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Reviews For: KN4YB All Speed Bug

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : KN4YB All Speed Bug
Reviews: 7MSRP: 175 (in brass, nickel avail)
Description:
A right angle bug that is full ball bearing. Removable lever main spring and rod. Dit stop adjustment and pressure setting are on same shaft. Same with dah adjustment. This is a super tight key. Finger peices are ebony hardwood A key that is designed with an extension rod for fine tuning speeds from 13WPM on up.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.kn4yb.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074.9
W4WVW Rating: 2020-08-29
Great once you have it dialed in. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When I first got this bug I couldn't get rid of scratchy dits. Upon close inspection, the stationary dit contact was not properly dressed and somewhat "pointy". After sending a photo of it to Tom, he provided details on how to dress the contact and he sent me 2 spares. After I dressed the contact it now works flawlessly and it's a pleasure to use. I would definitely recommend this bug over the typical Vibroplex.
K2WO Rating: 2020-07-26
Wonderful Key! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It really is an amazing key. Great construction, finished well and works like a dream. Easy to adjust. Tom is a great craftsman who takes great pride in his work. Recommended.
K5TSK Rating: 2020-07-24
A really fun bug! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got this bug today, so can't speak about longevity, but MAN, out of the box this thing is just fun. Didn't take long to get it ready for first air without the stinger. It seemed to run about 24 wpm without the extension and all my fist would allow. Then placed on the stinger without extra weights and it came down nicely to 20-23 wpm and smoooooth. I've had Begali Intrepid, Vibroplex Blue Racer, Original, and a 1940 J-36, but this is love at first sight. Thank you, sir for your outstanding work!!
KT8DX Rating: 2019-10-06
Very pleasant to operate Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the dual lever bug. It is a nice size (not too big) easy easy easy to adjust and just sends very pleasant code. A dual lever experience is a little different but frankly now that I got used to it (took about 10 minutes) I find myself wanting when I use my single lever bugs. Letters such as "x" always gave me a little trouble in the timing - not so with the dual lever one.

Service was excellent and frankly this is one of my more favorable key purchased ever. I do have a bit of a "key problem" in that I own around a hundred of them.

I HIGHLY recommend you give one of these a try.

Bob KT8DX
AK4SQ Rating: 2019-02-23
Works well. Great service on purchase. Excellent value. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Full disclosure, I have the inline version but works flawlessly. A keeper. And my new favorite bug.
WB2LQF Rating: 2018-05-20
Smooth and Well Executed Bug Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've been using bugs for over 55 years and this one is indeed a pleasure to operate at both higher as well as lower speeds. I enjoy working code newbies and QRP ops and these QSOs are generally conducted at speeds below what bugs were originally designed to operate at. THIS KN4YB contraption has an extended operating range RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX - no messing around required to "modify" your standard bug. It's clearly well designed and attractive but most important is how it works -- there are no sluggish dits at any speed and its ability to hold my chosen setting, so far, has been excellent. There are some inherent advantages to 90 degree bugs and one of them is the stability - they don't tend to slide around and this one is rock solid. Having said this, it's responsive to a gentle touch and there's really no need to slap it around. The darn thing sounds like a paddle. BUT...it took me some time to adjust it to achieve this. You'll need an SAE set to make adjustments. It would have been nice if KN4YB included a tool with the key. I only had metric here and had to run out and buy a set at Harbor Freight. This is really a nice key. It feels comfortable at all speeds and it has lively action. I'm very happy with it and the price is very reasonable.
KG7WGX Rating: 2018-04-19
New 90 degree bug Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First-time bug owner. Got this so I would have something other than a straight key for 15 wpm on SKCC.

Once I figured out the correct dit stop and dit contact gap adjustment to get the lever to oscillate, getting this to work at 13 to 25 wpm was fairly easy. These two settings may need to be adjusted slightly to get properly timed dits over the entire speed range. These adjustments are clamped with a 90 degree "gib" operating on the stainless adjustment screws, so the settings don't move as you clamp them.

Fit and finish were good. Mother-of-pearl insert in Dah side of the ebony paddles was a nice touch.

I got the brass version, but I understand a nickle plated version is available for $50 additional.