[Elecraft] Yahoo-o-o-o-o !!

Mon Apr 2 15:18:48 EDT 2007

I will take issue that using a bug or keyer is "cheating".  I can copy 
CW at 30 wpm but there is no way that I can send that fast using a 
straight key, nor can any other ham that I know.  There are multiple CW 
sending skills that include straight key, bug, single and dual lever 
paddles, and touch keys.  Each has its place and I like to be good at 
all of them through practice.  As for high speed CW, it's not a matter 
of "razzle and dazzle" bur rather (for me) being the best one can be.  A 
good CW QSO at 15 wpm is a pleasure, indeed. But, I prefer a much faster 
CW QSO.   I cannot help but admire Theodore Roosevelt McElroy and his 
ability to copy CW at 77 WPM.  See: 
http://www.telegraph-office.com/pages/mcelroy.html  This was an amazing 
accomplishment as were his famous McElroy speed keys (bugs).  I would 
hardly call McElroy's using his keys as "cheating".

Jozef Hand-Boniakowski WB2MIC
Wells VT

Brett gazdzinski wrote:
>  
> I never used a paddle or keyer, but have had hundreds of long QSO's 
> in the past, like 20 years ago.
>
> Like everyone else, I think my sending sounds super....
>
> I know what good CW sounds like, and there is a lot of very
> poor stuff on the air, last night I heard someone who
> always sent an extra dot on the letters S and H...
>
> I have most problems coping when people do not separate the letters
> but drool them all together.
>
> I like a straight key, never used any sort of bug or keyer, and kind
> of think that's cheating, I am not after DX nor will I be 
> entering any contests, and don't want to dazzle anyone with 
> my 95 wpm CW, I think you can do it with computers now, cant you?
> My old VIC 20 with the AIR1 card did that I think.
> (remember THEM?)
>
> I will try cleaning my old key up, its been sitting for about 20
> years, and don't think it was ever very quality...
>
> Brett
> N2DTS
>
>
>
>
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tom Hammond [mailto:n0ss at earthlink.net] 
>> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 1:25 PM
>> To: Brett gazdzinski
>> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Yahoo-o-o-o-o !!
>>
>> Hi Brett:
>>
>>     
>>> Can anyone recommend a good basic key?
>>> I have an old radio shack brass but the contacts
>>> are shot I think, it acts a bit funky sometimes.
>>>       
>> Are you looking for a STRAIGHT KEY, or a PADDLE?
>>
>> If you plan to actually WORK CW and to improve your CW proficiency, 
>> I'd not recommend that you invest too heavily in a straight key, but 
>> something in the <$20 range might work well... UNLESS you fully 
>> intend to NOT graduate up to using a keyer once you hit your limit of 
>> sending speed with straight hand-sent CW. Most folks can send decent 
>> straight-key-sent CW up to about 20-23 WPM, but then the arm/wrist 
>> goes and quality begins to suffer... as does the body... and the ears 
>> of the op on the other end.
>>
>> If you intend up eventually switch to a keyer, then decide how much 
>> you're willing to invest in a straight key... how long you plan to 
>> use it... and whether the investment is well-amortized over the 
>> length of time you'll use it.
>>
>> Paddles are available for $20 on up. I'm not certain they get 
>> terribly much BETTER with a significant increase in price... probably 
>> a bit better, however. It'll be up to you to decide what 
>> it'll be worth to you.
>>
>> Morse Express ( http://www.morsex.com/  )offers a fairly wide range 
>> of STRAIGHT KEYS/BUG/PADDLES in an even wider range of prices.
>>
>> Of course, there are always all sorts of keys/paddles available on 
>> the EHAM.COM FOR SALE site and in EBAY.
>>
>> Regarding your R/S brass straight key:
>>
>>   1) Be sure that the bearings are properly seated and 'snugged'
>>      down to the point that they make good electrical contact but
>>      NOT so tight that the armature doesn't work smoothly!
>>
>>   2) Use a DOLLAR BILL between the contacts to clean them!!!
>>
>>      NEVER use anything which is abrasive!!! PERIOD!!! If the
>>      contacts happen to be silver/ or gold plated, you'll succeed
>>      in removing all traces of the plating with the 1st or 2nd
>>      swipe!
>>
>>      A U.S. DOLLAR BILL has high rag content and does a wonderful
>>      job of removing oxidation without removing plating (if any
>>      exists).
>>
>>   3) TIGHTEN all electrical connection hardware (exc. the bearings).
>>
>>   4) Set the spring tension such that there is enough resistance to
>>      your presses that you can feel the resistance. You should NOT
>>      have to 'work' to close the contacts, but they should offer
>>      some resistance
>>
>>   5) Set the contact spacing such that you get a bit of both tactile
>>      AND audible feedback when you're sending. The thickness of a
>>      business card is a good starting point for setting beginning
>>      contact spacing.
>>
>>   6) PRACTICE A LOT
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Tom Hammond    N0SS
>>
>>     
>
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