Because my paddle is resistive (not capacitive), it should work fine with gloves. Give it a try! The biggest drawback to those pads is that they are not sensitive near the outer edges. I will have K6ARK KH1PPs available at Four Days in May Vendor Night, and then online after that.
Talking about pressure paddles. I also found this uncomfortable, when fingers touch edges - no press appeared. I will try to describe my workaround next. I don't know how to describe it in English but let me try. There are small sticky bumps which glue to underneath (bottom) of some electronic enclosures and home items. These small tiny legs protect tables or surfaces from scratching by items. I found such small stickers in market with size like diameter 5mm and height about 3mm. Then this items have adhesive bottom and attached to the middle of pressure paddle. After this trick it works like laptop keyboard keys F and J which have small elevation for your finger tips. The same I now have for pressure paddle, when I fill that my thinger move to side, I return finger back to the small elevation dot in the middle of resistive sensor. Hope you understand my description as English my third language 😅 Also this solution increased sensitivity of pressure sensor as you have small 5mm diameter press spo were you put fingers's forse instead of much bigger finger tip.
Thanks for the great side by side comparison and for including our paddle! Big shoutout to Justin K5EM for his significant improvements to the KH1 Adapter design!
Thank you for creating this comparison video, Tim. I'm patiently awaiting delivery of my kh1. The K6ARK paddle looks fantastic. Can't wait to try one! 73 de N4AAJ
Thanks for the review. Helpful to see the different keys in action. I hope if I practice with the stock paddle, I'll get used to it. If not, I'll give the magnets are try.
Mine is fine, too. No wiggle! I got the new version with my KH1 (ser. #898). It has 3 set screws on each side and you can adjust it very fine, pressure and way of each lever.
I definitely did design the KM4CFT paddles with POTA in mind and less so for SOTA since I am primarily a POTA operator. Its great for more casual operations where you value comfort of operation over size and weight. If you have the Elecraft bag I find I can pack both the stock paddle and mine without much issue. 73, -Jonathan KM4CFT
Something I forgot to mention is that you shouldn't have an issue with the paddles wobbling like that since the assembly instructions mention using the KH1 to align the connector perfectly to the PCB.
I have my 5mm magnets and would love to see a review of someone using the new black key (which is indeed more stable in the radio) with magnets instead of spring, before I bite the bullet and drill the paddles..
I have the K6ARK tiny paddle and it works well, but because it sticks out too far, it has to come off to store in the case which adds time to setup and tear down which is counter to the KH1 main use.
I'm looking forward to the new Elecraft paddle. There is a ton of slop with the default paddle. The KM4CFT is huge! N6ARA looks great! I like the K6ARK paddle but it seems like you loose that positive touch sensitivity. I like a bit of feedback when keying.
That's a good point on the K6ARK paddle, Kyle. The feedback is audio. They also take a little getting used to. If you hit near the edges, it won't register the touch. Gotta hit in the center.
It's not about what one "likes." It's about what works in the field. Settings can be disrupted during travel in the pack and installation, adjustments can be disrupted by temperature variation (try putting your paddle in the freezer and see what happens), contacts can get dusty, dirty, oxidized, pivots can get dust and dirt in them... I like tactile feedback, too, obviously, but I switched to a capacitive touch paddle for field use years ago, and the pressure paddle concept is even better as can be used with gloves. - de WS0TA, over 1,000 activations
Elecraft paddle a major disappointment and way over priced. I have a lot of cheap paddles. They aren’t good but I don’t consider them junk. They are workable. But the elecraft KH1 paddle is pure junk. Buyer beware.
Great review; thanks for making this. Anything new out to consider since making the video? BTW if you send your call twice in a row, it would help to add a bit of space between. 73 de Bill Alpert/ KG6NRV
Because my paddle is resistive (not capacitive), it should work fine with gloves. Give it a try!
The biggest drawback to those pads is that they are not sensitive near the outer edges. I will have K6ARK KH1PPs available at Four Days in May Vendor Night, and then online after that.
Talking about pressure paddles. I also found this uncomfortable, when fingers touch edges - no press appeared. I will try to describe my workaround next. I don't know how to describe it in English but let me try. There are small sticky bumps which glue to underneath (bottom) of some electronic enclosures and home items. These small tiny legs protect tables or surfaces from scratching by items. I found such small stickers in market with size like diameter 5mm and height about 3mm.
Then this items have adhesive bottom and attached to the middle of pressure paddle. After this trick it works like laptop keyboard keys F and J which have small elevation for your finger tips.
The same I now have for pressure paddle, when I fill that my thinger move to side, I return finger back to the small elevation dot in the middle of resistive sensor.
Hope you understand my description as English my third language 😅
Also this solution increased sensitivity of pressure sensor as you have small 5mm diameter press spo were you put fingers's forse instead of much bigger finger tip.
Adam, when will will your KH1 paddle be available? 73 Wolf, oe7ftj
The first person to create a (ideally machined brass) straight key for the KH1, at any cost, has my money. I'd buy two so I have a spare :)
Thanks for the great side by side comparison and for including our paddle! Big shoutout to Justin K5EM for his significant improvements to the KH1 Adapter design!
Thank you for creating this comparison video, Tim. I'm patiently awaiting delivery of my kh1. The K6ARK paddle looks fantastic. Can't wait to try one! 73 de N4AAJ
Thanks for the review. Helpful to see the different keys in action. I hope if I practice with the stock paddle, I'll get used to it. If not, I'll give the magnets are try.
I received my KH1 today, 06/25/24, and there is no wiggle in the paddle. It fits tight and flush to the case.
Good to hear they updated it!
Mine is fine, too. No wiggle! I got the new version with my KH1 (ser. #898). It has 3 set screws on each side and you can adjust it very fine, pressure and way of each lever.
Nice review Tim!
I definitely did design the KM4CFT paddles with POTA in mind and less so for SOTA since I am primarily a POTA operator. Its great for more casual operations where you value comfort of operation over size and weight. If you have the Elecraft bag I find I can pack both the stock paddle and mine without much issue.
73,
-Jonathan KM4CFT
Something I forgot to mention is that you shouldn't have an issue with the paddles wobbling like that since the assembly instructions mention using the KH1 to align the connector perfectly to the PCB.
I have my 5mm magnets and would love to see a review of someone using the new black key (which is indeed more stable in the radio) with magnets instead of spring, before I bite the bullet and drill the paddles..
I have the K6ARK tiny paddle and it works well, but because it sticks out too far, it has to come off to store in the case which adds time to setup and tear down which is counter to the KH1 main use.
Are you referring to Adam’s resistive touch paddle or a different one? If the former, I didn’t think he was selling them yet.
I think that was a typo and the previous comment is referring to the N6ARA Tiny Paddle
I'm looking forward to the new Elecraft paddle. There is a ton of slop with the default paddle. The KM4CFT is huge! N6ARA looks great! I like the K6ARK paddle but it seems like you loose that positive touch sensitivity. I like a bit of feedback when keying.
That's a good point on the K6ARK paddle, Kyle. The feedback is audio. They also take a little getting used to. If you hit near the edges, it won't register the touch. Gotta hit in the center.
It's not about what one "likes." It's about what works in the field. Settings can be disrupted during travel in the pack and installation, adjustments can be disrupted by temperature variation (try putting your paddle in the freezer and see what happens), contacts can get dusty, dirty, oxidized, pivots can get dust and dirt in them... I like tactile feedback, too, obviously, but I switched to a capacitive touch paddle for field use years ago, and the pressure paddle concept is even better as can be used with gloves. - de WS0TA, over 1,000 activations
@@WS0TA different strokes for different folks
Excellent review! T U
Thanks for watching
I want Lance’s review - what keeps your frisbee-throwin hand in good shape? 🐕
Elecraft paddle a major disappointment and way over priced. I have a lot of cheap paddles. They aren’t good but I don’t consider them junk. They are workable. But the elecraft KH1 paddle is pure junk. Buyer beware.
Over priced, may be, but no junk. Did you know that it has 3 set screws on each side? If you understand the mechanics you can adjust it very fine.
Great review; thanks for making this. Anything new out to consider since making the video? BTW if you send your call twice in a row, it would help to add a bit of space between. 73 de Bill Alpert/ KG6NRV