Friday, June 24, 2022
Starting with a positive note, the bag of 4-40 stainless steel machine screws I purchased on ebay arrived a couple of days ago. I quickly replaced the bent screws with new ones, and after a few initial adjustments, my Bencher iambic BY-1 key was in top operating form.
The Bencher BY-1 is one of the world’s favorite iambic keys, and one of mine as well. But frankly, I had never had a Bencher key damaged like this one so that it required the replacement of the offending screws.
Fixing this key made me wonder about the adjustments of the MFJ variant of the Bencher key. I’ve read many complaints about the MFJ version and that it falls apart too easily while being maniuplated. Makes me wonder if those keys generating the complaints were properly adjusted. I have an MFJ key that’s part of one of their key/keyer combos where the keyer attaches to the MFJ/Bencher key.
DX ENGINEERING DISAPPOINTS FOR FIELD DAY 2022. Late last week I ordered a Signalink USB with cables and accessories needed to use the outfit for digital modes during this weekend’s Field Day activities.
The truth is that I already own several Signalinks, and I’m sure I also own the correct cable and chip to make the interface work with my IC-756PROII. But the problem was locating all those parts between now and Field Day. It really was money ahead to just order a new interface and accessories and get it here in time for Field Day.
That was the plan, anyway.
The order was supposed to arrive yesterday (Thursday). Then late Thursday, the delivery date changed to Friday. Hmmmm …. OK, just as long as it arrives Friday.
Long story short, nothing arrived Friday from DX Engineering.
While I didn’t plan on a huge FD effort, I was hoping to work digital modes during FD. I’ll get to work some phone overnight Saturday night I suppose.
Next time I’ll order my digital necessities well in advance of Field Day. Lesson learned. Grrrr!
73 es CUL … de KY4Z …. SK …. SK ….. (dit dit) ….