[CW] Straight Key

[Joe - aa4nn]

I am one who appreciates quality in a key or paddle.  I'd pay good money for
a good paddle.

Back on Guam running point-to-point CW net using a bug, I longed for an
easier way to send CW.  Along came the Mon-key electronic keyer which I used
back then and on into ham radio.  Better electronics came along that made
dots and dashes self-completing.  Hmmm, easier to send.  Always looking
forward to better things, easier methods.  Looking for better paddles, shiny
new stuff.  I even got into that keyboard thing for a while.  Easy to send
with a KB.

While I can use a straight key quite well, I soon tire of it.  I want to go
faster.  For this simple reason, speed, I look down on a straight key as
something not very desirable in the shack.  Therefore I think paying $200
for a straight key is insane.  But as a key collector, such fine quality
handkeys are a necessity and a joy to own.

73, Joe, aa4nn