[Elecraft] Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth

[Darwin, Keith]

I said:
>> 2.  Timing - The timing needed to insert elements can be very tight.

Bill replied:
> Which is why QRQ (60+ WPM) folks who win HST Championships don't use
it.  It is also why anyone
> with less than perfect hand coordination, due to age, palsy or
whatever will have difficulty using it.


Yes, the timing makes high speed iambic is unworkable.  But that is AT
HIGH SPEED.  At normal speeds, (setting coordination issues aside) the
timing is very manageable.  


I said:
>> The efficiency of the iambic method is no myth.  Whether it is worth
learning depends entirely
>> on how able or motivated you are to learn something new.

Bill replied:
> Theoretically you are correct, but practically you are wrong.  I
assure you that true competitors
> in any endeavor would die for a 5% advantage, and yet HST winners
don't use iambic.
> Any theoretical advantage of iambic is lost when your hand cannot meet
its exact timing requirements.


Well, no, I'm not wrong practically.  HST folks are interested in speed,
not efficiency.  All their choice tells me is that iambic is not the
thing to pick for HST.  What they drive in the Indy 500 is not what I
drive to work.  Different conditions require different solutions.

So what we've established is that Iambic:
  - Doesn't work for high speed (> 50 wpm?).
  - May be tough for people with coordination limitations.
  - May be tough for some people to learn.
  - Is noticeably more efficient than any method excluding computers.

I'm still wondering where the myth is.

I'll not post again on the topic as I've drug it rather far OT.

Good discussion Bill.  Tnx & 73!

- Keith N1AS -
- k2 5411.ssb.100 -