Greetings,

Just a short query about CW and keys/keyers which I can't seem to figure
out from my web searches these last few days. I'm about to take my
Basic Exam (Canada) and will eventually try my hand at getting Morse
Code Qualification at 5 WPM. I expect I'll want to learn Morse even if
Industry Canada and the ITU decide to relax this restriction. I've
wanted to do this since I was a kid, so I decided to go for it. I knew
all that basic electronics and high-school physics would come in handy
one day.

Since I'm a little unclear on the nomenclature (and trying to
re-remember all those acronyms) and how amateur radio and CW has changed
since I was a kid, I'm a little fuzzy on the best way to approach
physically keying Morse Code.

Specifically, there are a lot more choices of how to go about actually
making those dits and dahs now, and there seems to be as many opinions
on the "best" way to do things.

As a raw beginner who has no intentions of being a speed demon, is a
plain ol' straight key good enough? Does it make any sense to learn on
a single or "iambic" paddle even for 5-10 WPM use?

Based on my research, it appears that to actually send/recv CW, one must
have (or it helps to have?) a transceiver that has a CW "mode." Is my
assumption correct? I'm not entirely clear on why CW would be a mode
(i.e., it is often listed in specs along with SSB), other than a pretty
good understanding for how signals can be modulated.

Finally, if I do get a starter transceiver, I either have to have one
with a built-in keyer, or supply a keyer myself. True?

I understand the limitations my Basic qualifications would have. I'm
just thinking into the future, and planning on getting a transceiver
that goes down into the 6 (and possible 2) metre bands. As I gain
experience and qualification, I can introduce myself to the HF bands.

Thanks for listening.
--
clvrmnky

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