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Reviews For: Palm Mini Paddles

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Palm Mini Paddles
Reviews: 84MSRP: 120
Description:
Mini Paddles for QRP/Portable
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.morsex.com/palm/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00844.8
N2RRA Rating: 2019-09-21
Mini & Pico paddles are the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just posted a pic of both my Pico and mini models on my ham radio Instagram page and someone asked me where they could find these wonderful keys. Sad to recently find out and respond to the question that Palm Radio will no longer be producing these wonderful portable keys. Smooth smooth operating keys sensitive to the touch which makes sending a joy. An important feature I’ve found extremely valuable when the magnetic base sits on my FT-817. Light weight portable. I never leave home without both my keys being love them equally. All I know is if I ever sell either one (which I have ZERO intentions) i’d ask for twice the amount. Collectibles for sure. Good luck finding one. 73
IN3ELX Rating: 2019-08-07
Palm Mini Paddle Time Owned: N.A.
I bought it this year. It's really comfortable in /Portable. I recommend it.
K7EXJ Rating: 2019-03-02
Sturdy, well protected, easy to operate in the field Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Palm has stopped producing their paddles which is a great loss to the ham CW community worldwide.

I bought mine off eBay just before we got the word that the line was discontinued.

The Palm paddles fill a niche for field CW ops. Carrying our radios, batteries, antennas means looking for light weight and durability. On a desk and in the QTH I want stability and "feel". But portable I want my key to have a nice "feel" but also be light and sturdy. The Palm Mini fills all my requirements.

The Palm mini paddle assembly I have slides in and out of a sturdy metal case and is secured in position by a spring loaded button that fits into two strategically placed holes in the bottom of the case and holds it securely in position. When retracted into the case the Palm is almost indestructible. When extended the case makes a great "handle". I typically operate my Palm by holding it in my left hand with my fingers wrapped around the case and operating with my right hand.

I think Palm moved to a plastic case but have little doubt that it's also sturdy.

There is a terrific video on the Interwebz (Youtube) featuring "Wiltshire Man" operating his Palm while reclining in the grass and petting his dog: at 35wpm using his Elecraft K2 in a 3-way roundtable with friends! And reciting to the viewers what the CW is saying!

If you can find one, buy it. They do come up now and then but like all true quality gear they are not cheap. Remarkably well built, the paddles have a roughened texture that is not slippery. Well suited to outdoors.

I use mine with my Elecraft K1/4-band and take two antennas. An LNR PAR EFT10/20/40 and a SuperAntenna MP-1. And a battery holder with three 18650 Lithium-Ion batteries (with a couple spares in my pocket). 73
WA7WJR Rating: 2018-05-11
Great Key for Travelling & Hiking Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked up my Palm Mini Paddle from Morse Express a few weeks prior to my DxVacation to Vietnam. Now after 3 weeks of daily use, I have a pretty good feel for the key.

Having travelled to Vietnam several times before with a Vibroplex Viberkeyer this little gem was a godsend in size and weight.

After a few days of using the key to get used to it, I tried to make some adjustments using the included hex key. Honestly, I don't think the adjustments make that much of a difference.

The magnetic base is great, if the radio you are using a radio with a ferrous metal case. (HINT: The Elecraft K2 case is non-ferrous.) Fortunately the bottom of the KAT-100 is ferrous, but the front cover is not. So, only 1 magnet in the supplied base would 'stick' and not hold the key in place. Off to the hardware store to purchase some magnetic tape and problem mostly solved.

With the 1 1/2 inch support, the key extends in front of the KAT-100 by about 1/4 inch.

The little rubber feet on the Palm Radio are..well...worthless.

The metal case is tough and durable, and the paddles slide inside the case for protection while travelling. (Don't forget to disconnect the supplied cable.)

Speaking of the supplied cable, the connector housing is a 2 piece housing secured with a screw about the size of an atom. A molded housing would be superior as my housing came apart after the first week of connecting disconnecting 2 to 3 times daily, and I had to put it back together with a wrap of tape.

Now all this sounds pretty negative, and the key does 'feel' quite different than my other keys so it took a while to get used to. But, after 3 weeks of operation this key is definitely my key of choice when travelling, hiking, and other outings.
VE9VIC Rating: 2017-09-25
a bit expensive Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just received my mini paddle, the paddle itself is ok but no more, it's small but not made of gold except for contacts, here the cost were , 120 us plus 27.50 us for shipping and 31.90 canadian for custom and handling again, total of 147.50 us ( 182.27 cnd ) + 31.90 cnd = 214.17 cnd
for the size and the material it's from my point of view a bit expensive. I have a very good service from Morse expres, thank to Marshall.
M0HAF Rating: 2016-10-08
Outer cover needs to be longer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered my palm paddle from Martin Lynch at the UK National Hamfest a week ago, did'nt have one there but sent by post 2 working days after the event. Only issue I had was missing Dah's when fitting to FT817ND Both Yaesu and the manufacturer need to stress setting kyr in the VOX BK KYR menu line.
My only other criticism is that the outer slide box protects the paddles for travel but not the cable connector plug. The key is only 7.5 cm long, another 2 cm on the outer case would protect both the connection and the paddles for travel storage. Other than that, a perfect key

K1OE Rating: 2015-05-24
Really Nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my Palm Mini Paddle several days ago.
I simply really like it. I like the design, the case, the cable, the quality, the 'feel' of the paddle and its success in use.

I bought it from Morse Express and received good information and excellent, fast service.

I am optimistic that it will travel well for portable use.
(It already has!)

It makes better sense to write a review after months of use... but I was so happy with it... here's the review asap!

Best regards to all, John k1oe
N1EU Rating: 2014-05-24
Updated Review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've always loved this paddle since meeting the inventors at FDIM in Dayton years ago. But I wasn't crazy about the connector on the paddle end of the cable. I'm happy to say that Palm responded to the feedback and redesigned the cable and all is well. This is by far my favorite portable paddle.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N1EU on 2001-05-28

BTW, the correct URL for the Palm Radio Mini-Paddle is: http://www.ulmnetz.de/HANNES/english/english.htm
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N1EU on 2001-05-28

At FDIM Dayton I was struck by not only the craftmanship of the Mini-Paddle, but by Hannes' friendliness and spirit. I brought home a paddle and extra magnetic mounting plate, which works great on the FT-817 case. The paddles have a nice feel and it's a quality product all around. Can't wait to use them out in the field.
KD2FIP Rating: 2014-02-15
Excellent with the 817 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Absolutely love this little paddle. It fits my style just fine and is very affordable. A perfect fit with the FT-817. I did have a slight problem with it when it arrived, but got it sorte out. The problem was as follows;

I got mine today and was very disappointed when I couldn't get the "Dah" paddle to work. In addition, the "Dit" paddle was just emitting a continuous tone rather than a series of dits. Looking here I went back and checked the wiring and the cable. All was in order so I was a little befuddled. I then went into my FT-817 menu and double checked to see if I had missed anything. In fact, On the secondary menu (controlling the A/B/C buttons), I noticed that I didn't have KEY selected (MENU ITEM VOX/BK/KEY)Once I activated that, the paddle worked perfectly. I can only speak for the Yaesu FT-817 but that is an easy setting to overlook. BY the way, if you deselect the BK setting you will be able to practice sending without actually putting anything out on the air.

By the way, I purchased it from Marshall at Morse Express and would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a reliable vendor. 5 Stars all the way around.

73
AI4BJ Rating: 2013-09-06
Fine if you like a paddle with a soft feel Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used a Palm Paddle for several years.

The pros: It's lightweight and rugged enough to toss in my backpack without any special padding.

The con: I like my paddles to have a hard feel, and the flexible arms of the Palm resulted in a feel that was just too soft for my liking.

I ended up replacing the Palm Paddle with an American Morse Porta-Paddle, whose rigid arms give me just the feel that I like.