[CW] bugs on SKN ??

Fri Dec 30 22:07:12 EST 2005

DR es ED,

Allow me to weigh in with my .02 on this subject, since it appears to be 
assuredly going to be beaten to death by
semantics.

First off, Just as with DR. I love bugs, I have loved 'em ever since I 
first started learning on them, and the reason was
quite simple really.  I am a Navy Operator.  They keys provided in the 
LOP's (Local Operating Positions) range from
mediocre to abysmyl, depending on the weight of the last sledge hammer 
used by the preceeding operator.  Many of them
were subjected to the insane practice of "painting anything that isn't 
gray," including the lever, the diaphram (these were flameproof
sealed keys) and even painting over the bakelite bases... they were 
never, and I mean never given any kind of maintenance at all.

OK, Since I am a CW fanatic, I began, both at Argentia, Nfld, (NWP, for 
the Navy) and NJN/NIK) for the USCG ice patrol,
a total rebuild program for these keys, including, where they were not 
so included, a jack so an external key could be placed in circuit.

I also personally disassembled these keys right down to the cases, 
stripped all the extraneous paint, polished all the brass, made new rubber
seals where I had to, made new springs and fabricated new tension and 
gap screws on a lathe where necessary. I also made knobs, lots of
knobs, of a variety of different styles, mainly because I catered to the 
different likes of the different ops....everyone loved the mods...

What everyone liked most, was the jack, no more mickey mouse crushed 
wiring to wire a Vibroplex or a cootie key in place, just put a standard
plug on the end and away one went... the total cost,,,$0.00...got scrap 
metal and used pints of paint, and scrounged up a Paasche airbrush. 
Heck, I even engraved the panels and filled them in whith white 
paint.....Now everyone had a hand key they could be proud of, and they were
all, essentially, the same, regardless of what position one sat, so the 
overall CW proficiciency went way up, as the feel was the same, and the only
"touch ups" were of course, gap and tension, and everyone has their own 
feelings about those.

The best thing to come out of this was the ability that everyone who 
wanted to use a bug, could, by simply plugging it in , and the same with a
cootie key (I built one, but hardly one of my better endeavours, I would 
like to try my luck again, they are wonderful keys to use, expecally, since
I have a problem brought on by getting bashed in the head once too 
often. and I find  straight keys sometimes cause me to 'shake"....

My take is that SKN should be expanded to take in any MANUALLY operated 
bugs or Cootie keys.....all bugs must produce multiple dits by
means of a weight and spring, and by no electronic means, If a key is 
capable of producing both dots and dashes by mechanical means, weight and
springs only, in a damped fashion (no wind up generators, etc) then it 
should be allowed on straight key night...  Same with the Cootie.  A 
cootie, taken
at it's simplest is nothing more than a straight key laid on it;s side, 
either side may produce a dot or a dash, and it is a wonderful invention 
for those
of us Radiomen/ Radio Officers who have, over a period of time, 
developed "glass arms"....

I see no point in arguing what's "real" 'true" or "kosher"....any 
MANUALLY operated key should be legal, be it a J-46.  A Lightening Bug, 
or a Cootie
IMHO they all carry the spirit of the night with them, and also IMHO the 
users thereof are not violating some "divine edict" by using any of 
these keys.

But then, Ladies, and Gentlemen, that's just my .02

.73 de Greg "GW" Moore
WA3IVX/NNN0BVN

David J. Ring, Jr. wrote:

>Ed,
>
>I AM a bug sender - how can people misunderstand me?  I LOVE bugs.  See 
>N2EY's post about the history of SKN.  It is much easier to have a "good 
>fist" on a bug or cootie key than on a hand key at normal QSO speeds.  That 
>is one of my points.
>
>The other point is that I just think that SKN should be renamed if it is 
>going to include bugs (and hopefully cootie keys).  I don't see how this 
>translates to feelings of "if you hear my bug and don't like it, spin the 
>dial."
>
>I like the idea of vintage equipment and mechanical keys.  In fact I LOVE 
>mechanical keys - they sound sweet to my ears.
>
>I do think we should have some appreciation for the skill of sending with a 
>straight key.  I recently contacted PY7RO and I was listening to his code. 
>I usually try to figure out what kind of key the other station is using and 
>reply with the same type key.  He was sending about 26 wpm, so I figured 
>that he was using a bug.  So I changed over to a bug.  Then I started 
>hearing some sounds that I figured couldn't be made with a bug (stuttering 
>dots) so I asked him what he was using.
>
>He was using a hand key.  I was flabbergasted.  That is some sending - doing 
>26 wpm on a hand key.  To some operators he would be a "slow sender" and 
>people might pass him by when he calls in favor of a 35 wpm keyer, but 
>knowing that he can send in excess of 25 wpm on a hand key, my opinion of 
>him goes way up.  That is some skill.
>
>73
>
>DR
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Ed Tanton" <n4xy at earthlink.net>
>To: <k-zero-hb at earthlink.net>; "David J. Ring, Jr." <n1ea at arrl.net>; 
><Abqcooks at aol.com>; <CW at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 7:38 AM
>Subject: Re: [CW] bugs on SKN ??
>
>
>Since David is former Merchant Marine, I fully understand his point
>of view. Personally-as previously mentioned-I think bugs (being
>non-electric) should be, but David has a point-and I admire-and
>share-his passion for the Art of CW!!!
>
>
>
>Ed Tanton
>
>website: http://www.n4xy.com
>
>All emails <IN> & <OUT> checked by
>Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>"Right is right, even if everyone is
>against it; and wrong is wrong, even
>if everyone is for it."
>
>William Penn
>--------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>  
>

-- 

Happily turning electricity into RF energy for almost 40 years,
on land, sea and air, professional and amateur,
around the clock and around the world. KEEP CW ALIVE! 
Become an Elmer today!!! http://www.fists.org/
FISTS #9404

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
                                                   --Edmund Burke
Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website:
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn at navymars.org
E-Mail (ARRL) wa3ivx at arrl.net

___________________________________________________________________________

PRESERVATION OFFICER/WEBMASTER 
USS AMERICA (CV/CVA-66) MUSEUM FOUNDATION, INC.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
http://www.ussamerica-museumfoundation.org

SHE MAY BE GONE, BUT SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
HELP US KEEP HER MEMORY, AND THE MEMORIES OF HER LOYAL CREWMEMBERS
ALIVE THRU THE CREATION OF A VIRTUAL MUSEUM.
SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK, VISIT OUR "GEEDUNK" AND MILITARY SUPERSTORE!

USS AMERICA CV/CVA-66  1965-2005  R.I.P
NERK NERK NERK DE NMIB NMIB NMIB SK SK SK