[TenTec] footswitch

["Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj@hotmail.com>]

I have tried the Heil FS1 and FS2.   I found the FS2 kind of clunky and hard 
to use.  The travel is so great that it takes a lot of effort to transmit 
and receive if you are in a roundtable with a lot of rapid switching.  Also, 
there were times when I didn't engage it all the way (note that anyone 
running a ten tec rig with the keying loop should not need one) and I have 
heard that some guys have had the cords short out on it.  I finally made up 
rig to amp keying lines (this means having to solder DIN plugs for kenwoods) 
and went back to the FS1 which is smaller, has less travel, and only one 
cord.  I actually like it better but unfortunately Heil does not make it 
anymore.

I have to confess that I am not comfortable with footswitches and most of 
the time pick up the FS1 and switch it by hand.  If it ever wears out I will 
do what Grant did and make a hand switch.  The footswitch is nothing more 
than a microswitch inside a hinged box with the phono cord coming in and 
some strain relief.  Making a handswitch should be cheap and easy.

Rob/K5UJ

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