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Reviews For: CT 599 Dual Lever Paddle

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : CT 599 Dual Lever Paddle
Reviews: 35MSRP: 129.95
Description:
Ball Bearing Double Silver Contacts Plug & Play ++ Dual Paddle
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ur5cdx.com/index.php?currency=USD&language=en
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15354.6
W4GRJ Rating: 2022-12-15
outstanding paddles Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently received my new CT599 paddle. First thing you notice is the exceptional craftsmanship. It is a real joy to use, amazing for the price.
Thank you Yuri!
Jack
W4GRJ
SK33T3R Rating: 2022-06-01
Pretty paddles Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Update: I've had a bit more time to play with the paddles and can say that I really like them. The contact gaps are adjusted to a very small distance and didn't take to much fiddling to get them there. The small size of the locking nuts can make it a bit more difficult for those with large fingers. So far they've remained tight and stable. This setting feels the same as the older Bencher BY-1 that I was using yet the CT599 doesn't feel "spongy" like the Bencher does.

And at the small contact gap setting there is nearly no noise that others have commented about. I agree with some other reviews that I beleive the noise is accentuated by the acrylic paddles and not much from the mechanism itself.

I'm no great CW operator, and really just getting into it, but I'm very happy with these paddles at the purchase price of $177 shipped.

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I just received my set of paddles from Yury after ordering them about a month ago. The tracking updates were spotty at best and I would ping Yury to see what the status was. He couldn't add much more than what i was seeing but was quick to respond each time. And I believe the USPS status was backfilled after it was received as there was nothing for about 3 weeks then suddenly a bunch of info. Obviously, this has nothing directly to do with the paddles but wanted to let others know that it may take a bit for their order to show, but they will show.

As others have mentioned, the paddles were nicely packed. Very secure.

I'm in the process of configuring the paddles to the way that I like but have no definitive opinion yet. They are very nice looking and are of beautifully polished brass. I've tweaked the contact gaps some but think that I need to massage them a bit more to get to my liking.

I'll update this review once I have a bit more time with these paddles hence my 3 star review. It is not a reflection on the quality at all but rather my lack of time using them.
N8DAH Rating: 2022-04-19
Wow just wow! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a work of art! Works great, feels great, looks great! Mirror finish on everything and easy to adjust. Worth every penny and some.
G8FXC Rating: 2021-07-01
Excellent engineering and service... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've played with CW on and off for many years, but recently took the decision to do it "seriously". That led to a decision to buy a decent paddle which, in turn, led to research on the web to identify one.

Several people recommended Yury's keys and paddles, so I took a look at his web site and liked what I saw. I selected the CT599 in brass finish because I liked the low-profile design and the brass version came in at a price which was below the point at which the UK tax man started to get interested and look for import duty.

I ordered it on a Saturday and it arrived at my door the following Saturday - not bad for an international purchase. Yury had been communicative throughout, emailing me to confirm receipt of the order, followed by messages confirming shipment and a tracking code so that I could follow its progress across Europe. It arrived in perfect condition - very well packed.

I'm an old mechanical engineer - there was a time when I could have built a key like this from scratch - so I can recognise quality when I see it and this is quality. The design is simple but functional - should give many years of trouble-free service. The finish is excellent - the grade of brass that Yury uses polishes up very well and it looks fantastic. I had to show the receipt to my wife to prove to her that it was not gold! I have heard someone complain that the underside is not polished - that is true, it is just milled and shows some tool marks, but does this really matter?

In operation, it is simply excellent. I'm not a high speed morse operator and the factory settings as shipped work fine for me. A faster operator might find that the gap is too great and the resistance a bit high - but those settings are fully adjustable. The action is so smooth with no detectable play in the bearings.

It would be good if Yury could offer a choice of plugs - it came fitted with a very good quality gold plated quarter inch jack, but my Yaesu wants 3.5mm while the IC7300 wants quarter inch. It's easy to find a 3.5mm to quarter inch adaptor, but less easy to find the other way round - so the supplied plug had to come off and be replaced with a far cheaper quality 3.5mm.

In summary, this is an excellent product backed with good service and at a very attractive price. The total bill including international shipping came to just under £130 - that would barely get you the entry level product from any of the leading manufacturers.
K0AF Rating: 2020-07-23
Works as great as it looks! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This paddle works as great as it looks. It's smooth as silk thanks to magnet tension and the precision pivot bearings have no detectable play or wobble. The heavy base means it stays put on my desk. Another plus: the CT599 came with a nice, flexible cable and quality 1/4" connector already attached.

I'm confused by reviewers that mention sounds made by this paddle. I'm not sure how a device with mechanical contacts could be any quieter. With the shack dead quiet, no radios on and no outside noise, I can barely hear the contacts make when I play "air CW".

Very nice design and workmanship Yuri / UR5CDX. Thanks!
K2TV Rating: 2019-06-18
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've used many keys, bugs and paddles over my 59 years of being a ham. This one turned out to be the best by far. Yuri does a wonderful machining job that is truly a work of art. The operation is smooth and crisp with the magnetic return as verses the spring return paddles like the bencher. Some operators complain about the clicking noise that the paddle makes while keying. I didn't find that objectionable especially since I use headphones while operating CW. The easiest way to order any of the UR5CDX keys is on EBAY, just search for UR5CDX.
N7BKV Rating: 2018-11-28
Elegance and Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Family members raised their eyebrows when I told them I sent nearly 200 bucks to some guy in Ukraine named Yury. Family was sure the money was gone for good.

Proved them wrong! In less than three weeks this amazing key arrived. It is extremely well built. Mirror finish chrome plated solid brass. DON'T drop it on your foot!!!!

Drives like a Ferrari. Smooth. Loves high speeds. Accurate. Comfortable.

Some have complained of it being "clacky". But all it takes is a minor adjustment to eliminate the clack. Close the contact gaps to the thickness of typing paper and you will be happy.

This key effortlessly added 5 to 10 wpm to my cruising speed.

You will not be disappointed.

Besides, it looks way coolio with your call sign engraved in brass and attached to the base plate.
AC7JW Rating: 2017-04-02
Excellent Paddle- unbeatable value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my CT599 (chrome version) about a month ago, and have been using it ever since. The craftsmanship is terrific, and the paddle is truly elegant in it's design, appearance, and adjustability. Like any new paddle, it takes some time to get it adjusted properly for your sending style, but once you do, using it is truly a pleasure.
This paddle is an incredible value- I'm amazed that Yuri can deliver such a nice paddle at this price.
K3TIM Rating: 2016-12-31
Well Built and Designed Paddle Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the brass version for over a year now and think it's outstanding. The main thing that caught my eye, besides the shiny brass, is the pivot mechanism is contained in the base making the top surface of the paddle very clean in appearance. There is no slop in the mechanism, only smooth motion in the pivot to the silver contacts. I noticed the acrylic (?) tabs make more sound than most others. This wasn't so bothersome. Be that as it may, a set of Walnut tabs were fashioned and they knocked the noise level down considerably. There is metal to metal contact at the rest position of the swing arms therefore some dampening material was placed there also. Now one only hears a slight click when the silver contacts mate. With a side tone it's barely noticeable.

Bottom line, a clean, *very* well designed and mfg paddle.
K4IIE Rating: 2016-02-14
superb key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got one from AA3EJ,thanks David.It's a great key with good tactile and audible feedback.Love to hear the little clicks.It's my 10th paddle and will be used mucho times.