So, Tom and I agreed I could buy the paddle from him. This post is about how we got it from England delivered to my home in the Netherlands.
I've bought gear from UK in the past. That was before the UK left the european union. It was easy, no taxes, no custom costs. But we live in another time now. Getting something shipped from the UK is expensive even for something simple like a morse paddle/key. First of all I tried to let a delivery service like UPS or DHL pick up the package from Tom so I would cover the costs of shipping. That's already something that's difficult. I couldn't get the price below approx. €30. So I wrote Tom that together with taxes and custom costs it would be too expensive. I asked him to see if he could give me a price he wanted for the paddle including shipping. Then things went another way.....Tom wrote he already shipped the paddle to me with UPS. I even got a message from UPS there was a package on its way to me. I was a little overwhelmed since it was unexpected. I didn't even know what the total costs would be and what Tom wanted to have for the Begali. Tom told me to just try it and then make him an offer, how about that? The title of this post could also have been "trust" because that is the right word for this. The package was received a few days later of course after I payed additional customs and tax costs. I immidiatly connected the key to my IC-7300 and started to play morse. Well.....that's another story. Sending CW is not as easy as I thought ;-). Anyway, Tom and I agreed about the price which was a bargain really. I never transferred money to a foreign bank account, but these days with the help of internet and handy bank apps it was almost a piece of cake to do it. Everything went well in the end. The Begali Simplex Basic featured in Tom's blogpost is now at PE4BAS station in the Netherlands. Tnx for the opportunity Tom!
Another step closer to the CW world...
4 comments:
Good morning Bas and congrats on the key purchase. That sure was an ordeal to get the key over to the Netherlands for sure. Take your time with the key and play with the adjustments. As you become more at home with sending the code you will then find out if you have a heavy or light fist. In other words if you like to tap out the code very light or a bit more of a pounding. I am the pounding type so the key for me has to be a bit wider on the contacts. Also now that you have Iambic key look up on the net as there is certain ways to form letters like "C,F,L" and so on. Also be sure to take advantage of the electronic keyer in the 7300 it is excellent.
Take your time with the paddle it will come to you it just takes time.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Hello Mike, searching for the ways to use a paddle a came on the yt channel from K9KJ. Following him now. Not shure if I need to adjust the paddle. It's quite light to touch. How do I know....is it not a matter of getting used to the touch of a key? Tom already adjusted it and so far I feel comfortable using it. So far I'm practising sending my call. 73, Bas
Good morning Bas, as you get used to sending letters and numbers with the paddle and by "getting used too". I mean that once you stop thinking hard about forming each letter and number and it starts to become more natural. You then slowly fit into your natural rythm with forming and sending code. Your style and rythm may be to contact each paddle softly to form letters. Then the best adjustment is close contacts as it takes very little effort to send out a letter. For me I am more aggressive with the forming of letters. If the contacts are to close I find myself sending to many dits or dahs. Thus for me the contacts have to be set further parts. Someone who forms code with a light touch my paddle would cause them to miss dits and dahs.
Hope that helps and was not confusing.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Glad you're enjoying the paddle Bas. I was happy to see it go to you.
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
www.m7mcq.com
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