[CW] Lots cootie info

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Hey Roy,

You talk to me and I've been using the iambic method for years.

But many many many operators don't use the iambic method even though they
have dual lever paddles.

Usually when I listen to an operator on the air, I can tell if he is using a
single lever key at speeds of 25 and up because letters like "L" become
disjointed and not as smooth.

But heck, your just an old smoothie.

73
DR
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roy Koeppe" <royanjoy at ncn.net>
To: "CW Reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 4:14 PM
Subject: [CW] Lots cootie info


Mike gave permission to post this...enjoy.

Roy     K6XK


First a link:
http://www.mtechnologies.com/cootie.htm

In his article Jerry Bartachek describes precisely the method I learned
to use a "Cootie."  Others use it differently but I firmly believe the
method described by Bartachek is the very best method.  It results in a
particular set of motions which is consistent for each letter and once
learned, permits easily switching from a Cootie to a semi-automatic
"Bug" and to a keyer without breaking stride.  Learning properly will
take some devoted work on your part.  When I was learning, I put a red
rubber band on my sending wrist and if my fingers made a word's final
"e" with the thumb, I would snap my wrist with the rubber band.  It
cannot be properly learned if one just does what seems most natural, to
be done well, it must be approached with a definite discipline.  Once
learned, it is just natural and is well worth the effort one spent
learning correctly.

(About keyers, I do not like the so-called Iambic keyers or keys and
NONE of the operators I chat with use Iambic keys or keyers.  They all
use single-lever keys.)

If you look at my picture at qrz.com under my callsign, you will see the
sideswiper that I use and note the layout of the parts on the base.
There are no electronics between the key and the rig.  My contact posts
are grounded to the base of the key without insulation and the armature
post is insulated from the base.  My key has no other use than to be a
sideswiper.  It is all brass with each part then having been gold
plated.  It is a really pretty thing !  You probably can't tell from the
photo, but the base is a full inch thick so it is heavy enough to stay
put.

For years, people made their Cooties from pieces of hacksaw blades, but
mine is made from a strip of brass 0.032 inches thick and 1/2 inch wide.
I'm not sure about the thickness, but that is close.  If you want to
make your own cootie, you can order three contact posts and two contact
screws from Bencher.  One will hold the armature and the other two hold
the contacts.  Be sure to also order the small setscrews that hold the
top of the post together so your contacts will stay in adjustment and so
the brass piece will stay in place.

I fashioned a fingerpiece of rosewood and affixed it to the brass strip,
which I got at a hobby shop.  Then I held the strip securely alongside a
vertical surface and varied the length of the free end with the
fingerpiece so that it had a tension or stiffness that suited my touch.
>From that measurement, I knew how long to make the armature extend from
its post out to the fingerpiece in my completed key.  When I send with
any horizontal key, the center of the fleshy part of my thumb rides the
top edge of the fingerpiece when sending and the other side is pushed
with my index and middle fingers.

Once I had the key assembled, I made a mark on the armature precisely
centered between the adjustable contacts and bored a hole about 3/32
inch in diameter.  Then I took the armature and all the rest to my
plating shop and had the armature (with all holes and modifications
necessary already made and had it gold plated.  Be sure that everything
is done so you will not have to mar the plating later.  Once plated, I
took the armature to a jeweler friend and had him pass a short, gold
wire through the hole and brad it down on both sides to give a good
contact surface.  It is important NOT to get this wire installed prior
to the plating because when brass is plated, other metals are plated
onto the brass first and your gold contact wire will be ruined !  If
going to this much trouble, you might do well to ask a jeweler how big
to make the hole in the armature so it will properly fit a gold wire he
can pass through the armature to make your moving contacts.

When sending with a sideswiper, I always push first with my fingers and
lightly grasp the fingerpiece also with my thumb until that character is
complete.  Then I release it until beginning the next character.

I see from the link provided in Bartachek's article that two sideswipers
are offered for sale.  I cannot speak to those because I have never used
a commercial sideswiper.  I can tell you to steer clear of a Bunnell
sideswiper.  They are expensive collectors items but they are too stiff
for anybody I've ever talked with.  It is important not to have
independent dot and dash levers because the back and forth motion of
sideswipery will be messed up by that configuration.

I hope to erect an aerial shortly and would be happy to speak with you
on CW.  Feel free to ask questions if you need clarification on
anything.

73,
Mike Hyder  -N4NT

_______________________________________________
Cw mailing list
Cw at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw