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

[Bill Tippett]

	Bill, yet another alternative to consider
if you cannot master iambic keying---exchange your
dual-paddle key for a single-paddle key (Vibroplex
Vibrokeyer, Bencher ST-1, Kent SP-1 or Begali
Simplex Mono).  They all work fine with the K2 or
any "iambic" keyer (although you are not actually
using the iambic method per se).

	I believe the supposed efficiency
advantage of iambic keying is a myth.  Someone
published an analysis of this within the past year
or two but I cannot find it at the moment.  The
most telling data for me is that the vast majority
of the sending champions at the IARU High-Speed
Telegraphy (HST) Championships use single-paddle
keys, not dual-paddle.

	The following was written by W2UP who
attended the HST Championship last year:

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I thought you guys might be interested in seeing some homebrew 
paddles I saw at the IARU HST (High Speed Telegraphy) Championship in 
Macedonia in June 2005. You may have seen my article about it in Nov 2005 QST.

http://w2up.home.mindspring.com/paddles.jpg

These are 3 of the paddles that were used by members of the Belarus 
team. It surprised me that most there used single-lever paddles. BTW, 
the white stuff is rosin - the same stuff gymnasts use to keep their 
hands from slipping.
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	I believe any efficiency advantage of
a dual-paddle key is offset by the more extreme
timing requirements to send using one.  If you
have any sort of problem with palsy or tremors
in your sending hand, you will be much better
off with a single-paddle.  And if you really want
to QRQ at >60 WPM, use the proven sending
technique that wins sending championships.

			73,  Bill  W4ZV