I am a Ham Radio operator in Eugene, OR. My interest in radio started in the day as a licensed CB user(KBPN-1418) and I went by 'Little John' (Paul means little and my middle name means John). I was discouraged by the language and lack of courtesy though and wished for an alternative. Ham radio was the ticket, although it was several years till I got around to studying for a license. I was first licensed as KB7VIQ on June 6, 1993. My Brother Cecil (KB7ZXH) and a group of Friends had a repeater for years but due to inactivity we took it down. On March 14th 2007 my wife became KD7PJW and I (became K7VIQ) as we both took and passed the General exam together.
In 2019 we purchased an Icom 7300, LMR-440 coax, and an isotron antenna but have not gotten them to work(as of Oct 2020). A good friend of mine encouraged me to study to pass the Extra on March 4, 2019.
I joined LICW Club as member #266 on Dec 14, 2019 and re-upped to lifetime membership on Nov. 12, 2020.
I had a MFJ straight key from childhood a brass Western Electric/ATT straight key and a couple plastic paddles(2019), and then bought a Chrome Bencher 2(2020),
From late 2019 I wanted to buy the Kent Double Paddle TP1-B kit but did not want to pay this much for a key when I was still learning code and had others I could use. But the Kent key has always been a goal key for me. When I recently looked at it again, I found out the kit itself is no longer available directly from Kent and was at the time only available at WinMo, but with very high shipping rates. However all the parts individually can still be ordered from Kent with very reasonable shipping.
I could take it no longer. I bought only the parts I needed to assemble a custom key for me. Most notably, I did not purchase the black plastic paddles, but I already had the BamaTech burgundy anodized paddles sitting and waiting from its purchase in 2019 to add some color to the brass with two bright cherries that I had been hoping to mount to my future little reward. It took 28 days from 28 Mar 2023 to receive them but I received and assembled on April 22, but had to order a 1/8 phono plug as I found I did not have one to finish the key and finally received it on May 1, 2023.
I still struggle when I practice, but now I have even more motivation to continue learning code, and it feels nice.
My other keys are a MFJ straight, 2 plastic paddles, a Western Union/ATT Straight and a Bencher BY-2. The collection has begun.
73, Paul
