I have many Vibroplex bugs and a Begali Intrepid. I use them both on a regular (daily) basis. Some days the Vibroplex is my favorite but most days the Intrepid is my go to bug. Thanks to Begali for taking a fresh approach to Mr Martin’s 1905 design
Thanks for sharing that Steve. I'm still getting used to the difference between the Intrepid and my other Vibroplex Bugs, but I very much admire the engineering that has gone into the Begalli bug.
Nice video. I have noticed that the dit-space ratio (dwell) is affected by L1 (Dit Contact), L3 (Dit Bar Excursion) and L4 (Dit Weight Fine-Tuning). In practice, I have been setting L3 to get just enough "throw" for reliable operation (about 1 mm at the end of the dit arm for me), then using L1 (or L4) to adjust the dwell. I have found that L4 also influences the speed (in addition to dwell) and can require resetting R4 (damper), as such - I don't use it much. As an experiment, I found that moving the pendulum weights varied the speed between 18 & 34 wpm with L4 "out", and between 13 & 25 wpm with L4 "in". I suspect the speed ranges may be different for alternate settings of L3 - I don't fiddle with L3 on a routine basis. I have lately been operating with L4 "out", using the pendulum weights to adjust speed, and using L1 to adjust the dwell. I would be interested to know how other people use L4 - there may be some nuance with it because it essentially counterbalances the spring in L1.
The Begali is a very nice key and i might buy one someday. I can make one more comparison that has nothing to do with either one of the keys being different from each other. The Begali Intrepid's grand kids never sent a commercial telegraph message, just like Oasis of the Seas never shipped a passenger across the Atlantic like an old ocean liner. That is in no way a negative comment, if what I said makes any sense at all. Thanks for the video! 73
The begali is awesome. The weight makes it worth it. Crisp like you said. I still use the old vibro as well.
I have many Vibroplex bugs and a Begali Intrepid. I use them both on a regular (daily) basis. Some days the Vibroplex is my favorite but most days the Intrepid is my go to bug. Thanks to Begali for taking a fresh approach to Mr Martin’s 1905 design
Thanks for sharing that Steve.
I'm still getting used to the difference between the Intrepid and my other Vibroplex Bugs, but I very much admire the engineering that has gone into the Begalli bug.
Check out a Mecograph right angle bug. Tension spring is released to make dits. Wish I could find one for less than $800!
Nice video. I have noticed that the dit-space ratio (dwell) is affected by L1 (Dit Contact), L3 (Dit Bar Excursion) and L4 (Dit Weight Fine-Tuning). In practice, I have been setting L3 to get just enough "throw" for reliable operation (about 1 mm at the end of the dit arm for me), then using L1 (or L4) to adjust the dwell. I have found that L4 also influences the speed (in addition to dwell) and can require resetting R4 (damper), as such - I don't use it much. As an experiment, I found that moving the pendulum weights varied the speed between 18 & 34 wpm with L4 "out", and between 13 & 25 wpm with L4 "in". I suspect the speed ranges may be different for alternate settings of L3 - I don't fiddle with L3 on a routine basis. I have lately been operating with L4 "out", using the pendulum weights to adjust speed, and using L1 to adjust the dwell. I would be interested to know how other people use L4 - there may be some nuance with it because it essentially counterbalances the spring in L1.
Yes that dwell magnet can really slow it down... up until it latches onto the pendulum :)
I wish the new Vibroplex bugs had the stamped metal plate instead of what they do now.
Thanks for the comparison!
I like the magnetic dit tweak.
Nice comparison!
The Begali is a very nice key and i might buy one someday. I can make one more comparison that has nothing to do with either one of the keys being different from each other. The Begali Intrepid's grand kids never sent a commercial telegraph message, just like Oasis of the Seas never shipped a passenger across the Atlantic like an old ocean liner. That is in no way a negative comment, if what I said makes any sense at all. Thanks for the video! 73
Good point. The Intrepid will never see commercial duty.
Thanks for the video. TSENS TSEST TSENT WIRE ❤
Lol
can you change the paddle handle to a left hand configuration.
It appears as if it can be reversed but I haven't tried.
I have a lft-handed intrepid and reversed the knob.
I don’t care for Intrepid. Still use vibroplex.