Portable paddles (Part 1)

Hello Friends,
here is my Schurr mounted at an old knee holder - former used wid a Junker…002

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And another equipment - the KX3 wid the Begali - also vy usefull every time.

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Hi all,

I ordered this cheap one for my FT-817nd, UNI-715 can be ordered for right or left handed.

73 Éric

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A typical paddle weighs more than my entire SOTA set-up. I used the pico-palm and it was satisfactory to me. Making paddles is just plain fun, though requires the time and a little handiness to do so. Here are a few that I have made:

Built into a dental floss case, plugs directly into the key jack and uses the radio for its weight. The metal wedge on this one fits into the seam between the clamshell case of the MTR3…

Wiring is inside two pieces of cocobolo wood that were glued together, attaches to the side of the MTR radio with magnets.

another that similarly attaches to the side with magnets.

This is a portable BUG made by WB9LPU in a balsawood carry case I made for it. Altogether still only a few ounces. Dits are produced by magnetically actuated reed switches, such that, the bug doesn’t have to be level and still to produce acceptable dits. I have used it on SOTA activations.

73, fred KT5X (aka WS0TA)

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Hi Friends,

My paddle numer one is Palm Pico.
I use it from end of 2016 year and on its count is almost 1000 activations.
Unfortunately it started to “tell” me that its time is coming to end, small plates responsible for contact with paddles are already deformed what cause transmitting errors.

2 years ago I bought as spare one 3D printed paddle from hamshop.cz
Used it one time for test and decided that it is fine for me.
Unfortunately after two years it is deformed like this:

I just carry it with me, nothing more …

To encourage it to work I needed to set big distances between contact elements.

This experience advises me not to consider 3D printed paddles anymore.
For the moment I think about this one as basic one (pico will be spare one): BaMaTech - Feinmechanik - BaMaKeY TP-III - ultra compact twin paddle key - red

Do you know any smaller or lighter that may be appeared during time from last posting here ?

Of course the paddle must have long life enough :wink:

73, Jarek

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Hi Jarek

Go for it and you will never regret even if it represents a certain investment. Maybe Santa can help :wink:

73, Éric

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Hi Eric,
Letter to Santa is sent :wink:
73, Jarek

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:+1: :wink: that is a good news Jarek 73

Since I use a KX2 on mountain tops the Elecraft paddle that attaches to the side of the radio would work. However they are very proud of that paddle. (That’s a southern way of saying it’s too expensive.) There is a kit, I think from qrp guys for an equivalent paddle that costs much less. Mostly that’s what I use but I also have a paddle made from a rewired computer track ball. It’s very light, rugged, backpack friendly and fits my hand perfectly. I’m not into fancy paddles or keys. At home I use a broken hacksaw blade.

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I don’t know much about anything paddle wise, but I did get a tp-iii a few weeks ago. I find it very nice and would recommend it. I use it at home too, stuck under the rig. People say it’s not the cheapest, and they may be right, but it is solid, well made and worth it to me.

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Hey Sean,

My portable back up paddle is the Radio adventure gear paddle Shop - Morsetasten und Amaterufunkzubehör für Draußen it’s a good paddle.

My main paddle is from Larry N0SA he called it the Sota Paddle but only made a small run of them you can check his qrz for the paddles and bugs he makes.

73 de VE6JTW

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Hi Friends,

Before I said that my Palm Pico paddle worked in almost 1000 activations.
I checked my log and now I can tell it worked almost 20.000 QSOs

I will check respective statistics for Bama Tech paddle and let you know here after some time.

73, Jarek

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Jarek, 2350 unique callsigns in your log worked with CW and your top 10 CW chasers are

NumChases OtherCallsign
633 EA2DT
552 DL1FU
522 SA4BLM
442 HB9AGH
410 IK2LEY
304 PA0B
295 DJ5AV
291 SM5LNE
275 G4OBK
247 SP9AMH
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Thank you very much Andy for never known statistic :wink:

73, Jarek

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Aren’t they everyone’s top cw chasers?

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For the moment @F4WBN is out of that list due to his short activity time :wink:

73, Jarek

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I can’t see any mention in this topic for the following:

I have had one for a few years. I think the action is better than my Pico Paddle and with a 3.5mm jack you stand a better chance of finding a spare cable in a shop in an emergency.

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I’m in love with my GM0EUL Academy Paddle - I got the one with the bigger finger pieces. Smooth and light and not too much $$$!

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Another satisfied UMPP-Academy owner. Peter is very responsive, great care after the sale.

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Hi Friends,

Today BaMaTech paddle was used for the first time on SOTA :wink:

First chaser in the log is Eric @F5JKK :wink:

For the moment I want to inform about one impression and at the same time one difference between Palm Pico & BaMaTech paddles: despite of rubber covers on the paddles they became cold during activation - when I worked continuously I could not recognize it but after sandwich brake this effect was observed immediately after first touch.
This is not something very serious but it is.

73, Jarek

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