[CW] High speed sending...
John/K4WJ
[email protected]
Thu, 08 Aug 2002 16:41:52 -0400
At 11:38 PM 8/8/02 -0700, Larry L. Ravlin wrote:
>I just HAD to jump in. I use a Bug (a wonderful invention if I do say so
>myself) An 'A' is three motions. my wrist is resting on the table and I
>swing to the rt for the dit and swing to the left for the dash and then to
>the rt to release there is no seperate motion to release the dit. Like wise
>a letter libe 'B' is three motions, I swing lt for the dah and swing rt for
>the dits and then lt to release. ad infitium.
>To ea his own, I like the bugs they look cool on my desk. I learned cw on a
>bug and now into my 60's i'm not abt to change.
Larry,
Mike was trying to demonstrate, through the use of the number of activities
it takes to send different letters using morse on dual lever and single
lever paddles. He counted the release of the paddle on the dot side using a
dual lever paddle but didn't count it on the single lever paddle. You have
to release your thumb from the paddle in order for your finger to move the
paddle over to the dash side.
Same thing happens with a bug. However, when using a dual lever paddle
connected to an iambic keyer, the formation of some characters requires
less motion and thus makes the dual lever paddle more efficient to use.
I'm not knocking anyone that uses a straight key, cootie bug, bug, paddle
or keyboard. I'm just stating that Mike's activity count is wrong.
One should use the device he/she enjoys using, and, master it. Send code
that can be easily copied by the receiving operator. Don't make him/her
struggle to decipher what is being sent. Mike has an excellent fist when he
is on his single lever paddle. (He is working harder to get the code out,
but that is his choice.) As a result of his great fist, Mike is very easy
to copy.
In 1959 I started ham radio with a J-38. I eventually graduated to a bug,
but not after making a fool of myself trying to use Al, W8LJI's, bug. While
I was in the Navy I earned two speed key licenses. (The Navy's term for a
bug was "speed key".) In 1972 I built an Accu Keyer and bought a dual lever
TenTec paddle and learned to use "iambic keying" as I called it back in
those days.
I'm sorry to say that the last time I tried using a bug on the air was at
K4IX's house a couple of years ago. Bus had to rescue me because my fist
was horrible on that bug of his. Last September I was at the TenTec free
flea and I had to use a microphone push button to send CW to the gang on
7.020. K4IX said I sounded great. :-)
I have a Heathkit UltraPro keyboard that I use every once in a while. Like
when my fist is so bad I make errors sending my own callsign.
Enjoy whatever you use, but send good CW with whatever you use.
73..de John/K4WJ
>Larry L. Ravlin AKA "Laurence the Magnificent"
>[email protected]
>Walterville, Or.
>Ham Operator Extra class AA7LR @ 20WPM
>'V' Tail Bonanza Pilot
>Delta Wing Hang Glider Pilot
>SCR 1475
>SCS 422
>IPSC
>HighPower Rifle "Where Accuracy Counts"
>Certified NAUI Diver
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: John/K4WJ <[email protected]>
>To: Mike Hyder -N4NT- <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; cw
><[email protected]>
>Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 11:21 AM
>Subject: Re: [CW] High speed sending...
>
>
> > Mike,
> >
> > How do you count three activities for a single lever paddle and four for a
> > dual lever paddle? You are missing a very important event on the single
> > lever paddle that must be counted. See below:
> >
> > At 10:56 PM 8/6/02 -0400, Mike Hyder -N4NT- wrote:
> >
> > >Letter Iambic keyer motions Single
>levermotions
> > >
> > >A (push) dot, (push) dash, release dot release dash (4) dot, dash,
> > >release dash (3)
> >
> > A push dot, release dot, push dash, release dash (4) dot,
>release
> > dot, dash, release dash (4)
> >
> > If you don't release the pressure from the thumb which is applied to the
> > single lever paddle to create the dot, your thumb and your finger will be
> > working against each other when you go to create the dash.
> >
> > Jan Ditzian, KX2A, pointed this out to you back on Tuesday, May 2, 2000,
>in
> > a message to you on the TenTec reflector.
> >
> > When counting the activities to create the letter A with a SINGLE LEVER
> > paddle, why are you NOT counting the release of the dot as an activity?
>(It
> > surely must be done in order to move the paddle over to the dash side.)
> >
> > When you use a dual lever paddle with an iambic keyer you must release the
> > dot before you create the dash or else you will send the letter R. Your
> > example above for a dual lever paddle/iambic keyer is incorrect, but I
>will
> > overlook it, since I know you are aware of what I just explained about
> > releasing the dot before creating the dash.
> >
> > I'm really interested in reading your answer to my question.
> >
> > 73..de John/K4WJ
> >
> > >C dash, dot release dash release dot (4) dash, dot, dash, dot,
> > >release (5)
> > >K dash, dot, release dot, release dash (4) dash, dot, dash,
>release
> > >(4)
> > >N dash, dot, release dash release dot (4) dash, dot, release (3)
> > >R dot, dash, release dash, release dot (4) dot, dash, dot, release
>(4)
> > >AR dot, dash, release dash release dot (4) dot, dash, dot, dash, dot,
> > >release (6)
> > >
> > >If you go through the alphabet with this analysis, you'll see that total
> > >movements are fewer with the single-lever because pushing it one way
>clears
> > >the opposite contact.
> > >
> > >If the characters a, c, k, n, r, and + (/ar) are all the identical
>motions
> > >iambicly (and I'll concede they probably are), then it is no wonder my
>brain
> > >gets confused. Each letter ought to be a discrete set of motions,
>shouldn't
> > >it? I'd not only have to remember those identical motions, but I'd also
> > >have to be very precise in my timing and I wouldn't have a sidetone to
>help
> > >me because my motions are required to be ahead of the sidetone -- that's
> > >sending blind???
> > >
> > >No, I do not see that the iambic keyer is doing a lot of the work for us.
> > >
> > >About sending periods. . . People who do that are one of my pet peeves.
> > >Most of the folks I talk with just pause a second if they want to pause.
> > >They send neither a period nor a BT. But if they need to say "uh" then
>they
> > >might send BT.
> > >
> > >73, Mike N4NT
> > >
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Ronald KA4INM Youvan" <[email protected]>
> > >To: "cw" <[email protected]>
> > >Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 2:27 AM
> > >Subject: Re: [CW] High speed sending...
> > >
> > >
> > > > 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.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mike, you are missing something important, send an `a' then send a
>`.'
> > >with
> > > > your single lever, I use the SAME motion and effort for both with my
> > >double
> > > > lever, do you see any difference? The characters a, c, k, n, r, and +
> > >(/ar)
> > > > (possibly more, it is late) are all the identical motions iambicly,
> > > > are they with a single lever? Do you see that the iambic keyer is
>doing a
> > >lot
> > > > of the work for us?
> > > > When I rag chew I never send a /bt, I send a period to end
>sentences,
> > > > or thoughts. Why not, it fits and it is as easy to send as the letter
>A.
> > > > Do you see why?
> > > >
> > > > 73 (= Best Regards) de: Ron [email protected]
> > > > 100% LINUX, since July, 1997 SENT Time and Date are UTC
> > > > Visit my HAM Web SITE at: http://www.qsl.net/ka4inm
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > CW mailing list
> > > > [email protected]
> > > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >CW mailing list
> > >[email protected]
> > >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> >
> > 73..de John/K4WJ
> > ***********************************************************
> > John/K4WJ in Pembroke Pines, FL
> > QTH 26 00 51 N
> > 80 16 16 W
> >
> > K8PXG from 18 Jun 59 to 11 Feb 97
> > K8WJ from 12 Feb 97 to 07 Apr 97
> > ZF2HZ from 17 May 84 to 31 Dec 84
> > ***********************************************************
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CW mailing list
> > [email protected]
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
>
>_______________________________________________
>CW mailing list
>[email protected]
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
73..de John/K4WJ
***********************************************************
John/K4WJ in Pembroke Pines, FL
QTH 26 00 51 N
80 16 16 W
K8PXG from 18 Jun 59 to 11 Feb 97
K8WJ from 12 Feb 97 to 07 Apr 97
ZF2HZ from 17 May 84 to 31 Dec 84
***********************************************************