Before Vibroplex picked up the design and named it the Code Warrior Jr, this paddle was offered as a kit by, as I remember it, the NORCAL QRP Club. The purchase price was around 50 dollars. www.norcalqrp.org/files/NorCalPdlMnl.pdf
I liked watching your video, but I have to disagree with you. I don't think they are over priced. I paid over $340 for my Begali Traveler Light Paddles. Once you set the Warrior paddles up correctly, and use them correctly, they won't move all over the table. You have to set the gap between 8 and 10 thousands of an inch. Use a feeler gauge. Also, don't set the tension too high. I send at 25 wpm with mine and they work just fine. As far as strain relief, sure you can. I did it to mine. If I could post a picture here, I'd show you. I think they are great paddles, well made, supported for parts by Vibroplex and easy to adjust. Barry, KU3X/QRP
Please check if I am wrong: that is a "good entry level ***paddle***" not "keyer". I thought a keyer was the electronic (or electromechanical) device that makes possible to use a paddle on an (interruptible) Continuous Wave transmission. Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks for video. I was looking for a portable and you video convinced me this won't be it. So, you saved me $100. The screws in the middle are to adjust tension or resistance to the movement. I also had bought a different vibroplex key and was annoyed at how often I had to readjust the contact gap and tensioners... so i eventually bought a Begali mono key.. but I'm looking for one that I can strap to the leg and use portable..
Cleaning the surface and the rubber feet will increase friction and reduce the tendency of the paddles to move, as will reducing the tension and spacing. If it is still moving perhaps using a lighter touch is indicated. :)
I have done your book page practice. Hold your fingers against the paddles and in a smooth motion move your wrist. I have done CW for years and I know what you are going through. Good luck!
Top tip… learn to RX CW before TX, dont use paper for anything just learn each letter as a musical phrase. Great video, congratulations on wanting to learn CW! M0KTY
G'day TOM, I find with sending CW OP name I was so slow with "Dennis" in CW. One bloke, told me you are so slow to send you to need to practice. You are giving good advice and CW. Thanks for your videos really enjoy them mate.73
I got an mp3 player and as i was driving commuting i'd do like 2 or 3 letters at a time. A B B A A B B A....I'd listen to them over and over. when i got them down I'd do 2 more. C D D D C C C D C Eventually you'll get them all.
I have also problems with "h", "5", "6", "b"! if it can be of use, i noted that old alarm clock (Braun) sounded like "h" ("di di di dì"). I also suggest you to buy one of the very cheap anti-slip mat sold for keeping one's mobile phone on the car's dashboard: that will increase friction dramatically. Finally, thank you for your inspiration. 73
Good vid. Love your dedication to becoming a good CW op. You are already way better than I am and I have been using CW for years. One other thing to remember is that proper spacing is the third element to CW characters and words. Hpe to cu on the air. 73 es keep up the gud work!
Just bought one of these. Same reasons: didn't want to spend $300+ for a keyer. Lots of cheap crap out there-- and uber expensive units. This one fits the bill. Big enough for my hands, small enough for limited space. Since it was originally designed by NORCAL, I know it is practical and of sufficient quality. Thus far, only straight keys for me, but I've been out of the hobby a couple decades.
@@hamradiocq yeah-- when I loosen the screw to remove the lug to solder (being it is hard to solder with the huge heatsink base attached) the contact post gets dislocated. I'll have to be very careful not to strip the brass.
Late to find this.....but.....believe it, or not...to make it "stick" to the table better, and not move around...lightly lick your fingertip, and moisten the rubber feet. Not sloppy wet, just damp....It'll stay put on the table better. Weird, I know, but, it works.
One of your best videos, I love code but the S,H and 5 have me to the point I don't even want to try. I do fine on a straight key, but with a straight key I worry about speed and people just passing on by. Throw in a bug or an iambic and all is lost. I do great until the dreaded S,H and 5. I guess I just need to keep pounding away, maybe that's where the expression originated!??? Love your Vids. 73' de John C./KC5JSR
I use a paddle wrong due to using a bug at home, and have used a bug for 50 years. Can't teach a old dog new tricks. Iambic keying is wasted on me....hi....hi Lee, WA8QFE
I also use the Palm Pico Paddles with both my KX2 and KX3. With my YouKits, I just the Vibroplex Warrior Jr. Paddles. Once you set the Vibroplex paddles up properly, they work great. Barry, KU3X/QRP
I have only made on cw contact (while messaging another ham on FB for guidance). I can send fairly well, but I like the idea of keying the alphabet, etc. It's easy to send while looking at some text, but, like you mention, keying on the fly is not so easy. I'm still working on copying...~12wpm, or so right now. I often listen to others and try to copy by pen and paper. I'll look around the shack and key out anything I can see...lol. Good stuff, thanks for sharing.de K4SFC
Another struggle I have is listening and hearing all those shortcuts you mentioned and some of the pro-signs, like in this video just prior to sending the RST...did you key AR...? I hear a lot of BK and =...I just need experience...(shouldn't complain, only been at it for 4 months).
Oh I know what you mean about the price of keyers. American Morse Equipment has some beautiful stuff but the pricing to me is insane. I saw one that was all printed circuit board. How do you travel with that? If you dropped it on concrete it would be game over. You're a tinkerer. Why don't you make one that can be 3D printed. You could get all the new equipment you wanted just by selling the plans on Thingiverse.
I loved the look of the Kent straight key - so I made one! My first attempt at machining with teaching and supervision by two friends. Pic on my QRZ page. Maybe I'll make one of these next! 73 - WB2SMK
practice makes perfect. It just takes time and sometimes a lot of time. A paddle key makes sending easier and less tiring . The more you get on air for qso's the quicker it all comes together.
Those "spacers" are actually lock nuts, it helps the spacing stay put. The adjustments at the middle are to adjust the magnet tension.
The adjustment screw at the back has a lock-nut to hold the adjustment in place; adjust with the screw then snib down the lock-nut.
Before Vibroplex picked up the design and named it the Code Warrior Jr, this paddle was offered as a kit by, as I remember it, the NORCAL QRP Club. The purchase price was around 50 dollars. www.norcalqrp.org/files/NorCalPdlMnl.pdf
I liked watching your video, but I have to disagree with you. I don't think they are over priced. I paid over $340 for my Begali Traveler Light Paddles. Once you set the Warrior paddles up correctly, and use them correctly, they won't move all over the table. You have to set the gap between 8 and 10 thousands of an inch. Use a feeler gauge. Also, don't set the tension too high. I send at 25 wpm with mine and they work just fine.
As far as strain relief, sure you can. I did it to mine. If I could post a picture here, I'd show you.
I think they are great paddles, well made, supported for parts by Vibroplex and easy to adjust.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
Just got one of those at a swap meet for $20. Don't know CW but going to try and learn...see how it goes. Thanks for posting the video.
Please check if I am wrong: that is a "good entry level ***paddle***" not "keyer". I thought a keyer was the electronic (or electromechanical) device that makes possible to use a paddle on an (interruptible) Continuous Wave transmission. Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks for video. I was looking for a portable and you video convinced me this won't be it. So, you saved me $100. The screws in the middle are to adjust tension or resistance to the movement. I also had bought a different vibroplex key and was annoyed at how often I had to readjust the contact gap and tensioners... so i eventually bought a Begali mono key.. but I'm looking for one that I can strap to the leg and use portable..
Cleaning the surface and the rubber feet will increase friction and reduce the tendency of the paddles to move, as will reducing the tension and spacing. If it is still moving perhaps using a lighter touch is indicated. :)
I have done your book page practice. Hold your fingers against the paddles and in a smooth motion move your wrist. I have done CW for years and I know what you are going through. Good luck!
Informative and encouraging for some of us that are thinking about CW, Thanks
Top tip… learn to RX CW before TX, dont use paper for anything just learn each letter as a musical phrase. Great video, congratulations on wanting to learn CW! M0KTY
Excellent post!
G'day TOM, I find with sending CW OP name I was so slow with "Dennis" in CW. One bloke, told me you are so slow to send you to need to practice. You are giving good advice and CW. Thanks for your videos really enjoy them mate.73
Thanks so much.... Practice. Do anything a million times and you'll be really good at it!
I gotta learn CW only know a few letters at the min...
Great video !
I got an mp3 player and as i was driving commuting i'd do like 2 or 3 letters at a time. A B B A A B B A....I'd listen to them over and over. when i got them down I'd do 2 more. C D D D C C C D C Eventually you'll get them all.
I have also problems with "h", "5", "6", "b"! if it can be of use, i noted that old alarm clock (Braun) sounded like "h" ("di di di dì"). I also suggest you to buy one of the very cheap anti-slip mat sold for keeping one's mobile phone on the car's dashboard: that will increase friction dramatically. Finally, thank you for your inspiration. 73
NamasenITN great idea man thank you
Yeah, I always copied "hcanner" for "scanner". Still donno what a "hcanner" is, and this is 40 years later.....
Good vid. Love your dedication to becoming a good CW op. You are already way better than I am and I have been using CW for years. One other thing to remember is that proper spacing is the third element to CW characters and words. Hpe to cu on the air. 73 es keep up the gud work!
Thanks for the tips...I consider myself still pretty novice.
Just bought one of these. Same reasons: didn't want to spend $300+ for a keyer. Lots of cheap crap out there-- and uber expensive units. This one fits the bill. Big enough for my hands, small enough for limited space. Since it was originally designed by NORCAL, I know it is practical and of sufficient quality. Thus far, only straight keys for me, but I've been out of the hobby a couple decades.
That's cool, this paddle is ok, but the wiring on the bottom has always been flaky for me.
@@hamradiocq From my viewing of instructions, I agree. I'll figure out a clever way to avoid issues.
@@hamradiocq yeah-- when I loosen the screw to remove the lug to solder (being it is hard to solder with the huge heatsink base attached) the contact post gets dislocated. I'll have to be very careful not to strip the brass.
Late to find this.....but.....believe it, or not...to make it "stick" to the table better, and not move around...lightly lick your fingertip, and moisten the rubber feet. Not sloppy wet, just damp....It'll stay put on the table better. Weird, I know, but, it works.
One of your best videos, I love code but the S,H and 5 have me to the point I don't even want to try.
I do fine on a straight key, but with a straight key I worry about speed and people just passing on by. Throw in a bug or an iambic and all is lost. I do great until the dreaded S,H and 5. I guess I just need to keep pounding away, maybe that's where the expression originated!???
Love your Vids. 73' de John C./KC5JSR
John C. Thanks so much. Hang in there and the s will sound like an S. I have trouble with J and 1
That key is good for the house, but I use a pico paddle with my KX2 and KX3 in the woods or traveling.
Lee, WA8QFE
Francis Thompson I been thinking about the pico. but then saw the begali traveler so I figured I'd save up for that
I use a paddle wrong due to using a bug at home, and have used a bug for 50 years. Can't teach a old dog new tricks. Iambic keying is wasted on me....hi....hi
Lee, WA8QFE
I also use the Palm Pico Paddles with both my KX2 and KX3. With my YouKits, I just the Vibroplex Warrior Jr. Paddles. Once you set the Vibroplex paddles up properly, they work great.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
Tom,
I've been using N3ON's program Iambic Master to practice sending. Currently working on 20 wpm
'73
Tom KN6DR
Tom Field will check it out
I have only made on cw contact (while messaging another ham on FB for guidance). I can send fairly well, but I like the idea of keying the alphabet, etc. It's easy to send while looking at some text, but, like you mention, keying on the fly is not so easy. I'm still working on copying...~12wpm, or so right now. I often listen to others and try to copy by pen and paper. I'll look around the shack and key out anything I can see...lol. Good stuff, thanks for sharing.de K4SFC
Ron C exactly it's hard to think and spell
I know it...I'm sure when I do it would come out as a bunch of one letter words!
Another struggle I have is listening and hearing all those shortcuts you mentioned and some of the pro-signs, like in this video just prior to sending the RST...did you key AR...? I hear a lot of BK and =...I just need experience...(shouldn't complain, only been at it for 4 months).
The high cost of paddles must represent your right of entry....kind of like building your own light saber
alphahr yeah what's up with the high cost of paddles?
Hi! The screws your talking about at 4:22 are magnetic tensions. www.vibroplex.com/techdocs/code_warrior_junior_adjustments.pdf
Thanks I was hoping someone would let me know.
Oh I know what you mean about the price of keyers. American Morse Equipment has some beautiful stuff but the pricing to me is insane. I saw one that was all printed circuit board. How do you travel with that? If you dropped it on concrete it would be game over. You're a tinkerer. Why don't you make one that can be 3D printed. You could get all the new equipment you wanted just by selling the plans on Thingiverse.
I loved the look of the Kent straight key - so I made one! My first attempt at machining with teaching and supervision by two friends. Pic on my QRZ page.
Maybe I'll make one of these next!
73
- WB2SMK
Oh - and I forgot to credit youtuber John Wellings who documented making one of these. That was my inspiration!
practice makes perfect. It just takes time and sometimes a lot of time. A paddle key makes sending easier and less tiring . The more you get on air for qso's the quicker it all comes together.
TU fer ur video. 73
Tnx fer comment!