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

[Wallace, Andy]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron D'Eau Claire [mailto:rondec@easystreet.com]
> 
> 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. 

Excellent suggestions, Ron.

Another thing that helps is if you get into the habit of not
using obscure abbreviations. It builds a lot more confidence
if you can copy the whole word and not scratch your head thinking
about what a "wdm" antenna is, and miss the next word because of
it. 

When having a CW QSO, try to make it interesting for the other
ham. Avoid sending "FB ON UR KNWD ES 100' LONGWIRE IN ARKHAM,
MASSACHUSETTS FB ON UR TEMP 34 DEG KELVIN" etc. It gets boring
quickly if people just repeat what's been said before. Ask
questions...talk about a hobby other than ham radio, etc. 

For learning to send well, take it slow. Put the rig into test mode
or a dummy load and practice off the air to build your confidence.
When I first used an iambic paddle, I had to really stop and 
take care of the squeeze sequence so the characters came out right.

Nowadays, I still have iambic paddles around but I've decided that
I'm a bug user who likes single paddles better, and so I just slap
back and forth as if the dual paddle was a single paddle. Frankly,
for ME, it seems to be less effort; iambic uses fewer motions but
it's really more than the single paddle left-or-right binary system:
iambic is left; right; left-before-right; right-before left; etc,
and you have to pay attention to the release timing also! Again,
I don't intend to trash dual paddle usage - for me, a single paddle
is just easier.

Wide spacing -- dot pitch, if you mean it that way -- will help you
hear the characters, but as soon as possible try to listen for the
sounds, not count dots and dashes. 

Good luck! Have lots of fun and don't be afraid to ask for QRS
on the air. 

Andy