[Elecraft] OT - Twin paddle key and getting up to speed

Tue Mar 11 02:17:00 2003

If it's worth asking on the reflector, it's worth answering on the
reflector to keep all the "Hey!!! I want to know too" questions down. I
find that we save bandwidth by replying ON the reflector...

I am by no means a "high speed" CW expert. I hold a 35 wpm certificate
earned many years ago and a commercial Radiotelegraph license. But I
always "copy in my head" by word and, if the word is unfamiliar, by
character. I do a LOT of rag chewing and I'm almost always puttering in
the shop during the rag chew while copying "solid" in my head. Once in a
while I make a note. But finding the scrap of paper or bit of wood I
wrote it on can be a challenge later. 

How I transitioned from writing every word, character-to-character to
making an occasional note was by doing it slowly. Everything is, IMX,
best done in a slow, easy transition, and this is no exception. Starting
with the standard "RST/QTH/Name/Rig/Ant/Power" QSO's, just wait to write
down the important parts... the numbers of the RST, not "R-S-T". The
name of the op, not the "Name hr is..." and so forth. Pretty soon you'll
learn to "read" the cw in your head that way. You might still be
"reading" each character and forming words, but I found long ago that
blurs into hearing "words"  most of the time. And as that happens you
will naturally not be "looking up" each character as you hear it:
dit-dit-dit-dah will become as much a "V" as this written character. 

For me, the BEST way to learn is to PLAY, and I heartily recommend it to
others. Play at copying... and if you miss something tell the other op
that you were practicing and missed something. 

Just remember, at a party when we listen to someone saying something we
don't say "WHAT? I missed that word???" unless it was crucial to the
point. 90% of language is redundant, and if you miss a word here and
there you still get the "sense" of it. So don't worry about every
character and letter and word in CW. Just worry about the "sense" of
what's being said with the critical numbers and pretty soon that's what
you will be hearing. 

BTW... when sending info, critical stuff like a proper name (e.g. Forest
Grove) or my power (e.g. 100 watts) is ALWAYS repeated to be polite to
the other op who may be drilling a hole or scratching the dog while
copying me...

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Gropper An
"Off Topic" question... sort of out of my EQP experience.. When trying
to get used to a twin paddle (Iambic) key and, at the same time, trying
to improve ones code capability - is it best to use wide spacing or
narrow. I learnt code in the UK ~40 years ago by the "count the dits and
dahs and look up the table in your head" method.. So how do I transition
to copying words in my head??

Please reply off-list to keep the bandwidth down..
Thanks for the time

Dave KK7SS
K2 #3003