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Reviews For: VizKey Vertical Bug

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : VizKey Vertical Bug
Reviews: 30MSRP: 245
Description:
The VIZ Vertical
This amazing key features all brass construction, plastic finger pieces, silver contacts and stainless steel main springs. Speed is adjustable from about 8 wpm to about 30 wpm by sliding weight.
Product is in production
More Info: http://vizkey.com/index.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00304.9
WO6W Rating: 2021-01-16
Absolutely love this bug! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm primarily a paddle user but wanted an option for SKCC and the like. The Vizkey Vertical is not my first bug, but it's the one I've kept and could easily be my last.

I really enjoy sending with this bug... smooth to manipulate and very quiet, no perceptible scratch, minimal space taken on my crowded desktop and it will send far slower than I will ever need.

I keep it set for 20 wpm, but there's loads of slower speed range available if I should ever need to slow it down more. My preference is to add Farnsworth spacing when slower speeds are needed so a slower setting is unlikely.

I really appreciate the stability of settings... this bug has been set-and-forget for me. I keep it covered when not in use and expect that needing to clean contacts will be rare. Did I mention that I also like the warmth of brass? The bug looks great to my eye.

Finally, let me thank Curt for excellent customer support when I bought the bug "previously loved". I was not a direct customer, but Curt was generous with his time and assistance helping me with getting the bug set up and adjusted to taste! Let me add that set-up was not at all difficult.

As I said, this may very well be my last and only bug moving forward. I love it and it's made semi-automatic sending a joy.

73 de Bob WO6W
K0FL Rating: 2020-01-15
A Piece Of Art Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been a paddle user for 40 plus years. The last year or so I've been hanging out with and working the SKCC crowd. My straight key fist is good but now a days my arm and wrist get tired easily. I made the decision to give a bug a try. Buying a original vibroplex bug was the first step in my journey. After putting in the hours to learn the technique of using a vibroplex bug I took the plunge and ordered the Vizkey vertical. The order took about 7 weeks to arrive but I was mixed in with the Christmas rush orders so the delay was understandable. First I must say this key is beautiful. The quality of the parts is exceptional. The feel of the key is smooth. Much smoother than the vibroplex. The transition to the vertical bug was seamless. I didn't realize how much effort I was having to use with the vibroplex until I got the Vizkey. Did I mention it was smooth??

Curt is a pleasure to deal with and my experience was 100% positive. This key is well worth the money

73 to all
de Tim KØFL
KJ5XF Rating: 2019-04-26
Nice Bug!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I decided to get a Vizkey Vertical bug about 8 years after I bought a 90 degree right-angle Vizkey bug. My experience has been that the Vertical bug is just as smooth and easy to use as my 90 degree Vizkey bug. Definitely a 5/5 in my opinion. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Vizkey bug!!

Keep up the GREAT work Curt!
K4UYQ Rating: 2019-02-09
Not for me. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm amazed that every review is so positive. I bought the Vizkey Vertical Bug because of the reviews. After using Vibroplex bugs for 63 years, I find the Vizkey to be very hard to adjust too. The finger piece is too low for my style of sending; it is more suited to a paddle user, so I had to place the key on a 3/4 inch pine board to make it useable.

I just don't see any advantage over the time proven Vibroplex keys.
VE7PJR Rating: 2018-01-30
Highly Favourable Review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an update to the review I posted back in 2009 (as WB7PJR). Having returned to the air after a lengthy absence I've been using this alongside my old trusty Vibroplex Original.

Compared to a 1977 Original that I've owned since new, this key is a little easier to use and can be slowed down more easily. It takes up far less horizontal real estate on the desk, but be warned that it sticks up a lot farther. Leave a little space around it for safe working.

My favourite thing about this key is that the weight can be run right out to the end of the pendulum rod. There are ways to extend the pendulum or one can make bigger weights, but that may not be necessary with this key.

I ended up making a large brass weight, which pulls the key down to a nice comfy 15 wpm or so. On the Vibroplex that same extra weight really makes the key action "heavy" but on this key not so much. Perhaps that's due to the difference between vertical and horizontal.

I don't know which it is, but I've been really enjoying this key on 30m. In fact, I'm having so much fun with CW that for the first time since I was a Novice 40 years ago I'm a CW-only op.
KC1RL Rating: 2016-02-05
First rate all the way Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's here. It's beautiful. And works very nicely. Beats hell out of my Blue Racer, which seems like a child's toy and not well made compared to the Vizkey Vertical. Contact with Curt KU8L has been courteous and pleasant and helpful throughout. The workmanship is first rate, as is the performance. Excellent key.
K3TIM Rating: 2014-01-15
Excellent Key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is an easy to use bug and one can learn to send excellent CW with it. The dot weight is perfect. Key is good at slow and high speeds.
Design and build quality are good.
Tom is great guy to deal with.
WB0WLS Rating: 2013-12-26
So easy to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can't say anything new that hasn't a already been said in all the previous reviews. The vertical is not only fun but easy to use. Easy to adjust, slow speed to faster without any other adjustments. I knew I would like the bug before I ever ordered it.
5/5 plus
DL2KMA Rating: 2013-08-18
Beautiful key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just recived the Vertical Bug and I have to say I like it very much. It has a speed range from about 8 WPM to 30 WPM and works very precise. It is much more easy to use than a Vibroplex Bug and is also very smooth. With my older Vibroplex I had the problem, that it made sometimes a additional dit, where it shouldn't have made one. With the Viz Vertical this is over. It does exactly what it should do.

---Great Bug----

Tom made also for me an additional weight whitout extra costs and also answeared to my questions via email. So I have also to say that his service is very good.

I highly recoment his Vertical for anyone, who wants to buy a new bug.
WL7B Rating: 2013-07-15
Nice Job Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I always wanted to try one so I bought one used. Works very well for me, so well I put my trusty Vibroplex on the shelf. I like the VizKey because I can slow it way down for slower operators. Being a retired machinist the work is A+ the only thing that I would like to see on mine is a second hole for the pendulum stop screw and a longer pendulum shaft so I can adjust the weight to send even slower.