POTA with the CWMouse Paddles

I did a POTA/WWFF activation this morning and used it as an opportunity to try out a new set of paddles. During a recent activation, I encountered a recurring problem with the cheap QU-21C paddles I keep in my backpack as a backup. As a result, the finicky paddles have lost out on their role as my backup. 

Always a sucker for unusual paddles, I came across an interesting offering I couldn’t resist. I fired off an order for the CWMouse paddles and had them in my hot little hands two days later. Mike KN6FQM designed the CWMouse paddles, which are currently selling on Amazon for $39.00 (US).

The CWMouse paddles are made from 3D-printed parts and include sealed ball bearing races, two sealed microswitches, and an ⅛-inch stereo jack. One thing that drew me to these paddles was the small size: 74mm/2.9in L x 36mm/1.4in W x 28mm/1.1in H. They weigh a mere 1.5oz/45g, making them ideal for portable use. See the CWMouse website for the complete specifications.  

My destination this morning was Marsh Creek State Park (US-1380, KFF-1380). I usually operate near one of the boat launches, which can sometimes get crowded during the summer. Given that it was a weekday in September, there was plenty of room in the parking lot. 

My rig today was my Elecraft KH1 into a 12-foot whip and homebrew loading coil. Starting out on 40M, I found lots of strong signals. I made a couple of quick park-to-park contacts before settling on a frequency and calling CQ. I quickly achieved the required 10 contacts and then some. 

After 20 minutes, the activity on 40M tapered off, so I moved up to 20M. The action wasn’t as busy on 20M, but I made 11 contacts. One of those was with a station in California—I like when that happens. The 17M band produced three more before I called it quits. After a bit more than an hour, I had logged 32 contacts with six park-to-park contacts. 

The CWMouse paddles performed flawlessly. Because of the microswitches, there are no adjustments for throw or tension. However, they felt great right out of the box. They have a nice, light touch, which is what I prefer. 

One potential issue is the plastic used for the 3D printing. The website is very clear that the paddles should not be stored at temperatures above 100F. This could easily happen in a closed vehicle, so I’ll have to keep that in mind.

I used the “two-handed” technique with the paddles this morning, which is not my preferred way of operating. I’ll probably glue on some magnets, so I can attach the paddles to my clipboard. 

Overall, however, I really like these paddles. It was a pleasure operating with them this morning. 

72, Craig WB3GCK