[Elecraft] OT: optical sensor paddles

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Very true, Ed. Of course the "timing" is NEVER "dead on"....It's a fun
challenge to pursue but we aren't a bunch of logic circuits with a
crystal-controlled clock. And there are intentional variations as well. 

To me it's very much like the difference between a real human speaking
and listening to the very best of the computer-generated speech. The
computer generated stuff is astonishingly life-like, but it gives itself
away in the precise and constant timing... at least it did until the
most recent software started putting in pseudo-random variations in
inflection and changes in the timing or pace, depending upon the word's
position in the sentence (such as stretching the last syllable and
dropping the tone slightly at the end of a sentence). 

With a manual key - bug or hand pump - the operator has similar control
over the timing and pace to match what's being said where a modern keyer
simply pounds out exactly-constant characters with no variation at all.
The best a keyer-jockey can do is to put in longer spaces at logical
points (and the keyboard operators often forget even that!) Maybe
someone will come up with a way to introduce more control in the keying
of future keyer designs somewhat like the more "natural" sounding speech
computers are starting to produce. 

Of course, some ops cultivate a "swing". To me, that's like a regional
accent. It can be sort of fun to hear, but it can quickly get in the way
of good copy if the conditions aren't the best or an unfamiliar word is
used. I work for a very "neutral" timing just as the broadcast industry
teaches people to speak with a "neutral" accent because that is most
easily understood by the majority of people. 

I never try to fool anyone, though. For example, there's the absolutely
"dead" giveaway when I send a long dash for a zero - old telegraph style
- something no modern "keyer" has yet included as a feature <G>

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

-----Original Message-----
... there isn't anyone else I know who would agree that they 
could not recognize a bug on the air. I am not saying it's a terrible 
thing-just that it's VERY distinctive. Good CW skills make a difference
in 
that-especially at higher CW speeds... but even then, when I've heard 
people MUCH BETTER than I am on a bug sending, I've been confident they 
were bugs. It IS (sometimes) subtle... I did have to listen on occasion
to 
be sure-but my first thought-even in those cases-was: ,,