[CW] Article in 73 Magazine by Bob Shrader, W6BNB (SK) about Keys!

[Chris R. NW6V]

Howdy there DR.

Thanks a bunch for putting up W6BNB's article. It contains a wealth of
information.

One thing however: his description of how to send with a straight key is
VERY different from my own technique - and in my opinion, may be at the
root of many of the "glass arm" reports that drive people away from hand
keys, and cause "glass arm."

Having been clocked at 30+ WPM on a straight key (plain text equivalent) in
a radiosport contest (which I won) I am one of those ops he speaks of who
can "vibrate" their fingers at high speeds. But fact is, the fingers aren't
what's doing the vibrating! At least the muscles that control the fingers -
the forearm muscles - aren't what's causing the vibrating - they hold the
wrist and fingers in dynamic tension - like the mainspring of a bug holds
the contact spring - the fingers thus "vibrate" when hit with the impetus
of the muscles of the upper arm - the biceps and triceps!

There is NO thought whatsoever of "moving the fingers." It's more like
cracking a whip composed of upper arm, forearm, wrist and hand - with
fingers at the end - than shuffling through a stack of file folders with
one's finger tips. And my wrist motion is the opposite of what he describes
- my wrist tends to be moving down on contact closures - not up.

I admit the possibility that my technique may be entirely unique and
entirely my own, and "right" only for me. But again, so many people find
the SK a challenge, I have long suspected they are being taught
ergonomically incorrect techniques (I have a professional background in
ergonomics).

Perhaps I'll have the time and resources to make vides about technique some
day. I'm hoping to do a seminar on SK/Bug use and adjustment at next year's
Seapac conference.

73 Chris NW6V


On Sat, Aug 31, 2019 at 8:32 AM D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:

> I found this delightful article in 73 Magazine some years ago.
>
> I enjoyed it and I'm sending it along in hope that you enjoy it also.
>
> It's refreshing to hear from my dear friend again, even if it's in an
> old article from 73 Magazine.
>
> I hope you enjoy the article, I'm sure most already know the
> information but I think Bob writes well and I enjoyed reading it, so
> perhaps you will too.
>
> 73
>
> DR
> N1EA
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> =30=
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