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Reviews For: Begali Simplex

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Begali Simplex
Reviews: 114MSRP: 136.80 + 9.50 shipping
Description:
Iambic paddles with a 1.4kg gold plated base, manufactured using numerical controlled machinery.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001144.9
YV5MBX Rating: 2003-06-12
Engineering MasterPiece!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First of all I have to say THANKS!!! because:
1.- Personalized Service,
2.- Ultra-Fast Delivery,
3.- MasterPiece of Engineering.

I´m not a CW master, but telegraphy for me it´s something that make the difference between the ham community.

Since long time ago I collect paddles, bugs, etc...

This paddles are so extremely well manufactured, once you got it, you feel that you are using the Rolls Royce of cw keying device.

I hope to have the chance in a near future to purchse one just for display along my other keys.

It was an honour to make business with Pietro!!!

If at anytime he decide to make antennas or something related to ham radio, I´ll try to be one of his first customers.

The final statement is: "DON´T DOUBT, ABOUT PURCHASE IT".

Best regards,
Javier
yv5mbx
K9DI Rating: 2003-05-30
Awesome Set of Paddles!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hello, Wayne K9DI es Leader Dog Sequoia here. A friend from a QRP club that I belong to sent his Simplex paddles (Palladium finish) to me on loan. Tnx Vy Much Lloyd!!! I've only had this set of paddles in my hot little hands for a little over 24 hours and am still in the transition stage from straight key to paddles. WOW, what a superb set of paddles to learn on...From what I can tell by their feel these puppies are silky smooth. I am HOOKED.:) I have to go by feel as I am visually impaired and besides it doesn't matter what the tool looks like it's the quality of the product you can produce with them...
I have found the set of paddles I will buy when the paddle fund reaches the required level, unless of course Senor Begali decides to offer a Magnetic Simplex, hi, hi, hi, hi :)
I have not had much prior experience with paddles as I was a straight key op, but most of the ones I got to tinker with were cheap knockoffs, with a few Benchers thrown in. I am not a paddle conosiour (sp?) by any stretch of the imagination, but I would reccomend these paddles to any serious CW op in a heartbeat.
73
de
Wayne K9DI FP#217
K3ESE Rating: 2003-05-08
Steady and Beautiful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My Simplex paddles have the palladium base, which really looks great. These paddles are steady as a rock on my desk, and have a smoothness and ease of use I've rarely seen. The adjustments can be done while you're using them, if necessary, but they stay right where you put them, so you won't be adjusting them at all, probably, after they're set the way you like. They have a sturdy strain relief for your cable, and the hookup is straightforward and accessible. A plastic, fitted dust cover is supplied. These may be the best spring-loaded paddles on the planet.
IK0YGJ Rating: 2003-04-11
Fantastic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am cw entusiast since 1994.
After 10 years of straight key I tried the Simplex for a week.
Felt like I always used it.
I ordered it to Pietro, that delivered me the key within a week.
It is absolutely fantastic in look and feel and, above all, EXTREMELY precise. Worth every cent of the 139 Euro paid.
KY6R Rating: 2003-03-04
My New Favorite Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using a Schurr Profi for the last year or so and have loved it. But I must admit, with my style (I'm an ex - Bug guy), this paddle is my new favorite.

The reason - you can get a tight but slightly springy feel, just a hair better than the Schurr. And not as "springy" as the Bencher . . If you like to set your paddle with no "swing" and to very close tolerance - the Schurr is better.

This paddle easily gets a 5 on value alone.

W5IX Rating: 2003-02-09
Excellent, no-compromise value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For years, I used a Nye paddle which I've always considered mediocre but good enough. Nevertheless, I've always had in the back of my mind the thought of getting something better. Then, the Simplex came along. A friend familiar with other high-end paddles gave it a rave review, and the price was right. Based on his opinion and the reasonable price, I jumped in, sight unseen.

I have owned this Simplex for a couple of months now and have been very pleased. I have not used other high-end paddles, but I can't imagine another paddle performing better. As mentioned in other reviews, you can adjust the contacts so close that no movement is perceptible. (Just for the fun of it, I played with the adjustments and found that I can adjust the contacts very close with little spring tension so that simply tilting the unit to the left or right causes the weight of the paddles alone to close the contacts!) With only springs and no lock nuts, adjustment is extremely easy, and the adjustment holds. The Simplex has a good solid feel, and the heavy base with its silcone feet does not slide at all. The Simplex is a well-made paddle.

The Simplex is an excellent paddle with a reasonable price tag. I highly recommend it.
N2DE Rating: 2003-01-16
They don't come better Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have used this paddle for over 4 months now, and it has relegated all my other spring loaded keys to the shelf, including the Schurr Profi II. Now that Piero has polished the surface of the paddle base to the mirror-like perfection that some earlier keys probably did not have (mine included, but I didn't mind and found it a charming sign of individuality, visible only to the most critical eye) it's hard to imagine a more beautifull and technically perfect key. On my list it is only surpassed by his new Magnetic Classic.
VK2BJ Rating: 2003-01-14
Beautiful piece of precision engineering Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My paddle arrived yesterday ten days after being dispatched from Italy. It was a pleasure to deal with Piero over the phone and by email and he always followed up as promised.

I placed my order on the strength of reviews on this website. The paddle arrived extremely well packed and on opening the box I was not disappointed with its appearance.

I did have an initial problem with instability at the closest spacing with the dot contact jamming shut and sending an endless string of dots after sending just a few normal characters. However after close inspection with my binocular magnifier normally used for soldering I found the tiniest piece of polystyrene packing stuck on the vertical stop bar which was obviously preventing the dot lever from returning fully to its rest posiion. Once I removed thepolystyrene the paddle started to work flawlessly even
at the closest spacing just like the piece of precision engineering it is.

I also own and use a Bencher and an old Brown Bros. Both are very good - I give them a 4 - but they are not quite up to the standard of the Begali.

I was considering buying a Schurr Profi 2 but the price put me off. Anyway I cannot see how it can handle better than the Begali. Adjustment of its settings is so easy and precise.

Go on - buy one - you won't be disappointed.
K1KID Rating: 2002-11-27
Best paddle for the money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My paddle arrived a couple of days ago. I am very impressed with the feel and quality of construction and design. I have several paddles in my collection including the Schurr Profi. At less than half the cost of the Schurr it is every bit as smooth and comfortable to operate. Adjustment is very easy and will accomodate heavy handed and feather touch operators alike.
The gold finish is almost, but not quite flawless as others have stated but unlike the brass paddles, it will not dull or discolor with age. That is the reason for the gold plate. If you want a first class paddle at a very reasonable cost, you want to get this puppy before demand drives the price up.
PA8DX Rating: 2002-11-27
Beautiful paddle at a very fair price! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was in the market for a nice paddle to replace my antique ETM-5C keyer and was looking for a better mechanical quality at a reasonable price. The Begali Simplex caught my eye immediately when I read the first review here on eHam. I ordered one and today (a week later) the keyer arrived. VERY WELL packed by the way... Indeed it is a beautiful piece of craftmanship with a cachet comparable to the Schurr Profi, but at not even half it's price. I agree with WQ8Q on the dust cover though: it is blister packaging quality and I hope I won't crack it. If Piero ever decides to offer a proper lexan cover, for sure I will buy one. But forget about the cover: it can't be too important or else I wouldn't have sat here at my desk not typing for the last 5 minutes and staring at my new paddles...totally in love (hi)!