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Reviews For: Vibroplex Code Mite

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Vibroplex Code Mite
Reviews: 9MSRP: 59.95
Description:
The Vibroplex Code Mite is a miniature straight key that fits in the palm of your hand. The engraved plastic base is only 1.5 by 3 inches. Weight is 2.6 ounces.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.vibroplex.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0094.7
LNXAUTHOR Rating: 2022-06-09
junk but salvageable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
purchased used from a bad seller on the bay of evil (jaguar***), which was advertised as whole, but came missing the brass nut for the contact/wiring pin underneath the key... that was easily fixed with a junkbox nut and small solder contact point for the wire...

what was worse however (not the fault of the seller) was the slop of the arm in the trunion support for the lever - simply awful! if this is how these keys went out of the shop into the public, then they weren't worth half of the original MSRP... the lever waggled quite a bit on this toy key - worse than even a mighty fine junk key!

on the other hand, the plating was fine and the screws were as good as top-end keys...

my fix: open up the amourer's bench, toolkit, and spare Ruger GP100 and SP101 parts boxes... i used a brass punch to tap out the lever arm, then replaced the trunion pin with a stainless M3x20 bolt and matching nut with two .001" GP100 revolver trigger washers, placing one of each side of the lever (hint: use a long, thin punch to line up the holes)... the trunion was then tightened down...

voila! the result was no lever sideways slop, and i now own a small QRP key with the precision that should have been there in the first place... the gimmick of printing a serial number on these keys is just that - why bother with a cheap plastic base and sloppy assembly? (i knew about the plastic base before i purchased the key)

but now i have a key somewhat worthy of the Vibroplex name (btw, i called Vibroplex a week ago and left a message, including my email, but have heard nothing back... perhaps the owner is on vacation or busy... but someone should be watching the shop, or is Vibroplex now a one-man operation? doesn't bode well for customer support - i was going to buy some parts)

hope this helps someone out there - if you run across one of these, don't think you're buying an heirloom, but do expect to get a usable key with a little effort
W9SA Rating: 2018-07-05
Great Key for QRP Kit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this key for a number of years but never used it. Recently I got back into doing some qrp and put together a portable kit and it seemed logical to give the Code Mite a try. I'm glad I did as it is a great little key! Once adjusted it is very positive and a hoot to use. Small, light, and it works! What else can you ask for.
K9MGY Rating: 2010-06-24
Great Little Key to Learn CW Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is really great key for someone like me who is trying to learn code and does not want to spend a fortune on a fancy key until I am confident I will know CW. I really like the size and it is easy to adjust.
AB7KT Rating: 2010-05-17
Great Key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought one of these at Dayton. It was so cute I couldn't resist.
Was really surprised when I got home and started playing with it.
It has a very nice feel to it straight out of the box. Very positive keying. I also like the feel of the knob. Seems so far like a very nice key regardless of size.
At this point I think it is going to get a lot of use at the home station. I prefer a paddle for portable use.

Mine is #795
KI6ATB Rating: 2008-01-19
New to CW Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As a very successful QRP operator on phone for the past year, I decided it was time to try CW. I wanted a nice little key that would match my Yaesu FT-817ND for field use while alpine climbing. I decided on a straight key and than set out to find one that would be small and light. The Code Mite fit the bill. Adjustment is easy, and the key has a solid feel. While Im not exactly a barn burner when it comes to code, this key makes it easy for me to make my 7-10 WPM clean and properly formed. Now I just need to make that first CW QSO ;-)
KF4YYD Rating: 2007-04-14
cool little key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've been searching for an affordable key to start out with. The problem is nobody manufactures a good entry level key these days. However, I was able to locate on of these keys (sn#522) and after trying it out at the store decided this one does indeed fit the bill. It has a solid feel to it and stays right where you put it. I figured out quickly that by just using my index finger I could scoot along pretty well and the code sounded great.

If you are looking for a cool small sized inexpensive key, but don't want a toy look no further than the vibroplex code mite

Tom kf4yyd





AB0XE Rating: 2006-07-13
A KEEPER Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this key for portable QRP use.
I am so happy with it that I have been using it
as my main key, normally I use a Kent paddle or a Nye straight key, but this little guy is superb.
You can set it on a flat service and speed on
and it does not move. It feels very solid, not mushy.
It is very nice to look at also, I am very happy with this purchase and would buy one again
NS6Y_ Rating: 2006-06-28
Very solid, not a toy! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It looks like a toy, but it's a very solid, good-feeling key! If you have bear paws for hands you'll probably not like it, but for a lot of people this should be a very good key for portable, backpack, etc operations. Since it's best to start out with a streight key, this is a good one for a first key if you have smaller sized hands. If you have large hands, better to go with a full-sized key. But this is not the toy it appears to be, it's a very solid key!

I did make one "mod", I drilled an extra hole through it at the back side, so I could use a zip-tie to secure the cable, for a cable I used a piece of RG-174. A shielded cable is often important, and small diameter coax like RG-174 works great. But it will not last long if not strain-relieved, and this is one of the ways of doing it.
K2JN Rating: 2004-08-17
Cute mini.. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A nice and simple miniature key to add to the collection. The feel is not bad either. It has four adhesive rubber feet to keep the tiny thing from moving about on the desktop when in use. It comes with an instruction sheet and small allen wrench for adjustment. The plastic base is engraved with the Vibroplex logo and a unique serial number. I’ve got number 139.