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

[Mike Markowski]

Hi Bill,

First, don't give up!  I'd try using a combination of approaches: copy
some W1AW, copy some qsos, practice off-air at your highest sending (not
copying) speed, and of course have qsos at comfortable, but too
comfortable, speeds.

William Moore wrote:
> 1.  Iambic A or Iambic B?

A sends exactly your paddle presses.
B adds an extra iambic (adds a dit to a dah, or dah to a dit) to your
final press.

I think it comes down to what you've learned.  Last year I liked B best,
but as my speed has increased I now prefer A.

> 2.  Proper contact spacing on the paddles?

Personal preference probably, but I like mine as close as possible so I
barely have to touch the paddles.

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

Most likely 'n' so that your thumb sends dits and finger sends dahs.

> 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?
> 5.  Slap or caress the paddles?
> 6.  Is it just a matter of practice, practice and more practice? Kind of
> like soldering

For all the above, go to http://www.k7qo.net/ and under the section "Ham
Radio Articles" read the article "Sending Morse".  It's extremely helpful.

> 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.
> ..............And any other tid-bits of advice

It might be me, but relaxation is helpful.  When I'm in the state of
mind where I almost don't care whether I copy correctly...that's when I
copy best!

GL & 73,
Mike  ab3ap