|
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 American Morse Equipment, Porta-Paddle |
|
Reviews: 14
|
Average rating: 5.0/5
|
MSRP: $ $69.95 + $4.00 S&H
|
Description: Miniature Size Iambic Paddle - 1 1/2 x 1 7/8 x 1 Inch, 2.5 Ounces.
Machined Aircraft Aluminum, anodized finish.
Gap and spring force adjustable.
Drilled & tapped base for mounting on Leg Mount or Desk Base
|
|
Product is in production.
|
|
More info: http://www.americanmorse.com
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the American Morse Equipment, Porta-Paddle.
|
K6DGW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 10, 2011 13:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Really nice paddle!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I wanted a very small, very light paddle for Summits On The Air expeditions. After several summit trips, I decided the old Bencher was just too heavy.
I bought the AME Porta-Paddle at the 2011 Pacificon. Assembly went sort of OK, the instructions are old, and I finally figured out why there were no 4-40 brass nuts that were called for [use springs instead], but I did get it together fine. The little Delrin lock nut was a bear to get started.
I also bought his little base kit with a nicely machined base plate. It included some "uber-velcro," sticky back, and my paddle is now mounted on the corner of a clipboard, solid as a rock, which also holds my log and scratch paper. You can get the "velcro" apart, but it takes a screw driver to get it started.
So far, the paddle has held the adjustments just fine. He says the flanges on the levers should be down, and mine are, but I'm thinking of reversing that. I'm left-handed and while I can paddle with either hand, on the clipboard, I prefer left, and my hand is in a position with my thumb up just a tad. I've been using it at home instead of my HexKey, and I really like it.
I think I got a really neat little paddle, very light, very nicely machined, and very comfortable to use. There are other lightweight paddles out there which may feel a little better, but for the money, this one is really cool!
|
|
W2KLS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 15, 2011 17:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great paddle
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I bought this from Doug last week and put it together in 15 minutes, and I'm all thumbs. The key is perfectly machined, the settings stay put, and the base I bought from him also really gives the paddle stability, and I'm a heavy hand. I have it connected to my FT-857D and I use it both portable and as a base key. I have it right next to my N0SA and Begali!!!!! Get one, you won't be sorry. Good job Doug!
|
|
KA7PLE
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 30, 2010 20:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Little paddle
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
This little paddle kit went together easily, with no missing parts. No burs or sharp edges the finish looks great. The paddle is fully and quickly adjustable, the springs on the spacing screws hold the adjustment despite all the bouncing around in my go kit. The action is very smooth and precise. I have dropped the key on hard surfaces with no damage, and no need to readjust it.
If you do any portable or mobile operation, or just want a good small key to use at the home QTH, I Very highly recommend this paddle. I plan on getting the Mini-B sideswiper from them at well. Great company, great customer service, and very good and reliable products.
73
ka7ple
Mike
|
|
N6OSB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 22, 2010 17:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great portable paddle
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Love the porta paddle. I built the kit but left with left over parts. Not sure what to do with left them. Kit came with no instructions. Looked on website and only OLD instructions were available. Other than that great key.
|
|
KA1YMX
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 28, 2009 05:02
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good Quality and Feel
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have been searching for a portable paddle to take with me on hiking trips for several months. I never even considered the Porta-Paddle until I read a review in QST. I ended up buying a paddle after reading the review.
The assembly is very simple and all of the parts fits perfectly. The paddle operates very well for the size. A base plate or leg strap is neccessary in order to use it, since it is very light.
I would recommend this paddle to anyone looking for the perfect travel paddle.
|
|
AB0TX
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 9, 2008 13:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
WOW!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I bought this for the car with the leg strap and find myself using it in the shack. I have worked quite a few stations with it and operation is really nice. It is a lot smoother than I thought it was going to be. You will need the leg strap or the steel base as it is extreamly light by itself.
Shipping was really fast! I bought mine on a Monday with paypal and it was in the mail box on Wednesday when I got home from work!
It is a kit and I was skeptical about how it was going to perform. I built the Black Widow key and it was ok but it does not feel as precise as the Porta Paddle. It has a very nice feel and I am impressed. I have a Kent and N3ZN ZN-9N which I also love dearly and the Porta Paddle is one of my favorites.
Get one! You won't be disappointed.
Mike
AB0TX
|
|
WN9E
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 1, 2008 21:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Awesome Paddle
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
I purchased one at Dayton 2007 and I couldn't be happier with it. This little thing is built solid. It's ridden around with me in my truck for almost a year and is no worse for the wear. Nice action. I'm looking forward to picking up a leg mount this year. ;-)
|
|
N0XE
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 19, 2007 17:13
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Super small paddle
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
The little key just amazes me, forget the plastic junk out there, buy a real paddle, super small but works as well with a QRO rig as it does a QRP radio. You get your money's worth on this key and it is made to last. The customer support is excellent and they now offer this paddle with a black base instead of the white one you see on the website. Doug is an A-1 Ham and a pleasure to deal with, This is the second paddle I have purchased from them and have been very pleased. 73 Jim N0XE
|
|
K3MD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 30, 2007 18:15
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice feel
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
Picked one of these up for DXPeditions, really like it, often use it in preference to my Bencher. It is miles better than a Vibroplex magnetic unit. Very rugged, never needs adjustment. Definitely better than a touch key system, better feel, fewer errors. Definitely better than a Bull Dog, although the dog is cuter. This lever is good for QRQ.
|
|
NS6Y_
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 14, 2006 23:22
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Will DO the job
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I picked up one of these with the base (blue key, black base) at the De Anza College swapmeet and I am happy! The key bolts onto the base with two #6 screws, and has a hole for a 3rd #6 screw for attaching a "wire clamp" to strain-relieve the cable. Which I did.
The base is surprisingly weighty, a good testiment to the density of ferrous metals. More interestingly, my CW elmer, the heavy-handed Dr. Dit, actually manages to bat a HexKey around on the table, but this one stays put. It's a matter of feel, I guess.
There's also a neat leg mount sold for this, and I'm considering it. With the easy mounting method, there are also many easy ways to rig up something to put this on a small board that clips to your rig's stand-up bail, etc.
The workmanship is very good, and it's simply and robustly built. However, the adjustment nuts are brass, which may look pretty but..... I find the adjustment method is basically the same as on Honda motorcycles, adjust, tighten nuts, and hope they stay put. I favor the Kawasaki method, painstakingly choose shims to get it right, then forget for 100,000 miles. Washers as shims work great, and with everything tightened down, won't go much of anywhere. You may well need different thicknesses under each side as I did, but no matter. Once the right ones are found, set, and forget.
I plan to use this key for home and portable operations. Just a very very cool little unit.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
