[Elecraft] Hearing CW - Fundamental Keying Waveform?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Y'know what catches my ear, especially when a signal is very weak: chirp! A
little chirp stands out like nothing else to my hearing. And it's usually an
interesting rig at the other end <G>. 

Any detectable chirp seems to drive some of today's ARRL "Official
Observers" into near apoplexy but I enjoy hearing it! 

Y'know there was actually a time when a fellow could tune across a band,
especially 80 or 40, and immediately recognize various stations by the
keying characteristic of their rig and their fists on a mechanical key.
Different stations had distinctively different voices. By comparison,
listening on the ham bands today is rather like attending a party where
everyone speaks with an identical artificial computer-produced "voice" <G> 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:32 PM
To: va7to at rac.ca; Elecraft List
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Hearing CW - Fundamental Keying Waveform?


Darrell,

That has ben dropped from the more recent handbook (does not appear in my
2005 edition). I am going 'out on a limb' here by saying that this stems
from the concept that 'some keyclicks are good' philosophy.  Sidebands on a
CW signal are the result of the keying shape, and there is more to it than
just the rise and fall times - there is the rounding at the corners to
consider too.

I have heard many an operator state that 'hard keying' will get you through
a pile-up better.  While that may be true, it certainly is not 'neighborly'.

I am glad to see that this statement does not appear in the more recent
handbooks.

73,
Don W3FPR