Mini CW Key Automatic Morse - Radio HAM Send Telegram Double Paddle Morse Code Key with Stainless Steel Body Three Neodymium Magnets Base

I don't like reinventing the wheel. RB left a pretty good review of the key so I encourage that as additional reading. I must admit after reading some of the negative reviews, I was a bit skeptical about getting the key. However, my fears were put to rest when I tested the key. Simply put, its a great key.My thoughts: The key is great. It is made of high grade stainless steel. I took a magnet to the paddles and and lower part of the body and found no attraction i.e. austenite, meaning it is non-ferromagnetic. Which means no rust! Not cheap by any means. So this is a great key to take camping or POTA, SOTA, LOTA and/or just in your shack.The key comes with a wide paddle contact stance which for me was unacceptable, personal taste. This is where you need to have some mechanical abilities and PATIENCE.Have the key plugged into your rig and turn your transmitter break-in to off so that you wont be transmitting on the air when you make spacing adjustments. Or you can use a tone oscillator.Now you can use a set of feeler gauges or do what most amateur operators do, adjust it by feel for each paddle.In-depth Directions:You need a 5.5mm wrench and a 1.5mm hex key.You loosen the 5.5mm nut on each of the paddle arms which then allows you to use the hex key and turn the screw in the center of that 5.5mm nut.Turn screw clock wise (CW) and the screw will get closer to the the contact post which makes it require very little pressure on the paddle to key the radio.Counter clockwise to move the screw away from the contact post thus making more of an effort, wider distance, to push the paddle to key the radio.Remember keep the 5.5mm wrench on the loosened nut while adjusting the screw. Turn each screw until you hear a tone. Then back off CCW the screw until the tone stops, about a 16th of an inch. Keep the wrench on the 5.5mm nut while doing this and then tighten the nut while holding the screw with the 1.5mm hex key. If you prefer more distance, then adjust more CCW. Do this for the other side and you are done.It would have been nice had the MFR included directions but lets get real here, what ham operator reads manuals.The three neodymium magnets are great. However, if you are going to place the key atop the radio, I would recommend using felt to protect from scratching the top of the radio. When you want to remove the key, it really holds well, just tip the key and then lift the key off. If you slide the key, I'm sure that the magnets will cause scratches over time.I hope that this review/directions helps and will forever silent the complaints about not knowing how to adjust this key, which will also hopefully stop the mischaracterization that this key receiving.Incidentally, the key comes with a 3.5mm stereo cord, nifty box case and two contact screws for future replacement, if needed.73 and see you on the air, Dit Dit

Cute little key that works well. Magnets are a good feature to keep it in place when operating but does require some form of ferrous plate on my desk.

Obviously not a Bengali key, but a nice bit of kit for the price. Solidly built with quality materials, and it looks really cool. I use a heavy Splendor Tools Jewelers Tool Block with rubber feet (a bit of over kill but looks nice) for a base in the shack and it stays put on the table. The magnetic feet allow it to stick nicely to the top of the metal rig cover in the field. (Be sure to put on the vinyl stickies on the magnetic feet to avoid scratching the paint) Why not a 5? The adjustment is a bit touchy and the dit paddle occasionally sticks a misfire (most likely my fault). Not a deal breaker but not perfect. Great for the price though. I highly recommend this a a flexible use budget key that looks and feels great.

Very clever design! Much better than any of the 3D printed paddles that are everywhere. Looks like the body parts were produced using EDM and tumbled to provide super clean and precise cuts and edges. Incredibly solid with no play in the bearings. The magnetic return of the paddles is smooth with no springs to fiddle with. Magnetic mounting with the three magnets is strong and will hold up under vigorous keying. The only delicate part is the PC board that holds the jack and switch and makes the connections to the paddles. I say delicate because if you were to drop this chunk of stainless and have it land on the PCB the 1/8" jack or the reversing switch could be compromised but with even modest care that should never happen. For home use I cut and finished a 3"x4" quarter inch thick steel plate and added some single sided foam tape to the bottom to keep it from sliding around while in use. I found that just a few drops of water spread out on the bottom of the foam helps the assembly stick to the desk or pad of paper but lifts up without any problems when moving it to another location. I can see this being quite a nice paddle for SOTA or field day as it will stick to whatever piece of steel is convenient and hold tight.My disappointment is with the two adjustable grub screws that come installed and the fact that each screw required a different size hex key 1.5mm and 2mm, guessing burrs on the socket head were the culprit causing the discrepancy. The second set of grub screws that come with the kit have sharp points instead of flats for the contact surface and actually perform better anyway. The locking nuts are best tightened with a small 5.5mm metric ignition wrench and I was able to use a 0.0015mm shim to set the contact gap quite easily. I found this to be as much fun to use as my Begali and is less fussy to set up.The telescopic QuadroPack style shipping container does make a nice way to keep the unit clean and safe for transport. It's large enough to hold the key along with a shim and wrenches for making adjustments if necessary along with a double 1/8" male connecting cable. I was a little skeptical until I started playing with it and now I have to admit it really does deserve 5 stars.

This is a great little key. I use it most of the time now. A bonus feature is th three magnets on the bottom. Any magnetic metal can be used as a mount. In my case I've placed the key upside down under my FTDX10. Easy to reach and it does not move.

Escelente calidad, muy buena terminación.