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Author Topic: Military leg clamp for straight key  (Read 157 times)

N8TI

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Military leg clamp for straight key
« on: April 02, 2021, 10:44:25 AM »

I remember seeing a whole bucket of those at Dayton 25 years ago, but now they are really pricey.  Has anyone come up with a homebrew idea of how to make a leg clamp to run CW in the car, not necessarily while traveling.  I'm too old for that now. Thanks,
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W6MK

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Re: Military leg clamp for straight key
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2021, 10:53:53 AM »

Plywood, cut a couple of slots, a piece of nylon strap with an adjustable buckle.
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K5LXP

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Re: Military leg clamp for straight key
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2021, 05:06:24 PM »

If you're not driving, why have it strapped to your leg?  Then again, if you are driving why have it strapped to your leg?  I've been CW mobile for over a quarter century at this point and never strapped any kind of key or paddle to my leg.  But I get that some folks may want to run one, and my first thought is to put it somewhere "rigid", not "squishy".  Sounds uncomfortable both in terms of a "clamp" and having the key in a place that promotes good keying.  Will this be ops sitting in the car, and what will the radio setup be?

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

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AE0Q

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Re: Military leg clamp for straight key
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2021, 08:32:36 PM »

American Morse Equipment makes one for their paddles, it can give an idea of how to homebrew one:

https://www.americanmorse.com/portapaddlelegmount.htm

I use my Begali Traveler keyer paddle strapped to my leg when activating parks for WWFF/POTA, the slots for the strap are fastened to the paddle frame.  I've never found a good way to keep a keyer paddle steady just setting it on something in a parked car.  Why IN the car?  Beats sitting in the dirt and weeds at a wildlife refuge...

I guess it would be simple to mount a hand-key on a leg strap, and I suppose you can pound up and down without it moving around, but side-to-side motion for a paddle doesn't work well with it flopping around on the passenger seat. 

Glenn AE0Q
« Last Edit: April 02, 2021, 08:34:51 PM by AE0Q »
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