[Elecraft] How "clean" is a clean signal?

[bill linn]

Ron, you sure make a good point concerning this thread.   Great to look in
that direction.   In these days it is difficult to discern the "personality"
associated with CW signals.

I look forward to SKN each year simply because of all the unique sounding CW
signals present!   It seems reminiscent of the days prior to proliferation
of keyers and solid state gear, when, many times, you could tell who the
operator was before hearing the call sign.

However, I never did enjoy or appreciate those signals with clicks that
could be detected from one end of the band to the other.   Occasionally we
still hear those signals.   There is a station in Idaho Falls that operates
a home brew tube rig with clicks covering a large portion of 40 meters.    I
can tell immediately when he is on the air.  :)

But, haven't yet heard a K2 with bad keying!