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Reviews For: Begali Simplex Basic

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Begali Simplex Basic
Reviews: 18MSRP: 155
Description:
Although this is the least expensive Begali key, it can hold it's own against many higher priced paddles. A heavy cast base, precision bearings and micro-threaded adjustments make this a real bargain.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00184.9
SK33T3R Rating: 2022-06-27
Sold them. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my package from Begali in late March. The paddles were supposedly adjusted according to the package but they obviously were not and probably set that way for shipping. No biggie. I used the included shim to set up the separation of the contacts and started playing with the paddles. No play in the pivots and short throws to the paddles. Nice and 'clicky'.

Edit (4/26): The key would suddenly start repeating dits when the contacts were set to the close spacing desired. Replacing the contact screw and spring seems to have fixed the issue.

Final edit: Sold them for a set of UR5CDX CT599 paddles.
N4MJG Rating: 2022-03-02
Best key so far and love it ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
as of feb 2020 to this date

i had this key long time and i love this paddle key as far the best ever made thank bruna dad who built the key is a work horse built like a tank i really love this key since owned this ! the best key ever made atfer watch a vedio of thier shop that key were made ! thank you bruna forerything ! for best key ever made !




I BROUGHT THIS 2 YEARS AGO ,This key is the best ever took little time get use use to it practice every day to get better what a wonderful key ever ! love this so much !

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N4MJG on 2017-06-20

Atfer ordering spark key last year so happy with it !

After making my mind on this simplex basic with alum finger, I went on head order it! I'm glad i order this !

One of best paddle key ever use i'm not speed demon about 10 wpm but this key so awesome i really love them thanks to Bruna and Piero for best key proud owner of this lovely key i ever use !!

I'm so happy with this key !i never wanted to get sell it ! it's a keeper for sure

73
Jackie
M4MJG
DG7FB Rating: 2020-08-06
I love it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the key some weeks ago (Ser.No 2759). Looks great with my engraved callsign and additional red aluminium grips. All in all: Not too pricey.
It ships directly from Italy. Excellent service. Short delivery time. Easy to adjust. It comes with a 0.03-mm-gauge and a little dust cover. The key rests on my table like a rock.
I love this paddle.
G4GHJ Rating: 2020-07-08
My first impressions of the Simplex Basic paddle key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For a few years, I had been thinking about getting a paddle key. A good friend of mine, G4XVO, bought the Simplex Basic key and told me how good it was. Until then, I had always used a straight key.

I had already looked at various paddle keys and decided to get one at some time. Eventually, I took the plunge and ordered the paddle key from Begali.

It arrived in less than a week, with one day from dispatch in Italy to reach me in the UK!

The quality of the key is outstanding. It is easy to use and very stable with a good solid base. There is even a feeler gauge to set the points!

I have had quite a few QSO's with it and the ease of use is a reflection of the very high standard of manufacture. It was a pleasure dealing with the company and Bruna kept me informed with an email at every stage of the process. If only other companies had the same service!



G4VRR Rating: 2019-07-30
First Class Key Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I soldiered on for years with a Kent dual paddle key. The Kent is a very well engineered key but I only ever used it like a single paddle key. After heavy hints, best beloved purchased the Simplex for me at Christmas. I removed it from the box and attached a 1/4" TRS and it has never needed any adjustment at all.

I wouldn't mark it down but at this degree of sophistication and engineering elegance, I would seriously expect the key to have an integrated TRS socket into which any ubiquitous vanilla 3.5mm stereo lead could be plugged. Transceivers have long since abandoned such connections for keys. I contrived a clamp from a little block of PTFE to secure a TRS barrel socket using the original cable clamp screw holes, but it shouldn't be necessary IMHO. Begali even supplied such a lead in the box with the key! (The little machined oblong cut-out could instead be a hole threaded to accept a panel mount socket. So easy.) In this way I was able to solder little leads to the solder tags without disturbing the set up. There is no way I would knock a star off for this but I believe that at this level it's a inappropriate to have to prepare fly leads and wire up to solder tags and it should be addressed. Some folk reading will think "get a life" but that's their
prerogative.

If I have any regret at all it is that I wish I'd purchased direct from the kind folks that build these jewels. I know it's subjective but the Begali feels more refined than the Kent in the same way that my Junker feels better than my Kent straight key, but in this case I suspect that may be more to do with the Begali's alloy paddles compared with the Kent's plastic ones. The key came with a flimsy transparent dust cover and this should be improved too but again it's not a part of the key and so cannot merit any mark down.

I couldn't justify the cost of one of these keys before, but now I have experienced it I have completely changed my view and would very strongly recommend trying one out. You will probably end up buying one.
N7AG Rating: 2019-07-30
Worth More! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not quite a n3zn, 1\2 the price. Adjustments have stayed "set" for over a year. The "ZN" is slightly better, at twice the price. I love this key.
W8IJN Rating: 2018-05-27
Great key for folks with Essential Tremor Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was a radioman in the USN. Worked CW plenty back then, easily at 25wpm and up. When I got out of the USN in '72, I continued to enjoy CW. Then as I got older, I ended up with essential tremor. My physician didn't think it was funny when I asked him why, if it was so essential, everybody didn't have it. He told me to shut up. At least it wasn't Parkinsons. Good point.
. . . I stopped playing CW with keyers & such 'cause, well, my hands shook too much to enjoy it any more.
. . . Then I met Piero Begali and tried a Simplex Basic.
. . . The pleasure came back.
. . . Something about the spacing of the paddles, the angle & leverage of the mechanism and the micrometer adjustments of the settings -- plus the really heavy base -- made it easy for me to play CW again.
. . . Not as fast as I once was but at least I'm back on the air.
. . . I highly recommend the Simplex Basic. I'd also recommend the other models of Simplex paddles (the Pro and the others with various base platings) simply because they are of the same design, just slightly more refined.
. . . Nice inexpensive but highly useable and solid key. Quality craftsmanship, quality build, quality parts & materials.
. . . Definitely five stars. Definitely.
N9ZI Rating: 2017-10-27
Very Nice Paddle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very nice paddle - sends flawless cw - heavy base - nice easy adjustments - have operated mostly cw for almost 64 years, have had many paddles, am glad I added this one recently.
KK4Z Rating: 2016-12-22
Great Paddle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a long hiatus from CW I decided to take reacquaint myself with this wonderful mode. It's been about 20 years and I had long since sold my Bencher paddle.

I wanted to try something new so I first bought a Code Warrior Jr based upon the Vibroplex name. However, I could not make the Warrior work for me. So next I tried a Begali Simplex. What a beautiful set of paddles. The craftsmanship is excellent and was mostly set up the way I like it right from the box. Only a few minor adjustments and I felt right at home. Also the customer service from Begali was excellent. I think of it more as an experience...one that everyone should try. I will be going back.

A little about me. I was never a speed demon with code. In my heyday I was in the 16-18 wpm range. I am studying and practicing my code skills and should be able to get back in at around 13-15 wpm once I get the courage up to get back out there.

The Begali Simplex Basic is a few dollars more then some the other keys out there. But, the quality of construction makes it a bargain. If you are looking for your first set of paddles (and maybe your last) look no further.
KC9RNK Rating: 2016-12-07
Simply Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very high quality paddle. Sends my 23wpm effortlessly. Begali reviews for all they make, tell the story. Great company, with customer satisfaction with product number one priority. This shows in their craftsmanship, even on the Simplex Basic. Outstanding.