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Re: [VHFcontesting] Linemaster Foot Switches

To: "John D'Ausilio" <jdausilio@gmail.com>, "Rogers, Ron" <RR124640@ncr.com>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Linemaster Foot Switches
From: "Les Rayburn" <les@highnoonfilm.com>
Reply-to: Les Rayburn <les@highnoonfilm.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 11:50:18 -0600
List-post: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com">mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
I personally will be scouring the pages of Ebay looking for these! What could 
be cooler than to equip your shack with the used tattoo switch of some guy 
named “Dirt” who owned a shop on the Sunset Strip for the last twenty years! 
Ah, the stories that footswitch could tell....

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114

6M VUCC #1712
Grid Bandit #222
Life Member Central States VHF Society



From: John D'Ausilio 
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 11:18 AM
To: Rogers, Ron 
Cc: Les Rayburn ; VHF Contesting Reflector ; vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu ; Alabama 
Contest Group 
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Linemaster Foot Switches

I wonder if those "tattoo" Gem switches are genuine .. I see one guy
selling the direct from Hong Kong ..

de w1rt/john

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM, Rogers, Ron <RR124640@ncr.com> wrote:
>  Another model of Linemaster switch very popular with contesters due to 
> robustness, price, and usability is the Linemaster "Gem series" of switch.
>
> These are round, heavy duty, weighted, non-skid, virtually indestructible 
> foot switches. Since they are round it doesn't matter which angle your foot 
> hits the switch, it activates. These appear to be the "switch of choice" in 
> the Tattoo business <grin>
>
> The internal design does not use any micro switch, but instead has 3 
> compression springs, heavy brass rings, and steel plate. It is as robust as 
> it gets. There is really nothing in the design to wear out or fatigue.
>
> http://www.linemaster.com/Industrial/Footswitch.aspx?catNo=GemVandGemVK
>
> I purchased 2 new ones for $25 ea from someone selling them at the Huntsville 
> Hamfest a couple of years ago. However, do a quick search on E-bay for "Gem 
> footswitch" and you will find them at very reasonable prices.
>
>
> Ron
> WW8RR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com 
> [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Les Rayburn
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 3:33 PM
> To: VHF Contesting Reflector; vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu; Alabama Contest Group
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Linemaster Foot Switches
>
> After having a foot switch failure during the January VHF Contest, I went 
> looking for something beyond the cheap, plastic foot switches commonly sold 
> at ham radio stores for this application. A friend suggested the "Linemaster" 
> line of industrial foot switches, with a specific recommendation for their 
> "Clipper" model.
>
> http://www.linemaster.com/
>
> These high quality foot switches are made from solid, cast iron metal, with 
> specially designed micro switches that can withstand the roughest possible 
> treatment. Many of their models are sealed for use in dirty environments, and 
> rated with cycle lives in the millions. The cost for brand new models is very 
> reasonable ranging from $40 and up. Even better, these switches are common 
> items on sites like Ebay.com and sell for very reasonable prices.
>
> I just purchased both a single Clipper footswitch and a "dual footswitch" to 
> handle keying and sequencing for my 6 Meter, 2 Meter, and 432 stations. While 
> I haven't tried them in out in contest conditions yet, I fully expect these 
> to be available in my estate sale decades from now! If you want a foot switch 
> that can take the punishment and not give out on you during a contest, look 
> for the Linemaster line.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> EM63nf
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
>
> 6M VUCC #1712
> Grid Bandit #222
> Life Member Central States VHF Society
>
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