CW Speed (RE: [Elecraft] QSK Redux)

[Bill Coleman]

On May 14, 2006, at 10:38 PM, Dale Putnam wrote:

> This brings to the forefront, the question of what is the bandwidth  
> of a cw signal, that is keyed at 35 wpm, and one that is keyed at  
> 99 wpm??
Good question.

While the signaling rate of a CW signal does have an affect on  
bandwidth, the majority of the wideband products come from the rapid  
rise and fall times of the signal envelope. (that's why key clicks  
are heard so far away from the operating frequency) Don't expect a 99  
wpm signal to be much wider than 35 wpm.

That said, no one can copy a 99 wpm CW signal. The top QRQ guys are  
around 60 wpm.
>   With the regulation by bandwidth, does this now put a speed limit  
> on cw?

Potentially, but that limit is so high as to be practically no limit.



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