[CW] High speed sending...

John/K4WJ [email protected]
Fri, 09 Aug 2002 15:45:59 -0400


At 08:45 AM 8/9/02 -0400, Mike Hyder  -N4NT- wrote:
>I have considered the number of motions more fairly, as you suggested.
>Remember that with the dual-lever, the fingers and thumb must operate
>independently whereas with the bug and single-lever key the fingers and
>thumb operate in unison, as does the key's contact structure.  Because of
>this, when using the bug one need not make an independent motion to release
>a contact when the opposite contact is activated.
I have no idea what your talking about here. It takes the same number of 
activities to create an A with both the dual lever and single lever paddles.

When using a dual lever paddle I hit the dot lever with my thumb. Once 
contact is made with the dash post, I release it before hitting the dash 
lever with my finger. Once contact has been made on the dash side, I 
release that lever. This results in four activities, push release, push 
release,or, as you call them, DOT, dot, DASH, dash.

With a single lever paddle the same amount of activity is required. Your 
thumb pushes the lever over to the dot side. Once contact is made you 
release (the pressure your thumb is exerting on the finger pad) and your 
finger then exerts pressure on the other finger pad to push the lever over 
to the dash side. Once contact is made on the dash side you release the 
lever. This results in four activities, push release, push release, or as 
you call them, DOT dot DASH dash.

You claim that your finger and thumb operate in unison. Do you move your 
thumb backwards as your pressing the lever with your finger? Do you move 
your finger backward while your pressing the lever with your thumb? Are 
both the thumb and finger resting on the pads at the same time? If this is 
true, then I would think that you would have to exert more pressure on the 
pad to get it moving in order to overcome the force exerted by the opposite 
digit. Hmmmm! This could explain why single lever paddle users tend to hit 
the paddle hard.

>---------------------------------------------------------------
>DOT  = push dot
>dot    = release dot
>DASH = push dash
>dash   = release dash
>
>          Iambic motions                   Bug or single-lever motions
>
>A  DOT DASH dot dash    (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)

When using a single lever paddle you must release the lever from the dot 
side before it will move to the dash side. You can not escape doing this. 
So using a bug or single lever paddle requires DOT dot Dash dash  (4)  If 
you don't release the dot contacts, how are you going to move the paddle 
over to the dash side?

When creating an A, the dual lever paddle activities are the same as the 
single lever paddle. DOT dot DASH dash. (If I keep the dot contacts closed 
while closing the dash contacts, a dot will follow the dash and the letter 
R will be sent. I must release the dot contact before closing the dash 
contact.)

As someone mentioned earlier, Stan, W9WBL, provides an option for his V22 
dual lever paddle to allow the user to use it like a single lever paddle. 
Think very hard about this Mike. What your saying is when used as a single 
lever paddle the V22 becomes more efficient.

>B  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>C  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT DASH DOT dot (5)
>D  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>E  DOT dot                   (2)   DOT dot               (2)
>F  DOT DASH dash dot         (4)   DOT DASH DOT dot      (4)
>G  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>H  DOT dot                   (2)   DOT dot               (2)
>I  DOT dot                   (2)   DOT dot               (2)
>J  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>K  DASH DOT dot dash         (4)   DASH DOT DASH dash    (4)
>L  DOT DASH dash dot         (4)   DOT DASH DOT dot      (4)
>M  DASH dash                 (2)   DASH dash             (2)
>N  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>O  DASH dash                 (2)   DASH dash             (2)
>P  DOT DASH dot DOT dash dot (6)   DOT DASH DOT dot      (4)
>Q  DASH DOT dot dash         (4)   DASH DOT DASH dash    (4)
>R  DOT DASH dash dot         (4)   DOT DASH DOT dot      (4)
>S  DOT dot                   (2)   DOT dot               (2)
>T  DASH dash                 (2)   DASH dash             (2)
>U  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (4)
>V  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (4)
>W  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>X  DASH DOT dash DASH dot dash (6) DASH DOT DASH dash    (4)
>Y  DASH DOT dot dash         (4)   DASH DOT DASH dash    (4)
>Z  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>
>1  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>2  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>3  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>4  DOT DASH dot dash         (4)   DOT DASH dash         (3)
>5  DOT dot                   (2)   DOT dot               (2)
>6  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>7  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>8  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>9  DASH DOT dash dot         (4)   DASH DOT dot          (3)
>0  DASH dash                 (2)   DASH dash             (2)
>
>The following require fewer motions with Iambic Keying:  C

Add Q to the list.


>The following require fewer motions with non-iambic keying:
>A, B, D, E, G, J, N, P, W, X, Z, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

NOT true as explained above


>The following require the same number of motions with either:
>F, H, I, K, L, M, O, Q, R, S, T, U, V, Y, 5, 0
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>If you have been following this thread, then you know that the discussion
>began when Andrew VE1EX made the following statement:
>"Hello: I am having trouble sending much faster than about 25 wpm, I can
>copy
>about 30wpm and am working on increasing that.  I learned on a straight key
>and after six years I got a paddle, that was hard, but can now use both
>quite well.   Any advice?"
>
>My response to the fellow was precisely this:
>"My suggestion is that if you are not using a single-lever paddle, you give
>it a try."
>
>That opened a floodgate of people who disagreed with my suggestion, said
>that iambic keying was better, more efficient, etc., said that I was stupid
>and even 'bizarre.'  I do not believe iambic keying is either better or more
>efficient and I said so.   That caused a further flood.
>
>People can send code by whatever method they choose and it doesn't matter to
>me.

I agree with you here. Just send good code and I will enjoy copying it.

>I have used all the methods, but I had extreme trouble sending with the
>iambic method.  After only a short time sending, I would begin to make more
>and more errors.  There seemed to be nothing I could do to reduce them --
>slowing the keyer didn't help, nor did speeding it up.  Months of practice
>failed to help and I actually seemed to get worse with the iambic method the
>longer I practiced.  So I do take issue with those who push iambic as being
>better -- for many of us it just isn't.

Mike it sounds like your defining 'better' as meaning 'easier'. Over the 
years I've found that using my dual lever paddle is easier than using my 
bug. Over the years of using a dual lever paddle I've lost my bug skills. 
As a result it is easier for me to use the paddle than it is to use the bug.


>People who buttress their argument
>that iambic is more efficient are just trying to convince others to agree
>with them.

It is more efficient! But that doesn't mean you have to like it. My VW 
Jetta TDI Diesel is most efficient running at 55 MPH but I rarely drive at 
that speed.  :-)

>  My effort at counting motions was not designed to convince
>anyone to use a particular method, but to counter the specious argument
>about efficiency to bring the choice back to a level playing field so people
>would know that if they were having trouble one way they could try another.

adios amigo..de John/K4WJ
73..de John/K4WJ
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   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
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