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Reviews For: Bencher BY-1

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Bencher BY-1
Reviews: 156MSRP: 110 to 395 rrp
Description:
Iambic paddles
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.bencher.com/radioequip.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001564.3
N7OE Rating: 2001-12-08
Good entry-level paddle for the aspiring CW enthusiast. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The BY-1 is one of the least expensive paddles, and is good for the money. It has a solid, heavy base, but a few too many screws to come loose :) Keep the included wrench handy and you'll be fine (there's a holster for it under the base...thanks Bencher!) I've had mine for about eight years now, and it's still going strong. Only major bummer is that if you like your paddle super tight, like I do, the BY-x series tendency to slowly come out of adjustment can cause the levers to get "stuck" while sending. I have occasionally had to break mid-QSO because I began sending a continuous stream of dididididididididididid.... unintentionally. Keep the levers a little more loose (1/2mm or so), and you'll never have this embarrassing experience.

If you're looking for a first paddle, check out the BY-1. Keeping the few pitfalls in mind (far fewer than the competition), it will give you years of fine service.

Best regs -
N7OE
WB9YCJ Rating: 2001-10-17
BY-3 GOLD - compliments top end rigs Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A beauty! Happy with it. Looks and plays great with my IC-781. A very good deal if you can find one priced right in mint condition. Get the after market Lexan or Plexiglass cover if possible.
WB2WIK Rating: 2001-10-05
Wonderful Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wow, this is one of those cases where the same product ranks from "0" to "5" depending on who's holding it!

I have three BY-1 Bencher paddles, two of them for about twenty years now, and have had zero problems with any of them. I don't even follow the "falling apart" discussion, not sure what falls apart. I simply have them planted on the operating bench and use them, without moving them (ever), and without adjusting them (ever), other than once, when each was new.

They hold their adjustments perfectly once the setscrews are tightened with the Allen wrench provided. I like an extremely "light touch" and, since I sometimes send 55-60 wpm, contact spacing must be very close. I set the contact spacing with a piece of paper between the contacts, and tighten in that position. Spacing is then just a few thousandths of an inch, which is perfect for a very light touch and very high speeds without fatigue. (One caveat about such close spacing: If you spill any liquid on the key, it will short out the contacts and send strings of dits or dahs, depending which contacts you spilled on!)

I've never had the slightest problems with any of my Benchers, and if I lost them or had them stolen, I'd replace them with new Benchers.

Steve WB2WIK/6

KH6DV Rating: 2001-10-05
Bencher BY-1 undeserved rep Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The hype concerning the BY-1 would tend to convince most people that this "is the paddle" I didnt find it that way. I recently got a keyer that came with a BY-1 and although I had heard all the hype I had never used one. I didnt like the little thin plastic paddle. I didnt like the fragile feel, I didnt like the fact that its hard to adjust and doesnt seem to hold its adjustment. I did like the fact that it had a heavy base and didnt slide while in use. This was a new paddle not used. I went back to my old brown bros paddle. Now I know what Im not missing. I have used a lot of paddles in 42 years (licensed very young ... 1959) an the BY-1 rates near the bottom of my list. I hate it when the BY-1 falls apart in the middle of a dx pile up. You would think they (Bencher) would correct this considering how many people complain about it.

Ron Ellis KH6DV
Kaneohe Hawaii
W0CKI Rating: 2001-09-05
OK, But like the Ham Key Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Like many others,I have a preference for a paddle. The Bencher is ok, even with it's tendency to self destruct under heavy use. But unlike W5CGH, I love my old plastic Ham Key. Bought in 1970? and still use it today as my first choice. OH well, to each his own.
VE2XLT Rating: 2001-09-05
not bad second hand Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After years of operating Mr .Kent i regret I sold it....got this BY-1 very cheap -second hand
feel happy for the price....both transparet triangles became loose on the rivets -need Crazy Glue treatment....And the bearing is easy to move out of socket by wrong movement ....otherwise they
are workable with my K1EL K20 keyer:-)
W5CGH Rating: 2001-09-05
AAaaargghhhhh!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've never figured out why so many people like the BY-1. I've been licensed for 31 years, and in that time, have operated probably 80-90% CW. I'm not the fastest or the best, but think I'm an above average, solid CW operator, and I've never ever liked the feel of the Bencher. It's plain and simply to soft and flimsy feeling for my tastes. I like a set of paddles that when you touch the paddle, you know that you made contact, and with the Bencher, I was always never quite sure how hard or far to press before making contact. The BY-1 is about as precise feeling as the old Ham Keys, and don't get me started on those non-adjustable plastic monstrosities! I've probably tried a couple dozen types of paddles over the years, and what do I use today? The same old Brown Brothers that I bought new in 1971, and a Vibroplex Iambic of unknown age. They've got the perfect feel for my style.
N2CKH Rating: 2001-03-13
Is there any other Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my first one almost 20 years ago. Black base, all subsequent have been chrome. Use the
1st black one mobile these days. Recently had to buy a code warrior junior for travel, not bad but no BY-1 !
K6SDW Rating: 2001-03-12
Its OK...... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Bencher BY-1 paddle is the baseline that all other paddles are compared to and it's a classic performer.

There's better out there -- unfortuately, at a lot more cost!

For a really good indication of how many paddles and keys are available now, check out www.mtechnologies.com

73.......
K7IV Rating: 2001-03-12
Awesome! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have problems with carpal tunnel. I bought the BY-1 for my IC-706 and have been so happy with it. THe BY-1 is solid, it works, and it wasn't hard to learn CW with it. The BY-1 hasn't aggravated my CT at all. Kudo's to Bencher!