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

Tue Mar 11 18:25:00 2003

Gosh, maybe some of the "paddle-patters" (or is it "paddle-pumpers"?)
here can suggest a site. 

Like a lot of OT bug users (I bet) I used my Iambic keyer like a bug at
first, struggling to let it make the dashes instead of banging on the
dash paddle constantly. Then, when I finally learned to "lead" the
paddles slightly so it could insert the proper spaces between the dit's
and the dah's, I could experiment by squeezing for a "C" instead of
wobbling between the two paddles or tapping the dit paddle during the
second dash to make a "Q". I think the first thing that I learned to
send in Iambic mode was "CQ", Hi!

Once I learned it, it's like riding a bicycle. That was 25 years ago so
I can't say now exactly how long it took me. Nowadays, if I go back to
paddles in a very few minutes I'm back to squeezing and tapping. That's
why I cannot switch between paddles and a bug. I instantly forget to
make dashes myself and my spacing "goes to pot" as I expect the keyer to
do it for me. It takes days to get my fist back after a few hours on a
keyer.... And there may be some who say that I NEVER got it back, Hi! 

Your question is a good one, and I wonder how it works for others who
also "cut their teeth" on bugs

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Leonard, David
Hey Ron:
...Do you have any words of wisdom for us older OPs that are trying to
get back into CW after having learned on a "Bug"?

I know practice makes perfect but I must be doing something wrong on
this twin paddle stuff.

I don't seem to be able to get a good feel for the iambic "method".

I am trying to learn on the Palm mini Paddles (it seems to be a great
set of paddles).

Is there any site that goes into the set-up of and learning how to
operate a twin paddle keyer?

73 Dave WB9SOG #3231