QU-21C Mini Paddles
Iβve been toying with the idea of putting together a small radio kit based on my (tr)SDX or something similar, so Iβve been looking at small paddles to go with it. Browsing through eBay recently, I came across several listings for the QU-21C paddles. They were inexpensive, so I thought Iβd order them and give them a shot.Β
These paddles are nothing new; theyβve been around for a few years. (Iβm definitely no early adopter.) The QU-21C paddles are made in China and mine are marked with the brand name, Magic Rabbit. From other reviews I have seen, there may be other manufacturers. So, the quality and packaging may vary. I paid about $24 USD from a seller (iDrone) that ships from the U.S., but you can find them listed for less than $20, if you donβt mind waiting for a shipment from China.Β
Opening the package, I found the paddles are even smaller than I expected. The base is approximately .98 inch by .98 inch (25mm x 25mm) and 1 inch (26mm) tall. The overall length, including the paddles, is 1.9 inches (48.5mm). On my kitchen scale, the paddles weighed in at 1.25 ounces (34 grams). The paddles appear to be 3-D printed, but the quality is pretty good. The base of the paddles is magnetic, which is one feature that first drew my attention.Β
The package I received included:
- Paddles with a magnet attached to the bottom
- 3-ft cable with 3.5mm stereo plugs on each end
- Hex wrench for adjusting contact spacing
- Two adhesive metal discs
- Adhesive rubber pad
- Plastic storage case that holds everything
My first impression was that the contact spacing seemed a little wider than I like. I used the supplied hex wrench and adjusted the spacing until the contacts were completely closed. Then, I backed off a little.Β
I prefer a light spring tension on my paddles, but the spring in these paddles seems stiffer than Iβm used to. Unfortunately, thereβs no adjustment for that. So, Iβll just have to get used to using a little more force than my other paddles.Β
Iβm not sold on the magnetic base, though. The square magnet is fairly strong, but itβs highly polished. So, the paddles sometimes have a tendency to slide when Iβm sending. I applied the rubber pad that comes with it, but that seemed to offer only minimal improvement. For now, I just hold them in one hand while sending with the other.
Iβve actually thought about trying to remove the magnet altogether, since it appears to be glued on. At least, it wouldnβt be attracting every ferrous object that comes near it. But, for now, Iβm just thinking about it.
I had a chance to use the QU-21C paddles on a recent park activation. It didnβt take long to get used to them, and I had no issues with them at all. The paddles keyed reliably, without missing a single dit or dah.
Even with my spring tension and magnet gripes, Iβm pretty happy with these paddles. These cheap paddles look like worthy candidates for field use. Weβll see how well they hold up over time.
72, Craig WB3GCK