[Fists] Re: More questions on sending.

[Fred Adsit]

I can only relate my own situation.  I slap the daylights out of a bug, and 
it works swell that way, and I really don't worry about having a 
recognizable fist. I see a bug as a device with which I can express a bit of 
personality.

HOWEVER, switching between it and a set of paddles is very difficult for me. 
I mess up just as you do. I have never sent iambically, having developed 
habits over more than half a century that seem too ingrained at this point. 
One of the articles I suggested drew the (controversial perhaps) conclusion 
that there is little to be gained from iambic sending. I agree on a 
scientific basis, and I like the way it comes out because I don't keep 
kicking myself for not having the gumption to relearn how to send using an 
electronic keyer. Oh... yes... I keep my paddle, a single lever Kent so 
iambic sending is not possible anyway.. very tightly adjusted. The movement 
is imperceptable. And I use a very light touch.. much like using a 
touch-keyer itself. It works for me.

So, I recommend ditching the bug for now and concentrating on sending with 
those paddles, however you choose to do that. You are well aware of what 
bugs you , no pun intended. You will never forget how to send with the bug, 
so don't concern yourself with that. I am confident that almost all CW ops 
will admit that their sending is always an adventure fraught with some 
errors. Don't be ashamed if you make an error. Send 8 dits and correct the 
error, and move on. From what I can tell from reading your posts, I see you 
as a potentially EXCELLENT CW op.. not bad at all right here and now. If I 
ever get my rig on the air at this difficult QTH, I'd like to spend some 
time conversing with you ... on CW, of course.  :-)

73 - Fred NY2V FISTS #1293


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kiyoinc at attglobal.net>
To: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 7:24 PM
Subject: [Fists] Re: More questions on sending.


>  "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