[Elecraft] Slow code, etc

[Mark Schreiner]

I operated SSB and CW about 50/50 in Field Day this year.  Logging 
program was v9.x of CT, however I normally use N1MM Logger.  Other than 
not being familiar with some of the commands and some of the nice things 
I'm used to with N1MM Logger, CT, although quite basic (this was the DOS 
version, not sure if there is a Windoze version of CT), seemed to work 
okay.  When I took over the controls I noticed the  previous operator 
had labels on the keyboard to make things very well understood what each 
function key would do (although I still didn't know how to go back and 
edit a QSO if necessary, but normal operating was easy).  They also had 
Bencher paddles and an MFJ memory keyer connected in parallel with the 
serial (or LPT) port keying to the K2.  I could easily slow down from 
the initial 24 WPM using Alt-F9 or speed up a bit for some faster ops 
using Alt-F10, but I think only once I heard a station that I needed to 
slow down to about 16 WPM, I generally ran at a nice comfortable 20 WPM, 
sometimes 22.  It seemed most operators that came back to my CQ matched 
my speed pretty well.  When I was searching & pouncing I noticed most 
operators were within a few WPM of about 22 WPM fairly consistently, 
with a couple running probably around 30 WPM.  I did find it easy & 
quick to adjust the WPM using ALT-F9/F10.

However, I found it much harder to adjust things due to my unfamiliarity 
of the MFJ keyer.  There was a speed knob on it but it didn't seem to 
have any affect.  I forget the model number/name of the keyer, but it 
has a matrix of functions, selecting maybe 4 or 5 levels down and I 
think 5 across for various functions.  I found I couldn't send at all 
(even though the first thing I sent initially was TEST de W3GS and was 
able to send that okay), but trying to send things "iambically" didn't 
work, such as "CQ".  I guess the previous operator preferred a single 
lever paddle, even though it was his Bencher paddles.  Once I turned 
Iambic "ON" and then set it for either type A or B, I forget which, but 
it is the one I'm used to and the one that works for me, I was in 
business, but I still don't know why there is a speed knob on the keyer 
that didn't seem to work at all, and at 2 AM I wasn't about to fuddle 
through other menus on the front panel to try to set the speed when the 
knob should just work.

I had fun anyway, though and hope to do more CW in FD next year.  This 
past year of operating almost exclusively CW brought back the code to 
nearly the proficiency I once had in my "youth" as a teenager and 
20-something.  Now, almost double that age & too many distractions in 
life I'm happy to plod along anywhere from 16 to 25 WPM.

ARDUJENSKI at aol.com wrote:
> I remember reading the results of a poll on K3WWP's website that indicated  
> about 1/3 of cw folks used keyboards. I wonder if during contests if you may  
> have a higher percentage on keyboard making it a bit more difficult to slow 
> down  (change settings) for the slower operators?
>  
> I sort of like my CW drawl and probably won't change much in the next few  
> years.  But are many of you changing to keyboards?  
>
> Alan  KB7MBI
> Woodinville, WA
>
>
>
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