Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: My favorite keyer  (Read 827 times)

N8TI

  • Member
  • Posts: 189
My favorite keyer
« on: April 23, 2021, 04:13:36 PM »

Hi. I set up a station in the Kitchen, just off the deck. Running my old (?) IC-706 Mark I. Got it about 1996, but never used it much. Using a 33 ft per leg dipole made out of US army surplus comm wire, WD-1A/TT, without coax. Just using the wire as a balanced line, like the “speaker wire antennas.”  This idea, however, was shown in the field manual for the army. Anyway, decided to use a keyer, which I have not done for many years. Got out my single paddle Vibro. Got that at a hamfest  25 years ago. I love this thing. Made in New York. I thought I could post a picture, but I guess this is not Facebook. It has a tan painted base. Love this stuff.
Logged

W6MK

  • Posts: 4095
    • HomeURL
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2021, 04:38:46 PM »

The Vibroplex paddle is a key.

A keyer is the electronic thingy that makes the dits and dahs.
Logged

W6QW

  • Member
  • Posts: 462
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2021, 05:36:22 PM »


A keyer is the electronic thingy that makes the dits and dahs.

I am not familiar with the term "electronic thingy" so I had to look up the definition.  Here's what I found:

TOP DEFINITION

Personal Electronic Thingy (PET) is a small computerized gadget like a PDA or palmtop computer, etc. Used for games, keeping track of appointments, or hacking into mainframes - also known as a "Happy Electronic Prosthetic".

I prefer the term "Happy Electronic Prosthetic"...
Logged

W6MK

  • Posts: 4095
    • HomeURL
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2021, 05:39:26 PM »

I prefer the term "Happy Electronic Prosthetic"...

A HEP!

You a hep cat man!
Logged

KM1H

  • Member
  • Posts: 11155
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2021, 05:39:40 PM »

Mine is a Kansas City Keyer from the 80's and a Bencher paddle just as old. Before that I used a Vibroplex Presentation model that was a 1956 16th birthday present from my parents.

I added the 4 button canned message option for contests
Logged

W6QW

  • Member
  • Posts: 462
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2021, 11:13:01 PM »

.... Got out my single paddle Vibro. Got that at a hamfest  25 years ago. I love this thing. Made in New York.  It has a tan painted base. Love this stuff.

I have to agree with your assessment.  Purchased mine in the '70's and it's been my go-to key for many years - fits like a glove.  The only downside for me is that my fingers get fatigued at about 35 wpm using the single lever.  Also need to get the feet replaced as they have hardened-up over time and the key tends to slip a bit on the glass-top desk surface. Nevertheless, the Vibroplex keys continue to be a classic.
Logged

N2SR

  • Member
  • Posts: 1794
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2021, 06:09:10 AM »

WinKeyer USB.   Seamless connection to N1MM and DX Lab.   

And my Begali paddle. 

Logged
Elect a clown.  Expect a circus.

K7MEM

  • Member
  • Posts: 1058
    • JavaScript Electronic Notebook
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2021, 11:18:10 AM »

My favorite keyer is my old Heathkit HD-1410. I bought it as a kit when I was living in Germany (1981) and operating as DA2EU. I operated CW only while I was there and would always get compliments on my CW. Many hams didn't like the built-in paddles, but they played fine for me. It just takes a while to get the adjustments so it feels good. The HD-1410 is also simple to fix. I bought two basket cases at a ham fest for $10 (for both). Neither of them worked and cases were full of dead spiders. But a little cleaning and trouble shooting and they were up and running again.

I have two straight keys, a bug (1916 Blue Racer), and several other keyers. But I like my original HD-1410 the best.
Logged
Martin - K7MEM
http://www.k7mem.com

K3TN

  • Member
  • Posts: 1014
    • My Blog
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2021, 03:08:52 AM »

My favorite keyer was the old AEA MorseMatic MM2 - it had all kind of cool stuff built in, like QSO simulation and incrementing serial numbers. Back then, you didn't have a PC connected to do all that stuff in software.

My least favorite keyer was the first one I ever had, the Heathkit HD-10 keyer I built. It had really cheap paddles built-in that triggered microswitches that gave it awful keying feel.

Today, a N3ZN or Begali (Mono Sculpture) single lever paddle with a K1EL Winkeyer and all the fancy stuff in software is my favorite combo of all time.
Logged
John K3TN

KN6SU

  • Member
  • Posts: 76
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2021, 05:05:59 PM »

MFJ Model 422C on top of a Bencher BY-1, with which I learned to use an iambic paddle so I could send faster and with less wrist fatigue than on a straight key. The oscillator with its adjustable weight, tone, volume and speed settings was great to practice sending (providing instant feedback) and also allowed me to key rigs, like my TS440SAT that didn't have a built in keyer. I still have it in case I need to use a rig without a built in keyer, and it still works.
Logged

KO4DN

  • Posts: 2
    • HomeURL
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2021, 06:40:35 PM »

   I bought an AEA MM3 back in the late 80s and loved it. It got stolen back in the early 90s while I was overseas in the Gulf War. Getting back into Amateur Radio in 2016 I acquired a MFJ Grandmaster memory keyer. It was an ok keyer but somewhat complicated to load the memory. I was looking for anther keyer for contesting.  One of my very good friends that pasted away (Bob, WR4FSU SK) his wife Helen, who is a ham, was selling some of his things at the Orlando Hamfest. She had just a couple things left. I asked what I could buy. She said what was left of value was a AEA MM3 . I could not be happier and I could not say I wanted it any faster. . Number one the MM3 is, in my opinion, an excellent, versatile, multi use, and yes a vintage keyer. Number two, it's also my favorite because it use to belong to a very good friend.
   For paddles I have Brown Bros. BTL, Kent, Vibroplex delux paddles, Autronic, and few others. Currently I'm using Brown Bros. paddles.
Nice topic , Chris ko4dn
Logged

N4MJG

  • Posts: 773
    • HomeURL
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2022, 11:50:30 AM »

2 Of my favorte keyers are spark key and basic simplex both are begali keys
« Last Edit: November 04, 2022, 11:54:49 AM by N4MJG »
Logged
JACKIE GREEN

WY4J

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2022, 11:53:33 AM »

Have owned quite a few paddles over the last 46 years but of them all, my favorites are Begali and N3ZN.
Logged

K9AO

  • Member
  • Posts: 35
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2022, 03:58:24 PM »

I loved the WB4VVF AccuKeyer that I had decades ago and that I built up from a circuit board I purchased from the designer. I was using old Brown Brothers iambic paddles back then.

I still haven't found any keyer I like better than that one. It did have auto character spacing and was a joy to use. Crank the knob and setting speed was a breeze.

Of course I'd be happy to get a recommendation on something current that would have that same pleasure of use.
Logged

N5CM

  • Member
  • Posts: 895
Re: My favorite keyer
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2022, 07:37:11 PM »

My favorite keyER for in the shack is my WinKeyer USB.  For portable work, my favorite keyER is the Unified Microsystems XT-4 memory keyer.  It runs on a 9-volt battery that lasts a long time, and it has 4 memories that are programmed with your paddles, no computer required.

My favorite keys are my Brown Brothers Model CTL-B (straight key + iambic paddles) and my KN4YB right angle, dual paddle bug that I'm learning to use.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up