[CW] CW Duty Cycle Question

[N2EY@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/16/04 10:17:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
ac5p@sbcglobal.net writes:


> If continuous key down is 100 and key up is 0, where does normal transmit 
> keying fall?  

For plain-language English text, about 44%.

Here's how I got that number:

Since Morse is made up of characters of different lengths and % key-down 
times, a standard is needed for things like speed computation. The agreed-upon 
standard is the word "PARIS" - the number of times you can send the word "PARIS" 
in a minute with proper spacing is the number of WPM. "PARIS" is exactly 50 
bauds long, and of those 50 bauds, 22 are "mark" (key down) and and 28 are 
"space" (key up). 

Send "PARIS" twice and you have 100 bauds, of which the key is down 44. Thus, 
44%.



 Is there a relationship between keying speed and percent duty cycle?  

No.


 Has 
> anyone reading this actually attempted to measure CW transmit duty cycle, 
> and if so, by what means?   I have a simple  idea for doing this that I have 
> never heard mentioned, but I would be interested in your opinion.
> 

At high speeds you can watch a damped meter....

73 de Jim, N2EY


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