Begali Traveler Light Morse Code Key

[@TraipsingOne]

One day after Field Day and it arrives! It *is* a gorgeous and agile key. Your review was right on. The weight is high but the usability is extremely high. This was a present from my wife, and while my wife had some confusion in ordering, here it is. I am not surprised that the key is so agile and so perfect; that's what Begali keys are. I was surprised at the intense delight I felt upon viewing the Traveler Light when I first removed it from its very intelligent case. Brilliant and beautiful = joy. I appreciate Charlie's very thorough and helpful review.

[@RedSummitRF]

Getting caught up after an eventful summer . . . congratulations on becoming a Bagali owner! Too bad you couldn't take it out for FD. By now I'm sure you've put it to good use! Thank you for supporting the channel.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nice review Charlie! People need to understand. It’s like the difference between a Kia and a Ferrari. 73!

[@RedSummitRF]

Great analogy. Right on.

[@nvrumi]

I'll admit that I got a bit of key lust from Thomas, K4SWL, when he featured it on a number of his POTA activations. The wings that protect the paddles are genius and provide a lot of stability to the key. It will move if placed on a slick surface, so a sticky pad is a needed part of the kit. The fingerpieces can be replaced and I ordered mine with the aluminum fingerpieces. I prefer that feel to the plastic. Begali has a nice portable key, the Adventure Duo (they offer a single paddle version too). It is a lost smaller and lighter and fits the SOTA use case better than the Traveller. It has mounting brackets for KX2/3, KX1, and FT-817 rigs that make a lot of sense for portable operators. I've used it with my Elecraft rigs and it works. An optional heavy base with magnets is available and works well for other rigs or for tabletop use. These are expensive keys, as are all the top-shelf keys. If you are a CW operator and have the funds, then any of the best keys will give a better operating experience. A reasonable intermediate can be found in the American Morse Equipment line. They are well-built and reliable even if they don't have the same refined touch as the more expensive keys. But you also won't freak out if you drop one in the field. ;) Where did that case for the Traveller come from? I'd like to add that to my kit. This key is my POTA go to and I'd like to have better protection.

[@RedSummitRF]

Well said! Thank you for leaving your thoughts so others can benefit from your experience!

[@sparty837]

It is my favorite paddle. Yes it weights a lot but the feel is great.

[@RedSummitRF]

You can't beat the feel. You can really send with it!

[@malenve6vid]

It looks like the Bugatti of portable paddles. Very nice looking.

[@RedSummitRF]

Honestly it is such a nice paddle. I am going to buy one!

[@Bill-HRT]

As always, Great Video! Thanks for including this paddle in your series. Gives us all something to consider that's better than just wondering from a picture we can see on the net. 73

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks, Bill!

[@kc7msuradio347]

Great review, its a tough one to categorize, for the general SOTA community I think any of us would carry it. If you are an ultra hiker or SOTA enthusiast you would not. You just have to decide your operating and hiking needs to determine if you put it into your pack, since I have a kitchen sink in my pack I would carry it.

[@RedSummitRF]

Yes, I had no problem with the heaver weight since most of my hikes are less than 4-5 miles.

[@richardhill9801]

Interesting review, Red. My first Begali was a Traveler, and I love the key. I bought it as a first high-quality key that I could use in the shack and in the field. It works beautifully for an all-purpose key. Eventually, I bought a Begali Adventure to go with my KX2 as a lighter weight backpack key with that incredible Begali feel! Then, I started putting the Traveler in my POTA box with my KX3, PX3, and KPA-100 amp. After a few trips, I bought a Begali Expedition for the shack. Three separate use cases, three excellent keys. Yes, the Traveler really does not fit your usual use case. You should review the Adventure key. It fits. Grin. NU6T, Rich

[@RedSummitRF]

Well said, Rich and thank you! I love how you have all three paddles. Right tool for the job in each case. BTW I did review the Adventure a while ago. Thanks!

[@PortableRadio]

Thanks for the review! This year at the Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen I played with it at the Begali booth, along with even more heavy ones. Once I'm up to a comfortable speed, this might be a viable alternative for easy summits. 73 Stephan

[@RedSummitRF]

I see your point with the speed. It does make a difference when you are trying to send at higher speeds IMO

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

It is an outlier but I am glad you've reviewed it because I have seen so many people lately using it and falling in love. It is good to have a detailed review and having watched it I am probably going to give in eventually. I have the N0SA key coming from CW Morse to keep me occupied for a while first.

[@RedSummitRF]

I want one as well and will get one eventually (I think). How is the N0SA paddle working out?

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

@@RedSummitRF I like it but it feels so small. It's not difficult to accidently key it from pressure on the two set screws on the side if I hold it the wrong way. Good for the money but not perfect.

[@RedSummitRF]

@@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio sounds about right. Thanks for letting me know!

[@AA0Z]

Did you enable the bluetooth option in the back? That's why I didn't supply a cable. Nice review. It's back home sitting in the ham shack.

[@RedSummitRF]

Finally getting to my last 10 or so comments - what a backlog. I really appreciate you and our friendship, Kyle, even though you frequently leave me in a lurch LOL

[@2EOGIY]

Please have a luggage or fish scale to measure the force needed to move the key. Waight is important while transport, but in usage is a force that holds key in position (gravity, magnetic or friction).

[@RedSummitRF]

We agree. This is a good way to determine tension.

[@edwinpd0sot503]

Great review, honest rating (allthough i am a bit more favoured), the Begali traveller is my SOTA favorite for a long time, i totally agree on the build quality, just the upgrade to use the aluminium fingers is a definitly next step ! thank you for reviewing this one too 73 .. Edwin PD0SOT(/A)

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Edwin - thank you for visiting the channel. I have a sculpture and would really love to upgrade to the aluminum paddles. See you again, I hope.

[@joeblow8593]

Thanks

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks for your continued support, Joe

[@AI3W-Rick]

Charlie, thanks for all your paddle reviews. I appreciate them. One suggestion for paddle (or any gear) review is it’s ability to still work under a harsh environment. Will it work if dropped in snow? Will it withstand torrential rains that all of a sudden crop up on a summit? Long-term effects due to harsh environments (rust, corrosion). Those would be valuable to me also. 72 de AI3W

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Rick - we agree! That is a great data point to know. I wish I knew a good way to calculate such a measure.

[@w4arb]

“if you accept the weight and size this is a no brainer.” nice.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks for visiting the channel

[@brianve7jyd943]

When i win the lotto Charlie lol good info - 73

[@RedSummitRF]

It's true they are expensive. Thanks, Brian.

[@brianve7jyd943]

@@RedSummitRF one day i will get one and prolly realise they are worth the money

[@docpearson]

I noticed that you did not demonstrate that this one is supposed to be strapped to your leg. You said your friend did not send the strap with it. It would’ve been nice if you acquired the strap before you did this video so you could show how it’s really supposed to be used. For example, people on a sota trip may not have a table to put the paddle on, and they can just strap it to the leg.

[@RedSummitRF]

I'm not sure I would agree completely that the leg strap option was the intended way to use this paddle. My understanding is that it is one of several options. Maybe I am just reading your comment wrong, too. Still, your point is well received and I can clearly see that it would have been helpful to see the paddle being used with the leg strap. Thank you for bringing it up. I take it you tend to operate with a leg mount then? I've rarely operated in the field that way but know a lot of people prefer it.

[@martyyoung598]

You made the point of accepting the heavy weight for increased stability…then to hold/stabilize the body with your right hand while sending? Does that make sense to anyone?

[@RedSummitRF]

Yeah this is kind of a strange one. There is no doubt the paddle was designed to lay flat on a surface. If that's an option then that is definitely the way to go. All the paddles in this serious are designed for the remote summit scenario, but this one not so much. It would be great for Parks on the Air or Field day where you can bring along a table. But Summits on the Air folks don't lug tables up to the top of mountains (usually haha). Many of us just hold our paddles in our hand, others mount them to the radio or use a leg strap. The size of this paddle makes all of those options a little awkward. But for those of us who hold our paddles, I think the size actually assists in the stabilization. When compared to the other much smaller paddles it feels like I have way more control over this paddle in my hand than the others. Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.

[@michael_KD8GIJ]

Freedom units, please

[@RedSummitRF]

I'll think about it. This is an international KZbin channel, but on the other hand, most viewers are from the US.

[@mateuszk3210]

This paddle shouldn't be called portable, it's a joke with that weight 😂 unless portable by means of driving a car🚗 but using this logic any other paddle is portable

[@RedSummitRF]

We agree! Good for short hikes and POTA maybe?

[@Larry-AK0Z]

I've got the Magnetic Professional Paddle. It is fantastic.

[@RedSummitRF]

Oh you did? I don't think I even tried that one at the display at Hamvention. It looks like a great one to have, though!

[@happyending486]

Awesome Red .. de YC2VOC

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you, Galih! BTW I am really behind in video editing. I'll send you a link of the one where I include the QSO of us you recorded, once it's finished.