|
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 Autronic Single Paddle |
|
Reviews: 1
|
Average rating: 5.0/5
|
MSRP: $17
|
|
Description: Single-lever paddle, produced by Electrophysics in the 1960's. Available used for $30 - $70.
|
|
More info: http://
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Autronic Single Paddle.
|
VA7CPC
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 27, 2007 20:41
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Still nice after 40 years
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I've been using a Bencher BY-2, and wanted to try a single-lever paddle.
I bought an Autronic paddle over eBay for $46. It was made sometime in the 1960's. It has a heavy, compact base (3 3/4" square), crinkle-finished. The arms are cast and chrome plated, the contacts are silver. The adjusting screws are knurled nicely, but not super-fine pitch. The look is out of the "IBM Selectric" era, if you remember those.
All I did was clean the contacts with some cloth and alcohol, and adjust the contact gaps. They'll hold a tiny gap -- I can just barely feel the fingerpieces move -- and key reliably.
The mechanical design is neat -- see US Patent 3,098,898. There's one plain bearing, with both arms riding on it. After 40 years, there is a tiny bit of vertical play at the fingerpieces, but _no_ horizontal play. It's built to last.
It's a joy to use -- just gentle pressure, with no noticeable paddle movement. I'm slow, but some QRQ guys have told me it works well at high speed.
Unlike the Kent SP-1, it's very, very quiet. Unlike the Bencher, the arms are rigid and unbending.
If you want a single paddle, consider an Autronic. Good design is forever.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
