I'm incredibly excited about starting with cw.
I didn't, as everyone on this list knows, have to learn cw to get my
technician class license, but I'm learning it anyway.
Cw is a good deal of the reason I became a ham in the first place.
I always admired cw opperators, and used to love those old war movies
where the communications guys were tap tapping away at cw.
I discovered these old Gordon West tapes, and they have been really
helpful for learning the code.
They're definitely a bit hoky, though I prefer to think of them as retro.
There's also a morse code app called morse trainer that I use for my iphone.
It takes random quotations, or articles from Wikipedia if you like
that better, and sends them at variable speeds.
This app is a real treat, because you can just pull it out and
practice on the go anywhere.
Hope this didn't diverge too much from the original topic, but I am
very excited about cw.
I hope I can have better luck with cw than I do with the 2m repeaters
in my area anyway.
73,
Zach, KK4RUZ

On 7/3/13, Alan R. Downing <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello guys,
>
> The subject of Scott's post made me think of CW in general, and
> keys/paddles
> more specifically.  I had been mostly a phone operator for quite a few
> years.  When I was licensed as a Novice back in 1962, I of course had to
> use
> CW, and I continued using it for some time after getting my General,
> Advanced, and ultimately my Extra.  But somewhere along the line I sort of
> gave up CW, probably out of pure laziness.  However, in the past 5 years or
> so, I decided that it was time to have some fun on CW.  I never had any
> trouble copying code, up to about 35 WPM or so, but my fist was sure rusty.
> This was partly due to a serious medical problem, and the meds necessary to
> ease the pain.  In 2008 I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and as a
> direct result, I have been on powerful narcotics to deal with the pain.
> The
> side effects of taking drugs like that impacted on my fist, even though I
> knew what dots and dashes needed to be sent, my fist would simply not
> respond quickly enough.  In any event, I decided that I needed a better
> iambic paddle, and after some research, I ended up buying a terrific
> magnetic paddle from Begali.  For those that aren't familiar with Begali,
> it
> is an Italion company that used to make precision parts for exotic sports
> cars.  Well, the owner decided to retire, but he didn't want to close up
> shop, and lay his valued employees off.  Being an avid CW operator himself,
> the owner decided that he would manufacture the best keys and paddles
> available in the world, and so he has.  Begali paddles are precision made
> on
> computer controlled machines, and are made out of the finest alloys, such
> as
> Titanium, aircraft grade Aluminum, and carbon fiber.  The paddles are
> naturally expensive, but boy what a feel they provide.  There are a dozen
> or
> more different models, all which are made of different alloys, and all of
> different shapes and weights.  I first bought a model named the Magnetic
> Classic, which uses magnets rather than springs.  Spring tensions change
> with temperature, and also over time.  Magnets are not subject to varying
> temperatures, and there is no mechanical vibration or  binding to deal
> with.
> With a key that uses springs, they need to be readjusted from time to time.
> I also remember having to readjust the distance that the arms have to
> travel
> before contact is made.  With magnets, there is none of that.  The magnetic
> Classic is a beautiful piece with gold plating, and is at the lower end of
> the Begali price spectrum.  I don't mean to say that it is cheap, just that
> it costs less than most of the paddles they make.  If I recall correctly,
> the key cost me about $275 at Dayton a couple years ago.  Liking the
> Magnetic Classic so well, I decided  to order a real beauty called the
> Stradivarius.  This model not only uses magnets instead of springs, but it
> has no pins and ball bearings as most keys employ.  Instead of pins and
> bearings, this one uses torsion blades.  There is absolutely no friction as
> there is with the normal pivot arrangement when ball bearings are employed.
> Now, I don't want to suggest that there is a lot of friction when precision
> bearings and pins are used, but with tortion blades, there is absolutely no
> friction at all.  The combination of magnets and torsion blades result in a
> mechanism which is almost impossible to believe.  The Stradivarius cost
> about $450, but it was worth every penny of it.  Instead of gold plating
> that is on my first paddle, this one is plated with Titanium Nitrate which
> is black, giving the unit an industrial look.
>
> Will all of this make me a better CW operator, I don't know, but it sure
> feels great to use, and everyone that visits my shack can't help noticing
> the paddles, even those who know nothing about CW or ham radio.
>
> Best 73, KD7GC
>
>
> Alan R. Downing
> Phoenix, AZ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Scott Howell
> Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 1:23 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Vibroplex bug for sale
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a Vibroplex bug, number 201849, for sale. The bug was purchased =
> directly from Vibroplex a couple of years ago and is in very good shape =
> for its age. There is a bit of wear on the corners which was present =
> when I purchased it. I also will include an extension that slows the =
> bug's speed down to somewhere around 10 wpm or a little slower. I'm =
> selling it because I have another bug here someone gave me about 15 =
> years ago that was a gift. I really don't use the bug very much and =
> would like to find it a good home. I'm asking $100 shipped/insured or =
> make a reasonable offer.
> Please contact me directly at [log in to unmask] to avoid cluttering =
> the list.
>
> 73
> Scott/N3BYY
>