Re: LF: BK_100 Hi Mound Key

[M0FMT <m0fmt@yahoo.co.uk>]

Hi Again Ken

 

I have yet to get my "QRO" 473 rig working but I do still have the 4Watt QRP Tube / Valve retro rig working on the band just a matter of adjusting the PA tuning cap ... hee. I want to get my HB Mechanical bug built to go with.

 

I have a Hi Mound side swipe ele key (non Iambic can't remember the number) mounted on a marble plinth. I am not over keen on the key my self. Use mainly the good old solid Kent Iambic, mark you it doesn't improve my sending....... Hee.

 

Take a close look at the You Tube film you may find a lot of info there. There is another film but not as clear on the mechanism.There are other films showing skeleton mechanical keys easier to see and understand, however the principles are the same. There is even one that does both dits and dashes fully auto but I bet a nightmare to use since it can't be self completing so dits could interfere with dashes.

 

Any way good luck hope the replies to date have helped. Have you tried "Fists" yahoo group? These things and very specialised these days not as easy to use as the ele keyers. 

 

FYI Ken there is a net on 474 Sunday mornings from about 09:30 out of Biggleswade goes on for quite a while call ins from Nottingham, Kent etc so please check it out.

 

73 es GL Pete M0FMT IO91UX

From: Ken <ken.h.wright@btinternet.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 9:50
Subject: RE: LF: BK_100 Hi Mound Key

Hi Pete.

Thanks for the info, I was really looking for a single paddle key not a bug but this one came up at a reasonable price. Should soon be back on LF the new input band pass filter for the RX pre-amp was completed on Sunday, only problem is that the filter drifts with temperature,(I never checked this with the 500kHz BP filter), I can correct for this as there is peaking variable capacitor in the pre-amp which I use to tune for max signal. All I need to do now is retune the TX driver and PA, and possibly add a few more turns on the variometer and we should be there.

 

73

 

Ken

 

M0KHW

 

From: owner- rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org [mailto: owner- rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org ] On Behalf Of M0FMT
Sent: 26 February 2013 09:19
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Subject: Re: LF: BK_100 Hi Mound Key

 

Hi Ken

 

Well done getting hold of the mechanical bug. I am not a user or have had much experience. However http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mRsdv8Y9c You tube presentation may help.

What I have been doing over some considerable time is building my own. It's not yet finished the vibrating part has been mocked up and it will send dits. There is in fact a lot of clever features you have to think about when designing these things like after a series if dits you then send a dash the "Reed" has to be damped to stop it continuing to send a dit. Not only that in transit the Reed needs a bit of protection so a feature to lock the Reed is desirable other wise it is continually trying to vibrate as it gets moved or knocked. This can be achieved by adjusting the damper hard over. Is it the case with your Key that it has been set for transit.... I don't know this particular Key but in the You Tube video you can see it operating at the end of the Reed / weight bar.

Look forward to hearing it on 630m.

73 es GL Pete M0FMT IO91UX

From: Ken <ken.h.wright@btinternet.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Sent: Monday, 25 February 2013, 23:58
Subject: LF: BK_100 Hi Mound Key

 

All.

I have recently acquired a BK-100 Hi-Mound Bug type Key, although old, it looks as if it has never been used, the contacts are black, and does appear to have been set up, and not had any cable connected to it, (I have some basic set up info from the internet). On inspection it would look as if the dashes are to the left and dots to the right, is this correct?, there is hardly any travel on the lever, and vibration on the pendulum. All of the adjustors seem to be locked. I wpuld be grateful for any help and advice on the operation and setup of this key.

 

73.

 

Ken

 

M0KHW