[Elecraft] Elecraft: My CW Progress

Thu Aug 21 10:12:00 2003

Hi, Martin:

I think that this is a very "on frequency" topic around here. One of the
major contributions to the hobby that I've seen the Elecraft rigs making =
is
a renewed dedication to our enjoyable "Victorian Digital Mode" -- CW.=20

It sounds like you are suffering from "glass arm" by using your wrist
instead of your entire forearm to operate the key. I know that some ops =
can
carry on for a long time with their arm in mid-air, but not me. I was =
taught
to lay my arm on the table, with the weight of my arm supported by the
muscle just below my elbow. My arm is at about a 45 degree angle =
crossing in
front of me. So, sending with my right hand the key is about 12 to 18 =
inches
back from the edge of the operating desk and about even with my LEFT
shoulder, oriented so it is 'pointing' toward my right shoulder.=20

Movement of the key is done by moving my entire forearm up and down. My
wrist stays straight. That way, my entire arm handles the task of doing =
the
keying. I can send CW for half an hour or more that way, and when I =
worked
CW Traffic nets in the Army years ago I often did just that without =
fatigue
using a simple straight key.

The angles aren't real critical. Taking the weight off of my arm while
allowing freedom for my entire forearm up and down is.

The "Farnsworth" system of adding spaces, or "gaps", between more =
rapidly
sent characters has, from what I read, helped a lot of ops learn CW. =
It's
still very difficult for me after 50+ years of "pounding brass" - =
literally
- on my straight key. So I'm not surprised that it's hard for you. I
congratulate you on that fact since you are obviously developing a good
sense of the proper space ratios.=20

You aren't the first op who I've run into who had to learn CW TWICE! =
Once
using Farnsworth to pass the test and then again without the odd =
Farnsworth
spacing to copy on the air. The only thing that will fix that is =
practice
and practice. "Read the mail" (listen to QSO's) on the air and copy W1AW
bulletins.

When sending < 10 wpm for a slower op using a straight key, I find =
myself
tapping my foot as I send - sort of as a metronome - to keep my spacing
consistent. You might try that. It's kind of a "Zen" experience in =
slowing
down time, taking five seconds to say my name in CW at 8 WPM, Hi

I always try to match the speed of the other op when sending. A lot of =
ops
do that. So if the other guy is rolling along to fast for you, see if =
he's
just matching your speed.=20

If the other guy is going faster than you, I suggest a simple "QRS PSE =
OM"
to slow him down.

You know, there was a time when the FCC required not only letter-perfect
copy, but letter-perfect copy in CURSIVE script... "longhand"!! After =
WWII
the deluge of ex-military ops who wanted Ham licenses forced the FCC to
relent and allow copy with the block-character printing that the =
military
ops were taught to use. I'm with you. It can get tiring. We used "Mills"
(special typewriters with all capital letters) to copy "traffic" on CW =
most
of the time for just that reason.

"Head copy" is an excellent skill to practice. I enjoy many CW QSO's =
while
working around the shop "listening" to the other fellow as I putter -
especially when working a slower op. I suggest you start by jotting down
only key information such as QTH or name, etc. Perhaps a word or two on =
an
interesting subject or to remind you to answer a question. You will =
quickly
develop the ability to jot down notes while still "listening" to what =
the
other op is sending.

I work a lot of 40 CW too. Hope to QSO you one day!

73,

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] =
[mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 6:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft: My CW Progress

Hi Guys, sorry if this is a little off freq but here is an update on my =
CW
progress (using my K1 of course) and a request for a bit of advice.

I've been on the air for only 2 months now almost exclusively on 40m in =
the
evenings...

   I can send on my Kent straight key at about 12-15 wpm with a nice =
rhythm
   with or without longer than normal gaps. I prefer to send without the
   longer gaps since it feels right sounds nicer and is easier for the
   proficient hams to copy. BUT I can't copy as well when the other ham
   sends to me without the gaps. So do I please the other guy and send
   without the gaps or do I give him the jerky CW so that I can get it =
all
   when he sends back jerky. "To gap or not to gap" so to speak!

   I find that though I start sending with gaps, I unconsciously  start =
to
   shorten the gaps to normal spacing because it feels more natural and
   preserves the natural rhythms of the shorter words like FER and RST =
and
   QSO etc etc. I guess I am copying the sounds from other hams who are
   sending without gaps.

   SRI this is a bit tedious and off track but I don't know which is the
   best way to proceed. I don't want to slow down my character speed as
   this also loses the rhythm.

   I have got tired of trying to get everything down on paper. I can't
   write very fast using block capitals and I seem to get all tensed up
   when trying to paper copy it all, so I've started to head copy (apart
   from the stuff for the log). I don't get all of it but it is getting
   better and I can sit back and relax and concentrate on seeing the
   letters on the imaginary blackboard. Am I going the right way or =
should
   I stick to the pencil.

   Sometimes when I am sending, my arm goes stiff and the dits are the
   result of an arm shake rather than a wrist action. So I have stopped
   sending with the arm in free space and put my arm on the table under =
a
   book and the key at right angles to the norm. This way the arm is
   supported and stops shaking and I use just my fingers/wrist to key. I
   seems to be a lot less tiring. Any thoughts?

Martin
M0KWV
K1 #1534