[Elecraft] [K3] CW feature: Swing?

[David Yarnes]

Ron and All,

Ron, you must be from south Louisiana!  Hard to get that 
zydeco (spelling?) rhythm out of your soul!  Hi.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <ron at cobi.biz>
To: "'[Elecraft]'" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:20 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] [K3] CW feature: Swing?


You'll find lots of support too, Bill. Just not so vocal 
here, I guess.

A long time ago I suggested a "bug mode" in the Elecraft 
keyers. That would
provide automatic dits like a bug but manual dashes: as long 
as the dash
paddle was closed the rig would be keyed. I wanted it not so 
much to alter
the timing (although I use the telegraph long dash for a 
zero which can't be
done correctly on a keyer) but I find my bug timing suffers 
if I use a
keyer. I quickly "forget" how to time CW properly if the 
keyer does it for
me.

Actually, that can be achieved on the K2 with some diodes to 
fool the keyer
into thinking a straight key is connected to the input when 
the dash lever
is pressed. But I was looking for a method that didn't 
involve outboard
parts.

I enjoy the sound of a straight key, either a hand pump or a 
bug. I liken a
swing to an "accent".  Sometimes a little swing provides 
character to the
sound that I find delightful to hear. But such a swing is 
not consistent,
any more than a speaker with an accent pronounces a syllable 
consistently in
every word.

Just tuning across the bands, I have noticed that the most 
pleasant sounding
(to me) fists usually turn out to be bugs or straight keys.

But there are many Hams who have a very difficult time 
copying CW that isn't
"machine perfect". For them, any swing or variation in 
timing seems to be
frustrating beyond words. I'm sure there are many who are 
unhappy with my
"fist".

We Hams are a disparate bunch. Let the good times roll...

Ron AC7AC



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill 
W5WVO
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 8:19 AM
To: [Elecraft]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] CW feature: Swing?


Well, lots of replies, both public and private. By 
overwhelming
preponderance, the opinion of the Elecraft community is...

AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! (retch, heave)

Just forget I brought it, please...  ;-)

Bill W5WVO

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com