[Elecraft] vibroplex bug

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Don't feel bad Fred. It's such a problem for me I avoid keyers now. I
considered Arnie's option because, being nominally a "leftie" as a child I
learned the straight key left handed then learned the bug right handed
(ambidextrousness is a bonus at times). I never had any confusion with
"muscle memory" between the two types of keys that way.  

I learned a keyer right handed too, and had grown quite proficient using
Iambic or "squeeze" keying and loved it, but those darn bug paddles don't do
anything useful when you squeeze them. 

When I do use a keyer these days (e.g. my KX1 in the field) I use it like a
'bug', tapping the dash lever for each dash, etc. Not an ideal solution, but
it helps avoid my reverting to keyer muscle memory and 'forgetting' how to
use a bug again. For me, that happens very quickly. If I let myself, it only
takes a few minutes to be whizzing along with an Iambic keyer again, then it
takes hours to regain some semblance of decent timing on the bug. That's not
too surprising. A keyer requires but the most rudimentary sort of timing
compared to a bug. That's one of the keyer's attractive features. 

Years ago I suggested a "bug mode" in the Elecraft keyers in which they
would simply produce the outputs a bug does: key down as along as the dash
paddle is closed and a string of dots at the speed set when the dot paddle
is closed. It never happened. I suppose there aren't enough of us
bug-oriented masochistic curmudgeons around to make it worthwhile ;-)

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----

Fred,

I had the same problem 30 yrs ago. Ended up working the keyer with my left
hand and the vibroplex with my right. Instant switching is possible without
any mistake.

Hope this helps.

73
Arie PA3A

--------------
   I try to use it on SKN, but it's a chore. Switching between a bug and

keyer is harder than one might think.

73,

Fred K6DGW