[Elecraft] K3 CW decoder and CQ CW contest

[Oliver Dröse]

I'll second that. Propoer spacing is completely independent from the key 
used, it's a matter of OP skills! I had at least 2 guys calling me last 
weekend in CQ WW using a hand-key that I simply had to send elsewhere as 
their CW was not understandable at all, completely weired spacing!

A friend of mine is just learning CW and started right away with a 
paddle. He feels much more comfortable with it after trying both, 
hand-key and paddle. Sure just a matter of personal preference.

@Tom:
Try both, hand-key and paddle and then decide for *youself* which one 
you like most. Or simply use both. ;-)

73, Olli - DH8BQA

Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de


Am 01.12.2014 08:08, schrieb Vic Rosenthal:
> I don't agree. How does a straight key help you achieve proper spacing? Some of the worst sending I've ever heard comes from straight keys. Just get a paddle and let the keyer do its job.  Your job will be to pay attention to the letter and word spacing.
> Also, as others have said, don't get an expensive paddle until you have enough experience to know what you want. The old Bencher BY1 is cheap and good.
>
> Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO
>
>> On Dec 1, 2014, at 5:51 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <lists at subich.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> A straight key ... any quality straight key.  Don't move to
>> paddles or a bug until you learn proper timing/spacing.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>    ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>>> On 2014-11-30 10:27 PM, Tom Blahovici wrote:
>>> Ok
>>> So I'm sure this is going to get a lot of opinions... What's the best key to start with?
>>> With the k3 of course.
>>>
>>>> On Nov 30, 2014 10:04 PM, Ray Sills <raysills3 at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> And, don't forget that CW is almost an international language.  Even
>>>> if you don't speak any of the many foreign languages, most DX
>>>> operators understand the characters that we use for a QSO... QTH,
>>>> name, WX, RST.  And when it's a DX station running... well, all you
>>>> get is your call and report (5nn).   Many DX operators know enough
>>>> English to do the same in voice, but not all.  CW fills in that gap.
>>>>
>>>> 73 de Ray
>>>> K2ULR
>>>> KX3 #211
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 30, 2014, at 8:08 PM, lmarion wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> If you want to work more DX than you ever thought possible:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. Learn enough CW to do basic  exchanges.
>>>>> Your speed and proficiency will increase dramatically by just doing
>>>>> it.
>>>>> 2. Get on 30 meters.  Other countries have not abandoned CW
>>>>> like the USA has. You will work DX after DX station.
>>>>>
>>>>>    You can even call CQ with QRP power and work stations worldwide.
>>>>> No need to wait for contests with their special rules and pileups.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Leroy AB7CE
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, 2014-11-30 at 18:32 -0500, Tom Blahovici wrote:
>>>>>> Hi
>>>>>> Just thought I'd drop a note about the Elecraft CW decoder. I've
>>>>>> been on the air for a number of hours hunting new DXCC's with the
>>>>>> K3's built in CW decoder. This was my first time using CW, I only
>>>>>> know the letters CQ 5NN TU and that's it! ( OK E also) Never been
>>>>>> on CW before so all DXCC's were 'new'.
>>>>>> Armed with that and a spotting program I racked up 50 new dxccs
>>>>>> from around the world. This was a new experience and introduced me
>>>>>> to CW. Now I want to learn it so the next time the contest comes
>>>>>> around I'll enjoy it that much more. Was a blast.
>>>>>> 73's Tom
>>>>>> va2fsq.com
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