[CW] High speed sending...

[Gerry Maira]

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.

I have to agree with most of what George W5YR said. Letters like A B P X, etc. are sent
the same with single and double paddles. Changing direction with a single paddle is
equivalent to changing paddles on a double-paddle since the same "rocking" motion is
used. Think about keying in terms of "pushes" and "squeezes." 

Anytime when switching from a dot to dash or dash to dot on a single paddle, a push is
needed. Three pushes are needed for an R on a single paddle. Only 2 are needed on a
double paddle - the dot (and hold it) with a tap on the dash during that first dot. So,
you are already ahead one push with the double paddles. But.... once this has been
mastered, the motion becomes a single squeeze. A "C" becomes a single squeeze. The
prosign AR even becomes a single squeeze. Once it is mastered, the timing/sequence of
the fingers to hit the double paddles properly to form a given letter becomes automatic.
A C is a just a simple squeeze at any speed. Letters like F and L are similarly sent -
no thought required once you have it mastered, you just know how to do it. It lets you
go a little faster than a single paddle because less motion is needed. Most CW ops I
know never learned the iambic "squeeze" method, and use a single paddle motion on double
paddles. Whatever works for you...

73, Gerry KA2MGE