[Elecraft] Slow CW (WAS: VP6DX scraping the bottom)

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I find it easiest to run slow on a good ol' straight key, but then I learned
on a straight key and used one for  a year after getting on the air (before
starting to learn a state-of-the-art Bug)). 

When I send with a straight key I tap my foot for pacing at slow speeds: 3
for a dash, 2 for a dot, 1 for inter-element spacing, 2 for inter-character
spaces, etc. It became so ingrained that on a few occasions I've stumbled
when trying to send when my foot wasn't free to tap! 

I can do it with paddles, but it's harder and I end up doing a Farnsworth
imitation with exaggerated letter spaces. Of course the keyer sets the
lengths of the dashes, dots and inter-element spaces for me. 

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of thomaskd at rcn.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 4:18 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] VP6DX scraping the bottom


Kevin makes a good point...it can be tough to slow down with paddles.  I am
NO expert on the topic but am finally getting up to 20wpm copy and sending.
However, I would like to slow down and work other people coming along.  That
was me just a short time ago.

Is it easier to go slow on a straight key or does that hurt your rhythm?  I
assume you want to develop a smooth rhythm with a straight key like you do
with paddes.  The reason I am asking is I have a Navy Flameproof key here
that I want to learn to use.  Is slow QSO's the best way to do that? Maybe I
can learn to use the straight key and help others at the same time.

73 de Keith KB3ILS _______________________________________________
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