|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
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 Begali Magnetic Traveler Light |
|
Reviews: 20
|
Average rating: 5.0/5
|
MSRP: $248 plus $9.50 s/h
|
|
Description: Magnetic paddle with a compact, folding design for the traveling ham or for stationary use.
|
|
More info: http://www.i2rtf.com
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Begali Magnetic Traveler Light.
|
PA2DW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 30, 2008 01:07
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Another masterpiece of Pietro Begali!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This marvelous paddle was recently given to me as a present. It is truly a masterpiece of finemechanical engineering and I am very happy with this great gift! It is nice to look at and it really works excellent!!
Untill yet I used a Palm mini when on travel. The Palm is very good and much smaller than the Begali traveler, but the performancedifferences are absolutely obvious.
You could use the Traveler outdoors, as the two "wings" protect the paddles very well during transport. But if you want one "do it all" paddle, for travel and home usage, this is a very good choice.
Best 73 and long live CW!
|
|
K2KN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 18, 2008 18:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Best Travel Key
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
The design and workmanship of this key is perfect. The key has a very attractive and high tech look like nothing else. Very fine setting and a crisp feel, perfect for the main paddle at the shack or travel. I have the contact spacing set so close you cannot see the finger peaces move and it hold this setting. There is no set screw to play with like on other paddles, which always change the contact spacing when tightened. The magnetic tension adjustments provide the most gradual settings only found on a Begali. I love this key.
I will have this key the rest of my life.
|
|
K9YEQ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 22, 2008 17:47
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Easy to adjust on the fly
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I bought mine just before X-mas and when it arrived... it was well packaged and so simple to set up. VERY simple to adjust... even on the fly!
The thumb adjustments make it easy for me to quickly compensate for how my fingers and mind are working at the time. Sometimes I get a little sloppy when I first start keying so I add a little more magnetism,sometimes increase my spacing. I usually am a 15wpm - 20wpm operator and was not a very frequent regular until I got this key. Now I want to be CW on the air all the time!
Adjustments are very easy to do given the very fine turning of the adjustment screws. The key is much larger than the Palm, but the fold up and travelling ability along with durability are great. This is an expensive key, but extroadinarily made. Very well worth it's cost when considering cost vs functionality vs durability. This is a long life key!
Customer service is superb. No sales pressure just answers. I like this key so much I am going to pourchase another Begali but it's hard to decide which I should buy.... Tough decision. The luxury of this key and reading about the rest make them all look great.
I am currently using the light in fixed mode, but the urge to buy more of their keys is too great to resist. Will buy at least one more so this one is ready to go travelling with my KX1.
I have tried alot of keys over the years and this one is beyond compare. I intend adding at least one more to the "shack".
|
|
K7UA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 14, 2008 14:58
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
First class
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
I have owned a Traveler Light for several months. It is a wonderful paddle. I own two other Begali keys, a Scupture, and a Spark. I like them all. I actually prefer the stiffer paddle "handle" material on the Traveler to the Sculpture's composite handles. The Traveler is much lighter and can be knocked around with a heavy fist. Although the fold out wings make it pretty stable. This is a first class paddle.
|
|
N3KS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 7, 2008 05:20
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I own a Begali Signature Edition and decided to try their portable paddle - Magnetic Traveler Light. This paddle is also a wonderful piece of equipment. It's feel and precision make it an excellent primary station key paddle as well as perfectly suited for travel and portable use. About three weeks from order to receipt by registered mail (in mid December!) and Bruna was great about order handling. This is an excellent paddle and I highly recommend it.
|
|
AE4TO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 14, 2007 12:17
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Bellisima ( Beautiful)
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
A Beautiful portable hand crafted paddle key that is easy to adjust, solid feel and a beautiful design.
I will be buying other paddles from Pietro his work is excellent.AE4TO
|
|
KD4AR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 2, 2007 08:22
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
gracefully concise, simple neatness and ingenious simplicity
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
In my opinion the Begali Traveler Light can be at home on a park bench for casual portable operations, on bare bones DXpeditions to a primo deluxe CW contesters operating position. I believe the Traveler Light will serve any and all paddle requirements with a refined quality of exactness, precision and good taste.
I could not have been more wrong about not caring for the ability to strap to your lag feature. In fact I find it very accommodating and I love it.
A designer knows he has achieved a great design not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. Piero in his design of the Traveler Light knew there was nothing left to add but more importantly he knew there was nothing left to take away.
I could not be more pleased with my overall experience of doing business with Piero and his daughter, Bruna. They took the time to answer my many questions before I placed my order to keeping me informed when my order was shipped and when to expect it to arrive at my front door. Total elapsed time from placing the order to arrival by registered mail was about three weeks.
If you are like me, reading the reviews and re-reading the reviews for several months wondering if a Begali Traveler Light is a paddle for you I’d say go for it. I can’t imagine you would be disappointed.
|
|
KC0YVW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 18, 2007 14:46
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Another piece of genius from Piero
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I just took delivery of my Magnetic Traveler Light, (only 2 weeks from Italy). Simply put, this is another one of the finest Iambic Keys you'll ever have the pleasure of operating. I already own a Simplex model (Very sweet!) but wanted something more portable to use with QRP equipement etc. If your reading the reviews here to make that final decision as to whether or not to upgrade to a Begali Traveler, stop what your doing and link to Piero's website, click on the traveler model and order one...........period. Don't look back, get the best and be done with it already.
73
KCØYVW
|
|
K8RBW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 16, 2007 22:57
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Fabulous
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I purchased the Traveler Light for my annual trip to a convention in Honolulu at the end May and for use in the CQWW contest. It arrived today and I can't keep my hands off of it. I have it hooked up to my Logikey keyer and have been sitting in my chair all evening sending smooth and effortless CW. In spite of the state of the sunspot cycle, I can hardly wait to take the trip and give it a workout. It should pack beautifully without any difficulty. There are a lot of good paddles available, but this one is fantastic. It perfectly complements my travel station and I have my call engraved on it in case it happens to go astray. CU in May!
de Dick, K8RBW
|
|
NV7E
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 28, 2007 00:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Iambic Paddle of Choice for DXpeditioners
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I was mistaken by the advertising for Begali. I thought it was a vanity brand like Gucci or Versace, the main value of which is to demonstrate you are rich enough to have money to burn. I see now that Begali keys and paddles are serious products made by a dedicated CW man and skilled craftsman who has the best tools at his disposal.
I finally took a look at Begali when I saw the Traveler Light. I am always looking for a good paddle for travel use, one that feels good when it is used, can withstand the rigors of an overpacked valise in Africa and will stay put where you place it at the operating position. I have ordered many portable paddles in the past with various degrees of satisfaction.
My Traveler Light arrived from Italy in a box completely covered over with plastic tape just the way I wrap things to make sure they arrive in good condition. The key works straight out of the box, although I did have to remove the jumper in my Logikey K-5 keyer from the way it was set for my other paddles. Strangely enough, no such change was necessary when I moved it to the K1EL WKUSB keyer.
The Traveler Light is easy to adjust and works as fine as other high-end paddles such as the March R3a. The Traveler Light is a magnetic paddle. My version includes the optional gold contacts. With this model you get the advantage of a full-service paddle like the best one you use at home. One reason to have the Traveler Light is that it can be abused in transit without damage when it is folded up. It is not as light as some other travel paddles such as the Palm Mini-Paddle. These lighter paddles are fine for a few QSOs during weekend camping trips, but I really couldn’t operate a serious contest like the CQWW with them. Some of these keys are too light to stay put on the operating surface by themselves. You have to get a heavy metal base to mount them on. The Traveler Light, which doesn’t need a base, effectively ends up the same weight as a lighter and lesser key which does need an optional metal base, like the GHD GM-707. You’re better off with the Traveler Light since you have the advantage of a real full-service paddle at the same weight.
Although clearly not as eye-appealing as the other Begali choices such as the Signature, Sculpture or Graciella, from an operational standpoint you could be quite satisfied with the Traveler Light if it were the only paddle you owned. It is mechanically similar to the other Begali magnetic paddles.
In summary, I think the Traveler Light is the iambic paddle of choice for DXpeditioners and anyone else who wants the best. ZS6SIG
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
