Their keys are extremely nice. nice. The one that you mentioned in the video relating to the 705 is the Begali Adventure. It is a great portable key. They also have plastic on the base or a few magnets on it that to help it not move around on a desk as well. The adventure is great for when you're able to be at a picnic table doing POTA also. (I've used the Adventure, Traveler, and the Begali Pearl. All great keys.) Funny enough I've run into the issue with the running Dits or dahs and had to back out the contact just a little in order to stop it (wasn't really sure what to do besides that).
Yep. I have an Adventure Mono with the '705 base. Sweet little tiny key for POTA &c. The range of adjustment on it is a bit arcane & not as easy as the Traveler or Pearl or SImplex or any others but it's a fine key. Maybe somewhere I can find a screw to mount it to the '705 with the Windcamp 705 wrap-around. 'Til then I'll use the Traveler. ;-) 73 de W8IJN
The Traveler uses magnetic return instead of springs. The Simplex uses springs and is designed for a lower price point. If you clean the surface and the feet it will stay put better. Seems like that sample was adjusted too tight, there should be a little motion and no random dots and dashes. Begali usually includes a feeler gauge to set it to factory specs. Nicely made. The wings protect the paddles when folded for travel. Not too heavy, but solid.
Oh, I forgot to mention those Begali tolerances are so good and so fine-tuned that if you turn it on its side, the weight of the paddle can cause it to activate. Some people like those tolerances, so it’s very easy to activate the paddle just by touching it lightly when it is flat. So it should not be surprising if you pick it up and turn it on its side that it activates.
Nice key for sure, and your CW wasn't bad. Practice, practice, practice. Meanwhile...maybe throw down some Stevie Ray Vaughan licks with your Les Paul.
Nice to know you finally got to play with the key. Maybe I explained at Dayton when we talked how Piero Begali got me back on the air after essential tremor took me off. The Traveller is based on the Simplex, which is what Piero showed me I can still play CW. I have a Traveller that is part of my IC-705 POTA set up. Beautiful, simple, easy key. Next Dayton, stop bythe booth again &try out a Pearl. That’s my ‘bad day back-up’ key. ;-). Nice video. By the way: if you have a steel desktop, slip a couple of those round rare earth magnets under the key at the two steel screws on the base. It’ll snap solid to the desk top & stay there for you. 73 de W8IJN
Hey Mike, great video, that is one beautiful key. I imagine the video doesn’t do it justice but to touch it and to look at it in person. It looks like a piece of art. Thanks for the video. WD5ENH Steve
I liked seeing the activity at the Begali booth, seemed to attract plenty of attention. I'm not in the market for their product at the moment though. Happy with my N3ZN paddles.
I just bought the Bamatech Key from Germany, it's about 1/3 the size of this one, but has similar precision action that it is throwing me for a curve Once I master it all of my American Keys might collect dust! Cheers, Davey - KU9L
The Simplex Basic is pretty much the same mechanism at about half the price. I have one and love it. Straight-forward adjustments, easy to use. Great for us old geezers with shaky paws. 73 de W8IJN
First, let me congratulate this on your wonderful video. You always have nice videos that I like to watch. But I did have one observation if you don’t mind me saying. Yes, this one does move a little bit on the table but this one was meant to be strapped to your leg. So if you are doing sota with no table, it can be strapped to your leg. I noticed that you picked the strap up and quickly discarded it, and did not demonstrate how it was supposed to be used. 😳😳
It's Morse code, not Morris code. I used to have a Gibson ES-335, but I traded it for a typewriter key alto sax, back in the '80s. Another video without a wandering cat.
Sure, let some designer firm have you pay you through the nose for a few lumps of metal and get away with it because CW HAMs aren't exactly an everyday-large target audience and affirm their practice so that anyone looking to join the club faces mindbogglingly overinflated prices. Yes. Do exactly that.
You really should learn the Morris Code! 😀
Yeah. Morse is too old. Morris is the wave of the future. Plus emoticon support… so Morris all the way.
Morris????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 🤨
Wow.. like a piece or art! What a thing of beauty.
I want a Begali like I want a Holland & Holland. Maybe someday.
CWOPS Academy ! Learn Morse Code! Do It!
It’s nice to work with ham radio’s native language 😊
Their keys are extremely nice. nice. The one that you mentioned in the video relating to the 705 is the Begali Adventure. It is a great portable key. They also have plastic on the base or a few magnets on it that to help it not move around on a desk as well. The adventure is great for when you're able to be at a picnic table doing POTA also. (I've used the Adventure, Traveler, and the Begali Pearl. All great keys.) Funny enough I've run into the issue with the running Dits or dahs and had to back out the contact just a little in order to stop it (wasn't really sure what to do besides that).
Yep. I have an Adventure Mono with the '705 base. Sweet little tiny key for POTA &c. The range of adjustment on it is a bit arcane & not as easy as the Traveler or Pearl or SImplex or any others but it's a fine key. Maybe somewhere I can find a screw to mount it to the '705 with the Windcamp 705 wrap-around. 'Til then I'll use the Traveler. ;-) 73 de W8IJN
N6ARA let me use his Begali at the W7O SOTA Campout.... just WOW! Such a beautiful piece of kit.
The Traveler uses magnetic return instead of springs. The Simplex uses springs and is designed for a lower price point. If you clean the surface and the feet it will stay put better. Seems like that sample was adjusted too tight, there should be a little motion and no random dots and dashes. Begali usually includes a feeler gauge to set it to factory specs. Nicely made. The wings protect the paddles when folded for travel. Not too heavy, but solid.
Oh, I forgot to mention those Begali tolerances are so good and so fine-tuned that if you turn it on its side, the weight of the paddle can cause it to activate. Some people like those tolerances, so it’s very easy to activate the paddle just by touching it lightly when it is flat. So it should not be surprising if you pick it up and turn it on its side that it activates.
"And now the moment we've all been waiting for" well... especially that dude who bought it hahaha
Nice key for sure, and your CW wasn't bad. Practice, practice, practice. Meanwhile...maybe throw down some Stevie Ray Vaughan licks with your Les Paul.
Nice to know you finally got to play with the key. Maybe I explained at Dayton when we talked how Piero Begali got me back on the air after essential tremor took me off. The Traveller is based on the Simplex, which is what Piero showed me I can still play CW. I have a Traveller that is part of my IC-705 POTA set up. Beautiful, simple, easy key. Next Dayton, stop bythe booth again &try out a Pearl. That’s my ‘bad day back-up’ key. ;-). Nice video. By the way: if you have a steel desktop, slip a couple of those round rare earth magnets under the key at the two steel screws on the base. It’ll snap solid to the desk top & stay there for you. 73 de W8IJN
Use a chunk of waffle like shelf liner to keep it in place.
Maybe I should get a radio first lol…. I’m just attracted to keys… what a work of art that thing is.
CW is on my to do list some time in the future. Looks like a great key. Thanks for sharing. Cheers and 73!
Hey Mike, great video, that is one beautiful key. I imagine the video doesn’t do it justice but to touch it and to look at it in person. It looks like a piece of art. Thanks for the video.
WD5ENH
Steve
I liked seeing the activity at the Begali booth, seemed to attract plenty of attention. I'm not in the market for their product at the moment though. Happy with my N3ZN paddles.
Begali-05 work of precision art . I would buy at the $ it goes for that would just make me learn. 👍
If you get to the Hamvention, stop by the booth. We have had a bunch of folks just learning stop by. If there's a will, there's a key ;-) 73 de W8IJN
That's a big one! I don't think it's gonna work for me but wow, what construction.
For not being a morse code operator you sounded pretty proficient at sending v's and cq de your call sign, keep at it my friend!
CW keys are very fascinating devices. I’ve seen many that are nice and that I want, but I don’t know a lick of CW, except for SOS. LOL! 73!
Yes, on the smooth and buttery. I have a couple of Bengali's. Want to pick the Traveler up.
Ain’t no ‘N’ in Begali, yo ;-)
Oppps, Sorry my bad
You're supposed to squeeze-it, not smack-it around--LOL!!!
I just bought the Bamatech Key from Germany, it's about 1/3 the size of this one, but has similar precision action that it is throwing me for a curve
Once I master it all of my American Keys might collect dust!
Cheers, Davey - KU9L
That key would become a family heirloom.
That's a sweet key. I bet it wouldn't be too bad on a easier SOTA hike.
I’d love a Bengali Traveler, but it would take 4 years of my ham radio budget. I may just do it.
The Simplex Basic is pretty much the same mechanism at about half the price. I have one and love it. Straight-forward adjustments, easy to use. Great for us old geezers with shaky paws. 73 de W8IJN
Your CW sounded good.
First, let me congratulate this on your wonderful video. You always have nice videos that I like to watch. But I did have one observation if you don’t mind me saying.
Yes, this one does move a little bit on the table but this one was meant to be strapped to your leg. So if you are doing sota with no table, it can be strapped to your leg. I noticed that you picked the strap up and quickly discarded it, and did not demonstrate how it was supposed to be used. 😳😳
I never thought about using gun oil. Might work better on my tools than WD40.
Beautiful work of machining.
It's the optimus prime of keys.
Hi Mike, Like your channel. Begali makes the best stuff. One thing. It's Morse code not Morris code. ;-) (Not he official pronunciation police.) 73
OMG!!! Rem Oil !!!! 😉
It's Morse code, not Morris code.
I used to have a Gibson ES-335, but I traded it for a typewriter key alto sax, back in the '80s.
Another video without a wandering cat.
Sure, let some designer firm have you pay you through the nose for a few lumps of metal and get away with it because CW HAMs aren't exactly an everyday-large target audience and affirm their practice so that anyone looking to join the club faces mindbogglingly overinflated prices. Yes. Do exactly that.
C W fun
Ugh...Adjust the contacts!!