[Elecraft] FD wipe-out-need advice on the Iambic key

[Bill Coleman]

On Jun 28, 2006, at 3:05 PM, William Moore wrote:

> It was now time to prepare for
> FD. I got my code speed up to 100% at 10 wpm with W1AW sessions  
> but, alas,
> after what seemed like hundreds of QSO's with the K2 in the tESt  
> mode, I
> just could not develop any consistent skill using my Bencher BY-2   
> Iambic
> paddles. No problem though. Instead, I dusted off my very old and well
> pitted, (by keying the voracious cathodes of the 807's at 500  
> volts) Lionel
> J-38 key and polished up my rusty fist instead.

10 wpm isn't terribly fast for Field Day. Typical speed is closer to  
15-30 wpm. Normally I would have been at about 26 wpm, but a problem  
with the Field Day laptop computers forced me to rely on the K2's  
built-in memory keyer. I can only key about 22 wpm on the paddles  
with any accuracy.

Frankly, if you are just going to do 10 wpm, stick with a straight  
key. Paddles don't really come into play until you get up to about 15  
wpm or faster.

Being slow speed isn't a disqualifier, though. You can do a number of  
things to help your case. First, pick a spot and call CQ at a speed  
you are comfortable. People should answer you at or about your  
calling speed.

Another thing is to stick higher in the band. Speeds tend to be a bit  
slower near the top of the CW band than they are lower.

A final thing you can do is to find someone calling CQ who is going  
just a bit too fast. After a few cycles, you should be able to piece  
together his call and exchange. Then give him a call.

Keep at it, and your code speed should improve. I've been working on  
my for the last 10 years, and my speed is 30 wpm now.

> I realized how true it is that a radio is only as good as
> the operator in front of it.

True of ANY radio.

> Questions include:
>
> 1.  Iambic A or Iambic B?

Personal preference. However, if you learn on one, you'll be unable  
to use the other. I prefer Iambic B.

> 2.  Proper contact spacing on the paddles?

Close. It should take a light but definite touch to close the contacts.

> 3.  Paddles n or Paddles r? I am right handed.

n

> 4.  How to best learn the art of Iambic keying. For instance start  
> at 20 wpm
> and work down or 10 wpm and 	work up?

Start at 15 wpm and work up. Send over and over again. Grab a  
magazine and send a paragraph.

> 5.  Slap or caress the paddles?

I tend to slap a bit, but most good CW ops I know use a gentler  
touch. You can't get too frantic with the Bencher, or it will fly  
apart. (I use a set of ancient Ham-Key paddles, which are pretty  
crude by the high-priced paddle standards)

> 6.  Is it just a matter of practice, practice and more practice?  
> Kind of
> like soldering

yes.

> 7.  A reality check, maybe I am just too far gone to learn this  
> skill. But,
> at one time,  I did have a pretty good fist 	on  the J-38.

A good fist with a straight key is nothing to be ashamed of. My  
brother NJ8J still does CW with a straight key, even thought I built  
him an electronic keyer and bought him paddles 25 years ago.

> So, I have returned to W1AW code practice sessions. I will take the  
> K2 out
> of tESt (except on SKN New Years Eve), when I can once again copy  
> up to
> 15-20 wpm and hopefully transmitting with some vestige of skill  
> using Iambic
> keying.

Best advice I was ever given was by the late W4AN. He said that the  
best way to improve your CW speed is to get on the air and make  
contacts every day. It took me years before I heeded that advice, and  
I still don't make one every day.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901