[Fists] Re: More questions on sending.

[kiyoinc at attglobal.net]

  "Fred Adsit" <ny2v at twcny.rr.com> wrote:

> 
> Not a simple subject. Has been subject to considerable discussion over the 
> years, on the Web. Here is one site. www.morsex.com/pubs/iambicmyth.pdf . 
> Here is another. www.morsecode.nl/iambic.PDF .

Well, I read both sites.  I'm pretty sure I don't "count" the dits and 
am going by the sound.

I'm afraid of developing bad sending habits, that is, after I get over 
the inability to send.

I've seen people at Hamfests slapping bugs in a frenzy.  I'm sure that's 
the wrong way to use a bug but they can send much better than I can, so 
who am I to say they are wrong.

I used a straight key for half my Novice career, switched to a Vibroplex 
and was operating at about 15 WPM when I built my first keyer.  This was 
the non-IAMBIC Handbook vacuum tube keyer.

Turned out that I was sending CQ as dahdidahdit  dahdahdidaaaaaah.
which the keyer rendered as dahdidahdit  dahdahdidahdah.

A few years later, I built the WB4VVF accukeyer but I had stopped 
operating. (1970's, work, women, apartment life, you know the story.)

Since I've never really learned to use the IAMBIC keyer, this is my 
chance to learn to do it right.   I'm guessing that the key should be 
adjusted so that a small, crisp movement closes the contacts.  There 
should be some resistance but not much, just enough for a little tactile 
feedback.

Which raises another point, what about those electronic touch 'n go 
switches?  How can you send with those if there is no paddle movement or 
feedback?

I think it's fingers just touching the paddles, a combination of a 
squeeze motion and rocking the wrist from side to side.

when I try that, my thumb lags on the paddle and "A" becomes "R".

If I slap the dit and squeeze-release the dah, "A" is "A" but it seems 
like I'm learning bad technique.

Do I just keep practicing the squeeze and roll?

de ah6gi/4