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Reviews For: Begali Intrepid

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Begali Intrepid
Reviews: 22MSRP: 590 incl. shipping
Description:
Innovative mechanical bug with magnetic adjustments
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00224.9
KG7WGX Rating: 2020-08-02
Cleanest sounding dits of any bug Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After fighting with various attempts at mechanical dampening to eliminate "scratchy" dits on other bugs, I was ready to build a bug descratcher and solve the contact bounce electronically.

Then I read some reviews about the spring-loaded dit contact on the Intrepid and decided to take a chance.

Absolutely the best bug I've used!

I was pleasantly surprised that my Intrepid had a speed range which started at 13 wpm instead of the specified 18 wpm, without moving the weights past the dampener. If you only use a bug at 20 wpm and faster, this won't be important but it is something beginners like.

I think the Intrepid feels a little bit like a GHD GN206W, which also works with a very light keying effort. However, the GH206W did require some foam in the "U' of the dit spring to eliminate bounce, and moving the weight to the end of the pendulum rod to work at 13 wpm. The Intrepid worked "out of the box".

Since I don't have 20 years of Vibroplex operating habits, I removed the "dash knob" and used the lever as a single lever paddle. (Which made swapping between the Intrepid and GN206W easier for me.)

I've tried Vibroplex bugs, and this isn't anything like one, in either operation or appearance.

I believe the price is fair, considering the manufacturing that goes into this key.
KE6US Rating: 2020-07-22
Best Bug I've Owned Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received s/n 271, a left-handed Intrepid, a month ago. The fit and finish are everything I've been led to believe about Begali keys. A few mechanical parts are different between the left-and right-handed versions. It's not a wiring change. It's a real left-handed bug like the 3D printed ones I make on my QRZ page.

I'd like to clarify something I think is very misleading in other reviews, that the Intrepid is complicated to adjust. If you know how to adjust any other bug, you should have absolutely no trouble adjusting this one, because it has the SAME ADJUSTMENTS.

There are six adjustments on a traditional bug like a Vibroplex or J36. The Intrepid has exactly the same six adjustments. It’s a one-to-one correlation for those six.
Dot gap/dot weight
Dot stop/travel
Dot tension
Dash contact gap
Dash stop (sets at-rest position of pendulum)
Dash tension

Some bugs have a seventh adjustment for damper position. So does the Intrepid. All seven adjustments are exactly the same.

There’s only one additional adjustment on the Intrepid—a magnetic dot weighting adjustment. You could ignore that one and adjust the Intrepid exactly like every other bug without a single change in the procedure if you wanted to.

Essentially, this 8th adjustment is just a fine vernier-like adjustment of dot weighting (dwell, duty cycle, whatever) which is initially established with the dot contact gap adjustment just as it is on a traditional bug. If you can adjust a traditional bug, the Intrepid is no different. If you’ve never adjusted a traditional bug, you could still use a procedure for a traditional bug like N1EA’s youtube video or N1FN’s written instructions still on the Morse Express website.

The only difference is that the Intrepid adjustments require a little more precision. They have to be adjusted a little more carefully. You can't just set them "good enough" like you might with a Vibroplex. There seems to be a narrower “sweet spot” that takes some time to become familiar with on the Intrepid (took me a day). But every bug is different and requires a period of familiarity and experimenting. Once you find it, you can repeat it with ease, e.g. after a big speed change.

It does respond better to a lighter touch than most other bugs (not all). Bug users who are used to slapping a bug around might be disappointed with the feel of the Intrepid.

If you like a bug that feels and sounds like a 20 year old Chevy on a washboard road, you may not like the Intrepid. If you like something smoother and more solid, you might enjoy this mini-Ferrari from Begali.



WB9JPH Rating: 2019-11-18
A Work of Art Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A very beautiful, well made, and interesting key.

I bought mine from another ham and after several months sold it.

The key was well built, smooth and eye appealing.

Why did I sell it?

I found I needed more mechanical feedback than the Intrepid provided. I made fewer errors with the Intrepid than on an electronic keyer, but still far too many.

If you like sending with an electronic keyer (which I do NOT) and want to experience a bug, you will LOVE this key it is super smooth and requires minimal movement to send CW.

K7FD Rating: 2019-06-26
Steampunk CW Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Love this key; great combination of mechanical wizardry and pleasing to the eye design. If nothing else, it will start a conversation about CW with just about anyone! All this and it sounds great, too. Highly recommended.

73 John K7FD
W4JF Rating: 2019-05-13
Best ever Bug Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had the pleasure of using the Intrepid at a friends house and fell in love with the darn thing. I personally use Begali's Magnetic Professional and Magnetic Classic iambics. But I have a soft spot in my heart for bugs and this Intrepid is the best bug (sorry Vibroplex) I have ever used.

So if you have one for sale, please email me.
73,
Joe W4JF
W2RS Rating: 2017-07-02
Well worth the effort Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As several reviewers have said, getting all the adjustments right can be complicated, but once that's done, the results well justify the effort. Piero's innovative magnetic design has produced a highly personalized key which is a joy to use.

My Intrepid came with a cable having three wires: red, white and bare. The bare copper wire goes to ground, while the others go to the two insulated posts. For right-handed operation, red goes to the side labeled "R"; reverse that for left handed operation.

For operation with Ten-Tec rigs, add a jumper between the two insulated posts. No jumper is needed for Elecraft.

This is my second Begali product; the other is a Signature iambic paddle. Neither is cheap, but the quality is well worth the price.
W6FCS Rating: 2015-04-30
Best Semi-Auto key ever Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
It is necessary to try all of the interactive adjustments this key offers. When you find the settings that work great for you, use it, but don't stop experimenting. If you come back to the same settings again, then you do not need to adjust any more.
I have a number of Vibroplex "Bugs" ranging in age from yr 1918 to 2014. They are now kept on the shelf in favor of this masterpiece of engineering.
I also ordered the plastic cover for it to keep it looking new.
N4LQ Rating: 2015-04-07
One of the worst bugs ever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I used one for a while and it was almost impossible to adjust correctly. Also I have heard several others on the air and they all had bad contact bounce problems which causes a slurring or sloppy sound when transitioning from dit to dah. Even after many attempts to adjust out the bounce, the owners seem to have given up. Personally I feel this bug is overly complex plus way over priced and virtually any old Vibroplex can do a better job.
K6LPQ Rating: 2014-09-25
I'm impressed Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I finally bought my Intrepid at Dayton Hamvention 2014 after months of watching youTube videos and reading everything I could find. Others here have described the perfection of the Begali Intrepid, so I will not bore you with repeated details. The reviews here helped make my decision.

A plus for waiting for Dayton to buy the Intrepid was the opportunity to meet Bruna and Piero--wonderful people who go beyond what is expected to help with the purchase.

I will say one thing that is repeated over and over. The Begali Intrepid has become my favorite key.
N0YJ Rating: 2013-01-11
A great key Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got my Intrepid in October of last year, it has been a true pleasure to operate. It arrived in perfect shape, and well adjusted. I played with the adjustments a bit to suit my style of sending, and was amazed at how consistent and repeatable the adjustments are. This is a great design, and the build and materials are first rate. I would highly recommend this key to anyone who enjoys CW, you will not be disappointed. I own two vibroplex bugs, an original, and a blue racer. I also have a Viz Key vertical bug, they are all fine keys, but honestly the Intrepid is the best hands down.