Page 1 Using the Parkwood Instruments KXer-Single Paddle Parkwood Instruments 2626 Parkwood Drive Speedway, IN 46224 Makers of Innovative Keys, Paddles, and Bugs Web Address: http://wb9lpu.googlepages.com email Address: wb9lpu@earthlink.net Introduction - The popularity of the Elecraft KX-1 QRP transceiver has led to the design of keyer paddles designed specifically to fit this potent little rig. The Parkwood KXer-Single is a non-iambic plug-in paddle that fits onto the KX-1 without any modification to the rig. It gives the portable operator a tiny paddle with the feel of a full-sized one. For operation separate from the KX-1, or for use with other rigs, there is an optional compact brass base. An iambic version, the KXer, is also available. Attachment to the KX-1 The parts of the clamping mechanism are shown below. They consist
Page 2 of a short 6-32 threaded stud that screws into the KX-1 and is gripped by the KXer paddle, a flat clamp with a tooth that engages the lower edge of the front panel, and upper and lower 4-40 plastic-capped screws to fasten the parts together. The assembly steps are shown below. To begin the attachment, thread the 6-32 stud into the hole on the front of the KX-1. Make it finger-tight only, to avoid damage. Using the short 4-40 screw with the nylon washer, loosely attach the clamp, with the tooth up, to the bottom of the KXer. Insert the phone plug into the KX-1 and allow the stud to pass into the hole in the front of the KXer. Holding the KXer to the front of the rig, temporarily tighten the upper clamp screw to hold the stud. Position the tooth of the clamp to engage the lower front of the case of the rig. Tighten the lower clamp screw. Test the attachment for wobble and re-adjust the upper and lower screws as necessary. A. Shows the proper orientation of the bottom clamp. (Note paddle is upside-down.) B. The clamp in position, with the tooth in proper orientation. C. The bottom clamp engaged with the KX-1 case. D. With all screws tightened, the paddle is secured to the KX-1 case and is ready for adjustment.
Adjustment of Paddle Travel Page 3 The dot and dash travel of the lever is controlled by the contact screw settings. The knurled lock nuts on these screws control the travel of each direction separately. To adjust the travel, loosen the lock nuts and turn the plastic-capped screws in or out to produce the desired travel limits. Secure adjustment by snugging the locknuts against the contact support pillars. There is a spring washer in this space to maintain the adjustment without requiring too much tightening. Test the adjustment by keying the transceiver (with a proper output load applied!). The paddle tension is set at a comfortable value, but may be changed to suit your individual touch. This adjustment is described in the Notes section of this manual. Assembling the Stand-Alone Base The accessory base permits operation with the KX-1 and other rigs via a cable attachment. The assembly steps are shown below. Part A. The long legs will thread into holes in the angled facets at the rear of the base. Take care to align the leg perpendicular to the surface of the metal so that the threads will engage properly. The short leg screws into the beveled face at the front of the base. Part B. The assembled base has a short screw near the front to align the clamp. Pass the long mounting screw through the smooth hole, where it will serve to mount the paddle.
Page 4 Part C. Remove the short screw holding the clamp to the bottom of the KXer, and stow it in the threaded hole in the rear of the base. Place the clamp on the base with the head of the short screw entering the round hole of the clamp and pass the long screw through the base and then through elongated hole in the clamp. Then thread the long screw into the lower hole (the clamp mounting hole) and tighten it, being sure that the KXer is aligned with the long axis of the base. Part D. The KXer mounted on its base. The phone plug is available to make connection with the rig or a keyer via a stereo phone cable. Unscrew the 6-32 stud from the KX-1 and store it in the hole in the front of the KXer, using the upper clamp screw to retain it. The KXer connected via a stereo cable. The weight of the key, along with the plastic feet, should be sufficient to keep it in one place during keying. Note the paddle is wired so that the tip of the phone plug is for dits and the ring is for dahs ; the barrel is ground. Packing it Away The KXer can be left attached to the base for storage. Unscrew the legs from their operating position. Stow the long legs in the holes in the front of the base. These holes are threaded at their bottoms so that the legs can be retained. Avoid tightening the stored legs excessively. The front leg can be left in place or threaded into the rear hole. Use a free 4-40 hole to hold the short bottom clamp screw.
Notes Page 5 Contact cleaning. If the key has been left out in the rain or on the beach (what a shame!), the contacts may need cleaning. The contacts (which are stainless steel-on-brass) can be cleaned by inserting a strip of typing paper between the contacts, closing them, and pulling the paper out. Repeat as necessary to restore normal operation. Paddle tension. The paddle tension is fixed by the choice of the springs that are attached to the paddle lever. The key is supplied in the high-tension configuration, which provides an operating force that provides a good trade-off between stability and speed. Lower tension can be provided by changing the anchor points of the springs on the lever. The views below show the mechanical arrangements in question.
Page 6 Note that there are two sets of holes in the lever. In the low-tension position, the forward hole (farthest from the plastic paddles) on either side is used, with 3/8 screws providing the anchor points. In the high-tension position, the rear set of holes is used, along with shorter anchor screws (to avoid interference with the contact pillars). Please note that the paddle does NOT need to be taken apart to change the tension the photos above, showing the top plate removed, are for illustration only. To change to the lower-tension setting, use a 5/64 allen wrench (supplied) and remove the screw in the lever that holds the end of the spring, taking care not to let things fly apart. Replace this screw with the other (3/8, supplied), threading it through the loop on the end of the spring; turn it halfway (1/8 ) into the forward hole. Repeat this operation on the other side, turning the screw in until it butts against the opposite screw this will lock both of them in place. Both springs must be changed, or the lever will stay to one side. There are some trade-offs in the tension settings. With the higher setting, the center position will be more positive and there will be less overshoot. This translates to a higher keying speed at high tension, the key has been operated reliably at 25 wpm (my personal limit!). At the lower setting, the keying touch is lighter, but you may have to increase the contact spacing to compensate for possible overshoot of the center position. Other Information The KXer s are made individually and with great care. They are rugged and well suited to outdoor operation. If there are any defects in materials and workmanship within one year of purchase, the unit will be repaired at no cost. For damage arising from accidents, etc., please contact me to find out what can be done to make things right. Because radio amateurs are an inventive group of people, clever ideas can pop up anywhere. I welcome all suggestions for improvement of the KXer-Single (or complaints about its operation). By the same token, as ideas occur to me, they may be incorporated into future versions of the KXer and related instruments. Please enjoy your KXer, and I wish you many happy QRP QSO s. 72/73 de Rich, WB9LPU
Page 7 Richard A. Meiss, Ph.D., WB9LPU Parkwood Instruments 2626 Parkwood Drive Speedway, IN 46224 wb9lpu@earthlink.net http://wb9lpu.googlepages.com Other keys for QRP (and QRO) use from Parkwood Instruments. The KXer-Iambic is a small paddle that also fits onto the Elecraft KX-1 transceiver. It uses brass ball-pivots on the levers, and paddle tension is supplied by rare-earth magnets. As with the KXersingle, it is available with a stand-alone base for use with other rigs. A similar iambic paddle is also available for the Hendricks (QRP-Kits) PFR- 3 transceiver. Its method of attachment is different, but the paddle action is the same, and it also can be used with a portable standalone base. A non-iambic version has also been constructed.