Monday, July 20, 2009

The W5JH Baby Black Widow keyer paddle


The August 2009 edition of WorldRadio Online magazine's Trail-Friendly Radio column, by Richard Fisher, KI6SN, features Jerry Haigwood, W5JH's, new Baby Black Widow keyer paddle that is perfect for trail operations - especially when using the Elecraft KX1 or Hendricks QRP PFR3 transceivers.

Below is a photograph showing how the Baby Black Widow can easily be adapted for use with any transceiver by fashioning an eighth-inch stereo headphone jack (available from Radio Shack) as an attachment to your key line.

Also, there's a photograph showing how a piece of thread can be used as a tether when you're installing the paddle's tension spring during construction. Simply reel off a 10 to 12-inch piece of sewing thread and loop it through the center of the spring. If the spring "decides" to fly off into the wild blue yonder during construction, it'll only go as far as the tether allows. And, after you've successfully installed the spring, simply cut the thread or pull it away from the spring. Voila!

Click here to visit the W5JH Website.

(For enlarged views, click on each image.)

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