My ham club had everyone bring their bugs to a meeting a while back. There were about 15 different semi-automatic keys there, mostly Vibroplex. The old ones seemed to be preferred over the newer models. Personally I get more accurate DITS with my old bug versus the new one but I haven't spent much time diagnosing the problem on the new one. I just like my old bug :)

I think you're right. I bought the same model bug in 1975 (i added the shorting switch option) I would send up to 33wpm. I got back in to the hobby and with the new bug, It seems I cant get the contact spacing right. the bug seems sloppy. might be me, I lost speed in returning to the hobby. I tried to send CQ W#ABC (my call) (not transmitting) at the proper bug speed, I cant get the setting right yet. might be old age. I was thinking of getting a electronic key.

@@Ed-vi6tg Give you some time and the bug a chance. An electronic keyer won't make you happy if you've been a bug guy. Electronic keyers have no soul.

I was thinking abt getting a keyer due to the rig I have now has a keyer built in. and at this time need to practice and get my CW speed to be over 25wpm again.

@@Ed-vi6tg My problem with keyers is that they feel so totally different that I'm actually slower than with a bug. I've tried built-in keyers from the big three and an external K1EL but I'm producing too many errors. Having full control over the timing combined with the feedback from the pendulum helps me tremendeously.

@@thirtycrows I realized with the issue with the new bug i bought; its not the key, its me. would take too long to explain in detail. short version. I been practicing my code again I am now about a solid 15 ~ 16wpm. I had my first CW QSO in abt 42 years at maybe 10wpm using the dah key as a "straight key" although I could copy at abt 15 wpm with no problem, I was unable to send code at 10 or even slower speed, as i tried to clean up my fist by slowing down. I was totally unable to send clean code at any speed. for reasons of long ago, I use to think if you can rx code at 15 wpm , I would not have a problem sending at a much slower speed; Not the case. i no longer think that. I wonder how many hams are proficient with a keyer and a bug. My guess not many. One would have to have two brains and be able to switch on and off, going back and forth between a bug and a keyer. Proficiency is the conditioning to one type of Key. I wanted to try the e-keyer as it goes down to 4wpm.

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can get it tuned to your liking. You probably already know this but the trunion should be adjustable from the screw under the jewel to reduce the slop.

No idea where you got that from...you can certainly operate it that way, but nearly all Vibroplex users use both the knob and paddle during normal operation. The paddle and knob combination takes into account that your thumb and forefinger are different lengths so that it fits your hand more naturally.

tnx. I was thinking what the heck was he saying? the most comfortable use was to use two fingers and the two paddles. I would send up to 33 wpm. As I remember I could not or did not use the dah paddle as a straight key. to help the novices practice, I use to switched to a straight key. Im guessing that being condition to use a str8 key, using the bug as a str8 key is uncomfortable. I used my middle finger for the dahs.

This is BS. They've been used on every ship around the world no issues. You have to set them up correctly though. Don't use a Begali spacing and expect them to work in an earthquake.

+ALEJANDRO CAZAREZ They are different model keys (deluxe versus standard). Vibroplex still sells a standard bearing model. I was comparing things that would be common across models.