Message: 11 Date: Fri, 05 May 2006 22:51:18 -0400 From: Mike Markowski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Elecraft] Opinions on Bencher HexKey? To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I was reading the Elecraft web ad about the Bencher Hexkey and am curious what owners or users of the key think of it. At 3 years into hamming, my only experience with paddles is with the Kent Engineers paddles. The magnetic tensioning of the HexKey sounds nice, but I've read reviews saying that the threads for adjustment are too coarse making adjustment difficult. I've seen no complaints regarding the paddles once adjusted. Sooo, anyone willing to offer opinions - would this be a step up, down, or sideways from Kent paddles? Should I save my pennies for something else or stay put? If it matters, my top speed is currently 25 wpm - no speed demon here. Thanks! Mike AB3AP Mike, I have been using the original N2DAN Mercury paddles for 20 years. This was the design from which the Hexkey was derived. It looks to me like it is an exact replica, so my comments should be valid. This is the best set of paddles I have ever had. Believe it or not, I used them doing CW mobile. Having a 45 minute commute on I-495, with low traffic gave me 90 minutes of CW per day for 10 years. That constant practice got my speed up to 55 - 60 wpm and I managed to get into the CFO (yes, CFO, not FOC) group during that time. For a few years of that commute, I used the classic spring loaded Bencher. Besides often blowing up on me from time to time (classic Bencher owners know what I mean) while I was driving, I began to realize that I needed something better since my sending speed started to lag way behind my copying speed. After purchasing the Mercury, my sending speed caught up with my copying speed in short order. The paddles even survived my car (Honda Civic with huge bugcather antenna) being stolen and stripped for parts. The police found my car a few days later. While looking through the remains, I found the Mercury paddles underneath the unbolted passenger's seat. My wife thinks it's funny that the paddles were the only thing I was concerned about. Like others who replied, I was able to adjust the paddles to such a close spacing, that they almost seemed like touch paddles rather than mechanical ones. Even with that close spacing, they held their adjustment for years and were never bothered by the motion of the car. I can't say enough good things about this design. I do share the opinion that the contact spacing adjustment screws are a bit coarse in the thread. But it only takes a few minutes to get the spacing you want and you don't have to adjust them again for years. As a disclaimer, I have to say that I don't have experience with competitive paddles, so I can't say I would have the same or better experience with Kent or Schure paddles. My previous experience was with far inferior paddles. Dudley - WA1X _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
