Comments inserted
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Caveat Lector (Reader Beware)

"clvrmnky" wrote in message
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On 02/02/2005 11:13 AM, Caveat Lector wrote:
Ah of course " A straight key does not need a keyer. Paddles do."

Sorry over looked that question


Right, thanks. This is what I thought, but needed confirmation from
someone who knows. Right now I'm at a point where I got a pretty good
handle on amateur radio in the abstract, but there are some specifics that
I've had to dig around for on the beginner pages.

I'm just thinking ahead to when I'll be starting CW training; I've read
some screeds that suggest I just start with a keyer and a paddle (of some
sort) because that is where I'll end up anyway. This seems reasonable,
even if I have a rather romantic idea of hand-made dits and dahs with a
straight key.

Many Hams have a straight key and paddles/keyer as well. It is fun to send
with a straight key, The ARRL sponsers Straight Key Night see URL:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/skn.html

Straight keys are so cheap -- see e-bay -- that you might start there and
get the paddle later.

It is a cheap alternative, though, and I'm thinking that learning good
(enough) rhythm and timing will serve me well in the future. On the other
hand, I'm a musician and computer programmer and appreciate how proper
equipment can minimize terrible damage to nerves and joints.

If only for this reason I'm leaning toward a single-lever paddle. The
minimal side-to-side motion /seems/ healthier, and I'm not sure I "get"
the iambic squeeze method. Hearing it described makes my thumb joint
hurt. I guess the notion is you can use double-lever paddle like a single
until you want to introduce the squeeze method. Like I said: only
thinking about the future.

IAMBIC keying is used by many -- see URL for details
http://home.att.net/~jacksonharbor/modeab.pdf

AND
http://www.morsecode.dutch.nl/iambic.PDF

I know this makes me sounds like a complete newbie and everyone has heard
this all before. Please forgive my mutterings. In my defence, I'm quite
excited about amateur radio, like I was when I was 10 years old. My SO
doesn't really understand why I'm doing this. I don't talk on the phone
very much, or use the internet to "chat" at all. She's puzzled why I'd
want to be a "ham" and talk to strangers in even stranger code.

It is an exciting hobby -- one can get into emergency service, work
satellites, try the digital modes like PSK31, talk with Hams world wide,
build and experiment, and much more.


She has a point, I guess. Perhaps that's a subject for a future posting.
Thanks for listening.
--
Clever "I won't sign my postings '73' until I get my callsign" Monkey

Perfectly OK to use 73 (Best Regards) might as well learn the linngo now.

Good Luck