[TenTec] Mobile CW Paddle

[Paul Gates, KD3JF]

The 544 is a beautiful rig for CW ... I have had 2 of them through the years... Also like the audio sound of SSB on them.
 
Paul, KD3JF
Glen Burnie, MD
FM19qd (Map Grid Square)


----- Original Message ----
From: Gregory J. Knapp <gknapp at freshrain.org>
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 11:16:15 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mobile CW Paddle


For the past 41 years I have done mobile CW (with a Ten Tec 544 Triton
Digital--talk about easy to read big frequency display while mobile--and
other rigs) at about 30 WPM average for 2 hours a day on a long commute. 

I have used straight keys, bugs, at least 3 common name brand paddles (both
spring and magnetic, set for slightly wider spacing than normal) sitting on
the seat next to me, BUT, the key that I think is by far the BEST for mobile
operation is the PK-1 by Paddelette with a knee/thigh strap.  It is only
about an inch and a half long and 3/4 inch wide...really dinky, but adequate
size for good CW. It has a magnetic mount to the strap, so if you forget it
as you get out of the car, you don't pull and brake the wire between the key
and rig (believe me, you will forget you are wearing it...it is that
comfortable). It stays in place while sending. I find it is good, using my
Logikey K-3 keyer by Idiom (an incredible keyer that seems to make up for my
mistakes while sending!) for accurate mobile-in-motion CW up to about my
personal limit of about 32-34 WPM (I'm getting old). The cost is only about
$60-70 bucks. Even with my brass racer and other paddles at home, I've
recently thought of bringing it into the shack to use with my new Orion II!
That is, of course, if I don't brake down and buy a Bengali in the mean
time!
73, 
Greg, N6GK/mobile   

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Duane A Calvin
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 6:28 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Mobile CW Paddle

For those of you who work mobile CW, I'm curious what you use for a
paddle?  I have the Begali Traveller Lite, and find that while the
magnetic tensioning is great for fixed position operating, it has too
little tension for mobile work.  At least, that's my  conjecture.  What I
find is that riding on a bumpy road (that's any road in my truck), it's
far to easy to screw up the sending with extraneous dit's and dah's.  I
have the tension set on the highest setting, which is still light
compared to most paddles, and have not tried opening the spacing yet. 
That may help.  I'm curious what others of you find works well for mobile
CW.

        73,  Duan
(perhaps this goes with the current Scout topic, to tie it to TT!)

--------------------------------------
Duane Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas

http://home.austin.rr.com/ac5aa
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.1/347 - Release Date: 5/24/2006


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.1/347 - Release Date: 5/24/2006
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec