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| Reviews Summary for Palm Mini Paddles |
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write your own review of the Palm Mini Paddles.
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XE1UFO
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 18, 2007 15:50
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SUPER AWESOME!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have a dozen different small paddles for portable work. This one is by far the best!!
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EI7BA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 24, 2007 06:55
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I love it
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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It's not a Begali Signature, but it is surprisingly good for it's small size. It's the ideal paddle for taking on holiday & working /P... 'specially if you're into back packing, working from mountain tops etc. It's very well designed, and integrates beautifully with the Code Cube and the IR unit. It is almost indestructable when in transport mode, as the paddles move back into it's shell for protection. Most paddles are a big deal to transport, as they must be well packed in a box to protect the finger levers. The only other exception to this rule that I have seen, is the Begali Traveller.
I have a couple of other portable keys, but this one "takes the biscuit".I really love this little beauty.
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NT4XT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 29, 2007 18:18
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Portable Perfection.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I first tried these over 6 years ago.
Unbeatable for pack and go.
For the picky CW operator looking for worry free field portable paddles and almost no compromise, the Mini Palm is it.
Overall design and implementation resulting in retractable finger pieces is brilliant.
Retract and toss into the back-pack no worries.
Adjustments stay put.
I rarely do field QRP/QRQ, but at home, this paddle can easily do error free 35 wpm and up.
Not having to re-adjust contact spacings and tension, while sitting on the ground or at a picnic table in a dusty environment, is much appreciated. The contacts and mechanicals are always covered even with the finger pieces exposed!
The magnetic base is surprisingly forceful. Do keep in mind, magnets never did stick to aluminum.
I carry a long, flat steel file in the bottom of my backpack. The width of the file happens to be the width of the key's magnetic base. The file can also double as an antenna launching weight, since it has a hole in the "handle" part.
The paddle stays put- on the handle of the file. Due to the excellence of the base magnets, this set up is so stable, that I use it at home, whenever I set up the QRP rig as a base station and the K-1 borrows my big rig's antenna.
This small but not too small paddle, exceeds the accuracy and feel of many larger and smaller paddles, regardless of cost.
The Mini Palm holds it's own against paddles 6 times larger and over 20x heavier.
Considering the application, the Mini Palm is in a league all it's own.
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NQ3X
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 29, 2007 12:18
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Worth every dime!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've used many different keys and paddles in my (relatively short) amateur radio career. I operate quite a lot of CW.
First, these are decidedly not Begali or some other sort of custom-made jewelry. That said, they are elegant in their simplicity. They are, as our DL pals might say, "Alles in ordnung."
Second, they are simple to adjust to the perfect feel, at least for me.
Third, they are light and easy to transport, making them a very good pairing with my IC7000 or some other small portable radio. Therein lies the only caveat I can imagine - they must be affixed to something solid for proper use, because even my light touch causes them to move without a solid base.
Simply put, I love 'em. I use them at home and on the road. At Field Day 2007, they held up well to more than a few fists using them, and never once burped.
If you're looking for a piece of CW jewelry that weighs three pounds, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something you can toss in a briefcase with your vacation station, look no further.
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K7FD
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 25, 2006 14:03
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Santa delivers the goods...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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What could be better than a new key under the tree on Christmas morning? I love this new paddle! Smooth as silk and rates 10 stars on the 'cool' scale. Can hardly wait for spring to arrive so I can take them to the field w/ the K1, K2, or KX-1...
Construction is top notch, feel is surprisingly good given its minute dimensions. And did I mention how cool these puppies are?? :)
73 John K7FD
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FROMABQ
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 22, 2006 19:15
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Center Post Bends Easily
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I'm kind of amazed at all the 5 ratings for these paddles. They are pretty well made and have a decent feel but for me they had a significant problem. The plastic center post bends to the side quite easily. So, if you adjust them closely it's easy to cause the post to contact both paddles by pressing just one. I don't think I have a partcularly strong fist, but this happened all the time when I used them with the result that I had to either adjust them more widely than I wanted or put up with the random dits and dahs that occurred when I pressed one paddle a little too hard. I ended up buying some Paddlettes and selling the Palm Paddles at a hamfest.
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OE3SGU
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 1, 2006 02:40
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Still satisfied
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I own 2 mini paddles, a portable key and 2 code cubes. The mini paddles are always used together with my IC-703 and the IC-7000. Its such a great thing and combination (paddle/code cube) that I am planning to buy a third one for my FT-817. Thats a tool how it should be. The guys are very friendly and nice - I had a long chat with them in Friedrichshafen. Mini paddle, code cube and portable key are very well worth the money you spend for!
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DL2SBA
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 9, 2006 06:57
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Really fine
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Over the last 15 years i used a custom made version of SCHURR paddles for my ETM-8c memory keyer. But for portable operation using my K1 it’s a bit to bulky.
After reading the famous reviews here I give the Palm Mini Paddles a try - and I must say - absolutely fine paddles.
Comparable to my SCHURRs and really portable!
... Worth the money - here in DL 70 EURO and ultra fast shipment from Palm Radio Germany - thanks!
Dietmar, DL2SBA
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WB9JOX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 5, 2006 13:37
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NONE BETTER
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have several and nothing better than this.Just a great feel ,its just comes natural when sending.Had these paddles for 4 or 5 years now.Doubt you can find any better,especially in this price.Its hard to believe something this small works so well.Well made in my opinion.!!
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VE7ETS
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Rating: 5/5
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May 5, 2006 11:13
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Awesome product!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have never reviewed anything after only one evening of using it, but these paddles are going to be the exception.
As soon as I removed them from the box and had the radio configured for the correct dot/dash inputs - opposite my bencher paddle - I decided on the acid test: a real-life qso. Bang, first cq I answered was in South Korea. The paddles worked perfectly! Next I moved down to 40m and had a relaxing ragchew with Neal in Salt Lake City. Again, the paddles worked perfectly. It's possible that I send better cw with them than with my Bencher.
Since my reason for purchase was wilderness qrp, I tried simulating a 'tent' situation by lying on my back, using one hand to hold the body of the paddle and the other to tap out the code. It works very well. I disagree with another reviewer who wanted longer paddles - they're perfect the way they are - less likely to get bumped while you're wiggling around in a sleeping bag.
I think I'll continue to use the Bencher at home because it's so robust it will never wear-out. I'm not so sure the tiny little pcb contacts on the palm paddles will withstand the same day-to-day use and abuse and I want them working 100% when I'm out in the middle of nowhere.
The one negative that others have pointed-out is the strange 3-pin connector. I would like to see a miniature Pheonix jack/plug instead, but it's a small matter. I don't anticipate trouble with mine as long as I remove the cable prior to storage.
Nathon VE7ETS
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