[Elecraft] paddle key training

[Kate Hutton]

I'm a rightie with my dits on the left.

I also don't head copy very well.

The first few times I had the opportunity to be NCS on the slow-speed net, I
could not figure out how to write* everything *down, keep the traffic list,
etc. & also put the pen down to send & then pick it back up again, etc.  A
comedy to watch, I'm sure.

Figured out I would have to 1) learn to head copy, 2) learn to write left
handed, or 3) learn to key left handed.

Finally chose to work hard on option 1, but I did practice enough with
option 3 to convince myself that it could be done, provided that I reverse
the keyer.  In other words, dits always on the thumb.  Option 2 is pretty
hopeless.

73 Kate K6HTN

On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 7:53 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire <ron at cobi.biz> wrote:

> I thought practicing timing was important when progressing from a straight
> key to a bug, but to use a keyer one only has to have timing good enough
> not
> to confuse the keyer logic.
>
> The keyer does all the critical work of inserting the proper spaces between
> code elements including, for most keyers, even enforcing the correct word
> spacing.
>
> Personally I loved Iambic keying. I never considered whether it was really
> faster or easier (I'm a rag chewer and so seldom run over 25 wpm). What I
> like about it was the smooth flow of motion to create CW. I quit using it
> because it destroyed my fist on a real bug. Muscle memory had me
> fruitlessly
> squeezing the bug paddles all the time, wondering what was wrong, Hi!
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Are you proficient with a straight key? You need to get your timing
> perfect before you "progress" to a paddle. You may not like a squeeze
> paddle. See for e.g. /Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth/ by Marshall G
> Emm, N1FN (Freely available at http://www.mtechnologies.com/. For lots
> of other resources including CW mentors see the Straight Key Century
> Club website at http://www.skccgroup.com/.
>
> GL & 73, Charles, N2SO
>
>
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