[Elecraft] Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth

[Bill Tippett]

N1AS:

 >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 agree with all your comments Keith.  I think
the "myth" is that somehow iambic is "better".  It is
*not* for the first 3 reasons in your list, and it's only
4-6% more efficient when sending normal English text
(i.e. not the ~11% when sending random code groups).
4-6% is not "noticeably more efficient" in my opinion.
The marginal increase in efficiency is outweighed by the
disadvantages cited above.

         If I were learning code today, I might suggest
bypassing a key completely and learning touch-typing.
You can send code more efficiently and faster, and small
keyboards will directly interface to rigs like the K3.
But for pure fun, portable operation, etc, I will always
prefer a paddle until age takes its toll on my hand
coordination.

         About that other myth that "you can send twice as
fast as you can copy"...  That only applies to beginners
and is probably no longer true at speeds >20 WPM (i.e.
sending code at >40 WPM becomes much more difficult than
copying at >20 WPM because of mechanical limitations in
hand versus none in your brain...assuming you can copy
in your head.

         Good discussion and I'll now QRT also!

                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV