounders. The gap between the paddles is nothing to worry about, I had a Bencher before the Kent and had no problem adjusting myself.
After reading about the brass tarnishing, my first job was to strip and clean with wire wool. This was an easy process and had the key looking new in no time. Then to seal the deal I taped up the contact points and screw threads before applying a light coat of car lacquer spray. No more tarnishing for this key!
My second mod was to replace the feet with more solid rubber pads, the original rubber pads have a centre screw hole for mounting, this made the pads slightly flexible which allowed the key to move slightly left and right. The new pads are self-adhesive square type which are far more solid and don’t have any give in them at all.
Then for added grip, I cleaned my polished wooded desk with alcohol to remove any oil/grease from the surface.
The Kent is a solid little key and well deserves a 5 rating. I would have to say it’s great value if purchased new and a steal at second hand prices. It’s fully maintainable with spares available from Kent Engineering directly, though I hardly think many people will need spares, this key is so well built.
So if you come across one of these, don't think twice about it… get one for yourself.
73's
Ray
|
|
K1VI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 30, 2011 08:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Impressed!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
This is a very early review, as I just assembled my twin-paddle earlier this week. But a few things are clear: (1) the spacing between the paddles is much wider than on my Vibroplex Square Racer, and it never occurred to me that would help, but it does! (2) Materials quality is excellent. (3) Assembly instructions looked a little vague, but once started, they made sense. (4) I ordered mine direct from Robert. It took longer than expected, but he was responsive during the wait. If you can find this at a stateside outlet, I would suggest that.
|
|
AA8OY
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Apr 28, 2011 17:19
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Decent but some Issues
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have had this key for more than 10 years and overall it's pretty decent. However as it aged, the finish on the brass became discolored and I had to completely disassemble, rebuff and relaquer the brass. Came out looking great. About two years ago, it became "sluggish" and the problem was the bearings were inhibiting free movement. Bearing lube did not help. I ultimately replaced the bearings with new and all is well once again. I use it daily and am satisfied with its performance and feel.
|
|
AH6OY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 21, 2011 22:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Fantastic Keys
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
http://www.kentkeys.com/twinpaddle.html
I was given my first used twin paddle a little after I first started out. Love the key. I would plop the key on a cushioned arm chair logging with a clip board with paper and many times knocked it off leaving the room. That key is stored away after many deployments. I purchased another iambic Kent key after franticly trying and finding a source in the states for the key. It is finally available at some stores. I am not sure where I got my new one from.
Anyway after the brass racer fell from grace having some sort of Hawaii weather caused rust making intermitent problems with contact areas other than the contacts I finally pulled out the most favored key I have. The keys is fantastic like one says. You can set the contacts down to molecules and take off from there.
Pro's
1. Highly adjustable
2. Heavy weight
3. Solid brass works that don't rust in humid climates.
4. Sealed bearing pressed into the machines solid brass.
5. Doesn't take a big chunk of operating space.
6. Tight tolerences on parts.
7. Silver plated contacts
8. No light parts flexing or wiggling.
Cons
1. You'll be looking for another if you left the old one in storage.
Things I don't advise.
1. Knocking it off an arm chair. It sends shivers through you.
I just searched and it looks like Alpha-Delta is the distributor of the Kent keys. I see Kent keys listed on HRO from Alpha-Delta.
|
|
M0SAZ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 14, 2010 16:05
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Responsive key popular with my club
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have had this key before I could send any Morse, and admittedly I am still learning but I know from the mechanics that the adjustability is amazing. I have the spacing as small and as tight as you like and it feels great.
Some friends down my local club have tried it too and have been very impressed too. They said it felt better than the club's new Begali which we have just bought - they should have tried my Kent first :)
|
|
KI4PSR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 13, 2010 16:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great kit too!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I got my kit key today (about 3 weeks after ordering). Well packaged, no damage. Assembled quickly, I took some extra time to clean the brass, shined up beautifully. Excellent key and a fun kit to assemble. No quality issues, nothing but superior craftsmanship and materials. This will be a joy for years to come!
Dave, KI4PSR
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
