[Elecraft] Getting Started With CW

[Fred Jensen]

This is more common than one might think, but only for left-handers it 
seems.  I'm left-handed and my Elmer, W6RMK, was too.  He taught me to 
send with my right hand so I could write legibly in my log.  In those 
days, you logged every transmission, whether or not it resulted in a QSO.

A number of years ago, we had a little survey on this list.  A total of 
137 responded, about 22% south paws.  A little more than 50% of those 
learned to send/paddle right.  0% of the north paws sent/paddled left. 
 From this and answers to some of the other questions in the survey, it 
appears that most right-handers are *really* right-handed [some even 
said so].  Left-handers seem to be somewhat more flexible, maybe because 
we live in a right-handed world.

I currently have a second paddle set up left on the WinKey-USB to the 
left of the laptop which I've started using left-handed in casual QSO's 
since it's more natural for me and I no longer have to write in my 
logbook.  I still contest with the paddle on the right since I can type 
faster with my left hand.

I'm not hearing all the poor CW others are talking about.  In CQ WW CW, 
I made a note of two: one had the weight set very high and his dots 
resembled his dashes.  Theotheroneforgottherearespacesbetweenwords. 
Quite a few of the Summits On The Air crowd are learning CW and, while 
they may make a few more mistakes, there is nothing wrong with their 
sending.  The majority of those ops are using embedded keyers in their rigs.

In the end, do what works best for you.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org



On 12/1/2014 11:14 AM, Bob wrote:

> At 13 in 1956 I signed up for a Novice class at the local radio club,
> Nutley Amateur Radio Society (Nutley, NJ).  When it came time to learn
> the basics of sending the instructor, W2TJD (SK) made us try to send
> with the "wrong" hand since we were learning anyway. I'm a lefty so
> tried right handed.