I prefer tactile feedback from a paddle, but I am willing to forego that in
the field.? I have been using capacitive touch paddles on my MTR radios
for years.? These have functioned flawlessly in all temperatures.? They
have no adjustments to get out of whack, no contacts to get dirty in
the field, but the metal touch points are f-r-o-s-t-y in winter.

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Some of you have built the pressure paddle from the VK3IL.? I have
one, and while it functions well, I don’t like the pressure sensors on either
side of the circuit board being so close together.

The KH1 paddle needs to be cold-tested for winter.? If the settings are “too
close,” sub-freezing temperatures can cause the paddle to lock up closed.?
I put mine in the freezer, then adjusted it as needed to handle zero degree
temperatures.? That adjustment is fine for me in warm weather as well, so I
just leave it that way.? The pads are a bit small to use with gloves.

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I have a pressure paddle by K6ARK.? Perhaps some of you do, too?? He doesn’t
seem to be offering it for sale at this moment.? It has a lot to like for a field paddle.?
No contacts to get dirty, no adjustments to get out of whack in the field, warm
(not warmed) to the touch for cold weather.? Still, I find it uncomfortable to use.

The pressure sensors must be pressed in the middle to operate.? I find that my
fingers tend to stop short of the middle because they brush the leading edge of
the pads first.? So I modified it.

There are two soldered connections along the leading edge.? After desoldering
those, I discovered there are three tiny soldered joints along the lower edge
which simply stabilize the pad in place.? I just pried on them, and they broke.?

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I remounted the pressure pads such that they present an angle to the operator’s
fingers.? In this way the fingers are guided to the central area of the pad which is
the sweet spot.? The pressure pads respond fine to fingers with gloves on as well.

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73? Fred kt5x

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