[Elecraft] Ultimatic keying

[Erik Basilier]

To elaborate a little bit further:

1.  For those of us that lack iambic skills, there are rational reasons for
us to use dual paddles, although simple-minded logic would suggest that we
stick with single paddles. Not only is the paddle travel excessive when
moving a single paddle from dot to dash, but there is also the annoying
detent in the middle.

2.  Given that the non-iambic operator uses dual paddles, the dual paddles
open up ways to screw up that don't exist with a single paddle. Ultimatic is
clearly designed to mitigate the risk of such mishaps. That is not to say
that Ultimatic is the only possible logic that meets that goal, but it is at
least established.

3.  How many operators can truly say that they make use of iambic features?
Could a poll be conducted? I think to learn iambic, one would have to start
using it at very slow speeds to begin with, and unless one did this at the
start of one's ham career, who goes back to slow speeds just to learn
iambic? Silent majority?

 

73,

Erik K7TV

 

>Me too!

 

Gary KJ7RT

 

Sent from my iPad

 

On Aug 12, 2012, at 10:55, "Erik Basilier" <ebasilier at cox.net> wrote:

 

> I too support the request to add Ultimatic to Elecraft rigs. I don't 

> have the fine motor control of my fingers required to make use of 

> iambic features. I treat the dual paddles the same as a single paddle 

> for the most part. However, the dual paddle feels better than a single 

> paddle, probably because pressing one of the paddles gets a result 

> after a movement of one gap space, while a single paddle means the 

> paddle travels two gap spacings within a character. Given my way of 

> using dual paddles, the keyer logic just needs to be as forgiving as 

> possible in handling the inconsistencies in my finger motions. Years 

> ago when I built the external keyer with Ultimatic mode, I tried it 

> and felt that it made my keying more consistent. At this time I have 

> almost zero time for ham radio, and haven't plugged in the external 

> keyer after returning from FD. When I get time, I should test my 

> maximum sending speed with vs without Ultimatic. I do know that just 

> using the K3's keyer, I start making excessive errors if I try to send
faster than about 25 wpm. Perhaps Ultimatic will let me go faster.

>