[TenTec] TENTEC/VIBROPLEX PADDLE

[Wa4aos at aol.com]

You guys had me going,

Vibroplex bought out by MFJ.  THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG ! ! !
Horrible Ten Tec paddle.      WRONG AGAIN ! ! !
Misaligned parts.             SO WHAT ? THE PADDLE IS MADE TO ADJUST !
Deformed parts.               My unit is PERFECT ! ! !
Don't buy it get a Kent...    KENT IS GOOD TOO ! ! 
Better get the upgrade kit..  NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE ???

Just what I needed to hear after waiting for a number of months to receive my 
serial number 156 which is the month and year I was born. The delay was due 
to the serial number that I requested and not any Ten TEC or Vibroplex 
problem.

I received my unit today and was almost afraid to open the box. I just knew 
once I did, I would be on the phone demanding a COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE REFUND 
from Ten Tec. 
GUESS WHAT? I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DELIGHTED ! ! ! I opened the box and 
spent 5 minutes adjusting it for the feel I like and here are my comments.

Was it worth wait? YOU BET ! ! !!  It's a beautiful paddle and is here to 
stay.
Was Vibroplex bought by MFJ?  HARDLY ! ! ! Get your facts right before making 
statements like this ! ! !

Horrible paddle? After adjusting it to my particular liking, the Kent is up 
for sale. This paddle has a wonderful feel and perfect action. The best that 
I have used to date. Including other Vibroplex paddles and certainly better 
than any of the Ten Tec keyer boxes of years gone by. I actually prefer it to 
my Kent. 


Misaligned parts? Have hams become so appliance oriented that they are 
bothered by adjusting a paddle. That's why they come with adjustments.

Deformed parts? ABSOLUTLY NOT ! ! ! This paddle is just stunning !  ! The 
chrome is beautiful and looks very deep. GEORGEOUS ! ! ! 

   I bought a Vibroplex paddle about 13 years ago. This was the top of the 
line Presentation paddle with gold plate. This was before the present owners 
bought Vibroplex. What a piece of junk that paddle was. The Vibroplex label 
was a cheap stick on type with no mounting screws. The chrome was very thin 
and pitted out of the box. It felt stiff and had a rough action. I used it 
one weekend and it has been sitting on a shelf since.

Don't buy it get a Kent?  My Kent is for sale. I love the Kent and have used 
it for years but the action on the new Vibroplex/TenTec unit is as good or 
better. Email me if you need a Kent and we will work a deal..

Better get the upgrade kit?  I don't know about this one and I will look into 
it but I can't imagine how this could be any better.

 This is how I set up my paddle and try it with yours if you care to. 
First, slightly loosen the two screws on the bottom under the vertical bars 
that mate against the jewels. Then slightly retighten making sure the lever 
arms are a little lose but that there is no slop in them in the vertical 
plane. I adjust it until I just hear a slight, ever so soft ping when I 
release the paddle. Next, adjust the spacing of contact gap with a Dollar 
bill so that the gap is just ever so slightly wider than the bill. If you 
like a little more gap, try a business card between the contact points. Next, 
adjust the spring tension until the levers just pop back home when released. 
Any more spring tension will make the action rough. With the paddle adjusted 
this way the action is the best that I have ever experienced in my 32 years 
of CW Hamming. 
This is an excellent product and unlike some who have made comments on the 
reflector, I bought one and have used it.

 I wish those that can't resist putting their remarks on the reflector 
without getting the information correct first, would stop and think about 
what they are doing. If you don't own it or can't provide useful and accurate 
information, good or bad, Please keep your comments to yourself. 

I will probably get flamed for saying something positive on this reflector 
but I don't mind pulling arrows out of my back. 

UPDATE. I just called Stan to order a second unit and they are all SOLD. I am 
on a waiting list for a possible cancellation. If you want to have any chance 
of getting one, you better call Stan and see if he will put you on a list, 
just in case. If you didn't order one, believing some of the recent post, you 
just missed out forever. This was a limited edition of 250. Of course in a 
few decades they will show up on eBay as the owners start to go to the big 
Ham Radio Shack in the sky!!

Thanks and 73,
Glenn WA4AOS