[Elecraft] Elecraft: My CW Progress

[Tom Hammond]

Hi Martin:

>   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!

The important points here are:

1) Does the other guy REQUIRE that you send with added spacing?

If there's any question as to whether the other station is having difficult 
copying your fist, your signal (QRM, etc)., or that he just can't copy at 
the speed you're sending, then you should add either slow down or add a bit 
of additional spacing.

The intent is complete an enjoyable QSO. If this requires adding a bit of 
spacing, then, by all means do so. And even when you're NOT adding extra 
spacing, there's no reason NOT to do it when you send information which is 
not readily copied (e.g. your QTH or other possibly difficult to copy 
info). You can then eliminate the spacing when you get back into normal 
'conversational' sending.

2) DO YOU send better when you're leaving added spacing?

Many(!) beginners THINK they send better than the really do. Generally, 
this is due to the fact that they already know what they're going to send, 
so even when they send poorly, it often sounds great to their ears.

For many new(er) ops, and some (unfortunately) some more experienced ops as 
well, it's difficult not to tend to run certain letter combinations 
together when they are sent. For instance, the word "and" (.- -. -..) is 
often botched and sent as "pd" (.--. -..). This occurs purely because the 
sending station runs the "a" and the "n" together when he attempts to send 
them. If the sending station tends to have such a problem, then it is to 
his benefit if he purposely leaves more than ample spacing between characters.

Along the same vein, some ops tend to run WORDS together when they send. 
This error should NEVER happen, as the spacing between individual words 
should be seven bauds (the equivalent of seven DOT lengths). If the sender 
runs his words together, it's from sheer laziness and lack of attention to 
what he is doing. But again, this would be a good reason for the sender to 
intentionally leave more than ample spacing between words, just the ensure 
the problem disappears.

If you are in a QSO with another station and you are adding extra spacing, 
there's no harm in ASKING the other station if he minds if you reduce the 
spacing between your characters. AND there's no shame in asking the other 
stations TO add extra spacing, or to continue using it, if it allows you to 
have a better QSO. The one problem here is that, if you are working to 
improve your proficiency, you should generally attempt to work stations who 
DO 'push' your copy just a bit. To that end, it's probably better (for you) 
if the other station doesn't 'coddle' you too much, but making things too 
easy for you to copy. No pain, no gain.

>   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.

Regardless of what speed you are sending, and what method of spacing you 
are using, it's probably to your advantage, and that of the other station 
as well, if you attempt to maintain a smooth cadence. This generally 
implies that you continue sending at whatever mode you start out with, 
unless you make the change than then remain there.

>   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.

It sounds as though you're at the point where you SHOULD be making the 
conversion to head copy, though most folks find they can write (longhand, 
and oft times printing) up to about 18-20 WPM without excessive hand 
cramping, etc. But the 'right' time to start copying in your head and when 
you can no longer easily get it all down on paper.

You'll miss some words (usually because you 'think' you know what the rest 
of the word will be and then he throws you a curve and sends a word 
different from that which you expected), but you'll get most of them. As 
you already stated, WRITE down the log info and then use head copy for the 
'conversational' part of the QSO. Just be ready to write down anything 
important he throws at you in the middle of the conversation...!

Head copy comes with practice... once you get too the point that it's no 
longer difficult, then you're ready to see your copying speed increase 
significantly.

>   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. It
>    seems to be a lot less tiring. Any thoughts?

Some folks can get by doing that. Others can't. Many beginners (wrongly) 
use only their fingers and find that they wear out very quickly. Use 
whatever works for you and allows you to send as effortlessly as possible. 
If you feel yourself getting 'glass arm' stop and try to figure out what it 
is that you might be doing improperly.

Finally, consider adding a keyer and paddle to your repertoire of CW 
sending devices. Most ops find it difficult to send much faster than about 
20-22 WPM with a straight key and often either limit their operating speed 
to around 20 WPM or they add a keyer and continue to increase their speed 
as they become more comfortable with the keyer and paddles.

If you have a good fist with the straight key, chances are that you have 
already pretty well mastered the basic timing elements of CW, and it should 
not be difficult for you to make the transition from straight key to 
keyer/paddle. You don't have to stop using the straight key, but by the 
same token, don't let it limit your improvement either.

Cheers,

Tom Hammond    N0SS