[CW] High speed sending...

Tue, 06 Aug 2002 14:55:19 -0500

Mike, you are nit-picking at a trivial aspect of sending code. You are
overlooking the fact that many of those strokes you are counting result
from merely relaxing the pressure previously placed on a paddle.Usually
this is done with no conscious thought at all. It is just part of the
muscle-memory involved in sending a character.

>From too many years of running a bug, I use my Vibroplex Deluxe paddles
just like a single paddle. I rock my hand on the bottom of the palm and
lean with my thumb for a dit and rock my hand the other way to press the
dah paddle with a finger or two. 

I can't think of anyone who would use a set of paddles the way you
described unless they were committed to squeeze keyers in earnest, which I
am very much NOT.

And if you are capable of sending code at such speeds that the dot and dash
memory response times slow you down, you have my undying respect!   <:}

Mike, it just isn't that big a deal. I used a single lever paddle for
awhile since I was transitioning from a bug, but it just didn't feel right.
So I went to the dual-paddle key and found my own style. 

I designed and built an iambic keyer in the early 70's with RTL logic (!)
that incorporated all the features that we have today, except for memories.
I found that true squeeze keying was not for me and reverted to the bug
style that I still use. I am not a "speed op" by any means but I am
comfortable with what I can do and most folks can understand me.

My unsolicited advice is just to stop worrying about keeping up mentally
with "four states" and concentrate more on just sending text from the
newspaper or whatever until you find your own style. It is in there
somewhere!   <:}

And, most important of all: there is no "right" or "wrong" way to use a
paddle as long as the right stuff comes out of the radio.

73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas         
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe   
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 SOC 262 COG 8 FPQRP 404 TEN-X 11771 I-LINK 11735
Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina 505 DSP  #91900556  Icom IC-765 #02437

Mike Hyder -N4NT- wrote:
> 
> John, their proof fails.  They not only ignore the fact that with dual
> levers you must make an independent motion to release a lever; they
> absolutely deny that is the case.
> 
> If I am sending the letter "A" then I make 3 motions:  push dot, push dash,
> release.  Pushing the dash clears the dot contact on a single-lever key.
> With the dual-lever, I must push the dot, push the dash, release the dot,
> release the dash.  Call it as you will, there are more motions required with
> the dual-lever -- in fact I believe something like 13 of the letters require
> more discrete motions to send with the dual-lever than the single.  I wrote
> a long (7 page) dissertation on this but it has long-since vanished.
> 
> 73, Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Bohnovic" <[email protected]>
> To: "Mike Hyder -N4NT-" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 10:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [CW] High speed sending...
> 
> > At 06:10 PM 8/2/02 -0400, Mike Hyder  -N4NT- wrote:
> >
> > >My brain is not able to handle 4 different contact states (open, dot,
> dash,
> > >both).  People will dispute it, but because the dual-lever paddles
> operate
> > >independently, there must be a motion to release a paddle which makes the
> > >iambic actually less efficient.  And finally, because of the delay
> between
> > >manipulation of the paddles and the output of the keyer (because of dot
> and
> > >dash memories) my brain had trouble with speeds over 30 wpm.
> > >
> > >And lastly, I do not know anyone who operates over about 30 wpm who uses
> an
> > >iambic keyer/key.  How fast do you operate?
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > You know me and I use my WBL or my buddy Don's (W4WJ) Mercury at speeds
> > between 30 and 35 wpm. Sometimes I have to slow down because the band
> > conditions don't permit transmissions at these speeds. You will seldom
> hear
> > me using my Heathkit UltraPro and when I do, It is usually set about 3-5
> > wpm faster than the speed my keyer is set at.
> >
> > At least two people have posted messages to this reflector proving that
> > dual lever paddles, when used with an iambic keyer, are more efficient.
> > Either you didn't read those messages, or you read them and didn't
> > understand them, or you are ignoring what they said. I probably have a
> copy
> > of them on this PC if anyone is interested I will look for them and post
> > them on this reflector.
> >
> > 73..de John/K4WJ
> 
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