Straight key speed
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully
intend to learn morse code and not at a mere 5wpm. I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw, so I'm hot on it, listening to the Koch method to learn code. I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) Any advice is appreciated. nb |
Straight key speed
On Apr 1, 8:41 pm, notbob wrote:
I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. There are lots of good straight keys out there. I've used a WW2 surplus J-37 since before I became a Novice in 1967. For my first 7 years as a ham it was the only key I had. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! I can do more than 20 wpm on one, even today. That's about top speed for most people. What a straight key did for me was to help me learn timing. When I got a bug in 1974 it was an easy transition. Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. Most people learn best using a combination of the Koch and Farnsworth methods. Koch is studying two letters until you know them 90-95%, adding a third, studying those three until you know them, adding a fourth, etc. Farnsworth is having the code sent with the characters fast but exaggerated spaces between letters so you have more reaction time - then reducing the exaggerated spaces. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? Yes. A decent straight key need not cost the earth. I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. Then you need to get really good on a straight key (IMHO) because a bug is not as forgiving as an electronic keyer. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) Yes. Speed is not the only Morse Code skill, in fact it's not even the most important. Any advice is appreciated. Here are 12 steps to learning Morse Code: 1) Realize that Morse Code is a whole set of skills and they take a while to learn. They cannot be learned by reading a book, watching a video, or participating in online forums. They can only be learned by doing. 2) Set up a place to study code. A good solid desk or table with no distractions, lots of room to write, good lighting, good chair. Source(s) of code (computer, HF receiver, tapes, etc.), key and oscillator. Headphones are a good idea. I recommend starting out with a straight key. It needs a good solid base and needs to be adjusted properly. 3) Stay away from gimmicks like CodeQuick. Stay away from printed charts with dots and dashes on them. Morse Code is sounds, not printing on a chart or little phrases. Learning to receive consists of nothing more than learning to associate a certain sound pattern with a certain letter or number. There are only about 41 of them to learn. 4) Set aside at least a half-hour EVERY DAY for code practice. Can be a couple of ten- or fifteen minute sessions, but they should add up to at least a half hour every day. That means every single day, not just weekends, holidays, etc. If you can do more than a half-hour some days, great! Do it! But more on one day does not give you an excuse for the next day. 5) If you can enlist a buddy to learn the code with, or find a class, do it! But do NOT use the class or the buddy as an excuse to miss practice or slow down your learning. 6) Download and read "The Art And Skill of Radiotelegraphy". It's free and available from several websites. Search out other code-oriented websites, articles, etc. and read what they have to say. But always remember they're not a substitute for practice. 7) Practice both sending and receiving each and every day. A few minutes sending is plenty, most of the time should be spent receiving, but the two help each other. Practice receiving by writing it down. Copying "in your head" comes later. I find a pencil and block printing works best for me. 8) A combination of the Koch method and Farnsworth spacing is probably optimum for most people. Read up on them, understand and use them – but remember they are tools, not magic. 9) Discontinue ANYTHING that impairs your ability to concentrate, focus, and learn new stuff. Only doctor-prescribed medications are exempt from this rule. Eat right, get enough sleep and enough physical exercise. 10) Put away your microphones, stay off the voice radios - all of them. Besides the automated code generators, listen to hams actually using code on the air. Copy down what they send. Learn how hams actually use code. When you get to the point where you can send and receive code, even slowly, get on the air and start making QSOs. Remember that you are learning code to be an operator, not pass a test, and that means you need the whole skill set.. 11) If your HF rig doesn't have a sharp filter (400-500 Hz), get one and install it. Read the manual about how to use the rig on CW. Best operation usually requires turning off the AGC, turning the RF gain down and the AF gain up. The S-meter and AGC won't work under those conditions but that's no big loss; they’re not essentials. 12) Keep at it. There may be times when it seems as if you are making no progress, and times when you make rapid progress. What matters is that you keep practicing every day. --- A bit of work, but well worth it IMHO, because all those steps make learning the code easier. And the work is trivial compared to what you can do with the skills once they're learned. 73 es GL de Jim, N2EY |
Straight key speed
On Thu, 1 Apr 2010 20:41:54 EDT, notbob wrote:
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully intend to learn morse code and not at a mere 5wpm. I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw, so I'm hot on it, listening to the Koch method to learn code. I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) Any advice is appreciated. nb First, I recommend the Farnsworth method. In Farnsworth, the individual characters are sent at high speed but are spaced out to slow down the overall speed. I learned with the characters being sent at 28 WPM but the overall speed at 15 WPM. That way, I learned to recognize the characters at 26 and was able to speed up without difficulty. Regardless of the method you use, you are to be congratulated for committing to learn the code at a decent speed. Listen to code on the air in addition to your practice. There's lots of CW on 40. Don't worry if it's too fast for you -- listen and copy, even though you may get only 1 out of 5 characters -- it'll come to you. Don't get too cranked up about speed. I can copy around 26 WPM but most of my CW is ragchewing on 40 at 18 WPM; rarely up to 20. In fact, I recall reading somewhere recently that most CW operation is around 18 WPM. I use a keyer but from time to time switch to my straight key. I can rattle off 20 WPM on a straight key and may be able to go higher than that. I have never heard that 15 WPM was about all you can get out of a straight key. Listen on 40 -- at the low end you'll find DX and speed demons. Above about 7030 you'll find normal people who work between 15 and 20 WPM. If you really want to operate CW, you'll want a keyer with paddle, and, a straight key. The bug is a fine device, lots of people still use them, but a bug is difficult to adjust and it has a steep learning curve. Get a straight key and learn the code. That way, you are learning only one thing at a time -- the code -- then, you can switch to a bug later on if you really want to. Another option is to get a keyer that has built-in code practice. The better keyers will have practice routines that allow you to set the character speed and the overall speed. You can then use the keyer after you get on the air. For many years, the old military J-38 was pretty much the standard straight key. If you can find one, go for it. http://k6ix.net/J38Keys.html Check out the Bencher RJ-1. http://www.morsex.com/bencher/index.htm The Nye Classic Oval Speed-X is a fine key. It's a copy of the J-38. http://www.morsex.com/nye/index.htm Friend of mine has one of these and loves it: http://www.kent-engineers.com/HANDkeyINFO.htm Some folks swear by the Russian Cherkassy keys. Note this guy's comment that he sends 25 WPM on a Cherkassy http://www.aa5tb.com/keys.html Whatever key you get, you'll want to mount it on a thin piece of something -- wood, plexiglas, etc. I have a Nye Classic Oval that I mounted on a 10-inch x 10-inch piece of plexiglass -- mount the key along the center of one edge so your wrist and forearm are resting on the plexiglas when you are sending. If you look at the photos of the J-38 you'll see that the key has a small base. When you press down on the key, it wants to tip up -- that's why you want to mount it on a long base so the key remains stable. Go to this website and scroll down to the photos of the J-37 -- note the long base that extends beyond the knob -- this keeps the key from tipping toward you when you are really pounding brass. http://www.k5prt.com/equipment_keys.html Here's one guy's collection: http://sites.google.com/site/wb9lpu/straightkeynight I recommend the Nye Oval Speed-X -- order it with the "Navy knob." You may find these helpful: http://www.morsecode.nl/index2.html http://www.fists.org/ http://home.windstream.net/yoel/ |
Straight key speed
On 4/1/2010 7:41 PM, notbob wrote:
I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw Out of curiosity, could explain why not? I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. This one? http://vibroplex.com/know_code.html I own the Standard version and I haven't had any issues with it. What exactly were the faults with this? He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Well, yeah, although there are people that can do quite well with a straight key at more than 20 wpm. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in thebeginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? My opinion: Learn to send proficiently and accurately with a hand key first. There's a learning curve for a bug that takes a bit of getting used to even with an already good fist. By the way, you can use a bug as a straight key, using just the "dash" motion. It's called a side swiper at that point. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) As I mentioned above, you can start with a bug and use it in the side swiper mode, but you'll have to force yourself to avoid the temptation tp try using in the semi-automatic mode until you gain proficiency at using it as a straight key at lower speeds. Jeff-1.0 wa6fwi |
Straight key speed
notbob wrote:
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully intend to learn morse code and not at a mere 5wpm. I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw, so I'm hot on it, listening to the Koch method to learn code. I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) A lot of what you're asking is really personal preference. I don't know that I'd say a straight key is worthless beyond 15wpm. But IMHO it gets fatiuging (sp) pretty quickly for long operating sessions at *any* speed. IMHO a bug is interesting, fun to use for nostalgia's sake, just like making QSOs with an old tube-based radio. But for work where the point is to communicate, IMHO a solid-state rig -- and a paddle/keyer -- is the way to go. But again, there's a LOT of personal preference in that paragraph. Nobody's answer is absolutely correct. I would not limit one's CW receive training speed based on what you can send. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being able to receive faster than you can send. (certainly much less of a problem than the other way around!) Absolutely, I would listen to the individual letters at 20wpm from the beginning. You *can't* think "dot, dash, dot, OK, that's "R"" at that speed -- you have to immediately associate that sound with a letter -- and that'll get you past the "10wpm hump". You'll also start hearing some of the shorter -- and more common -- words as a single sound. Words like "and" and "the" etc... I think I'd start with a decent paddle and keyer. Good paddles are, I'm afraid, not cheap. (decent keyers are, since you can make one from a simple PIC chip & some fairly simple software) -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View, TN EM66 |
Straight key speed
When I learned the code, back in high school in the 60's, my "elmer"
made a great suggestion. When you're out and about, when you see a street sign or a billboard, translate that into code (preferably "in your head" so as not to attract undue attention). This was highly effective for me; it helped to develop both sending and listening skills. I still find myself doing this from time to time, and I still enjoy working CW. -- Chuck WV8A Detroit MI |
Straight key speed
notbob wrote:
I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! When I was studying for my Novice we had a club member who was military trained.. We also had a military surplus code practice set This device used paper tape, you could vary the speed with which the tape was pulled past a light sensor.. It also had a key input Now if you pressed the key you got one tone, if the ink strip did the "Pressing" you got another tone and if you pressed the key at the precise moment the ink strip keyed the unit you got a 3rd tone (or at any time when the ink was keying it) This guy was sending in step with the tape There was only one tone (Indicating he was in perfect lock-step with the tape and that he was sending "Machine perfect" code) It was pulling at 30 WPM |
Straight key speed
In article ,
notbob wrote: I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! NB- My favorite straight key is a WWII surplus J-38, mounted on a more stable base. The Model J-37 is the same key without a shorting switch. This may be a better choice, because an accidentally shorted key can be a pain to troubleshoot! When I took my Extra code test at an FCC office, there was only a straight key available for sending 20 WPM. If it is adjusted for the right amount of "bounce", you should be able to manage 20 or 25 WPM. I waited until I had the Extra class license, before trying any kind of keyer. The one I have was built from a QST article, "The WB4VVF Accukeyer". It was fun to build and works with an "iambic" paddle. The Accukeyer is somewhat less tiring to use than a straight key when sending at higher speeds. I prefer it to the keyers built into many modern transceivers, because of its automatic character spacing feature. It takes a bit of coordination to use! Fred K4DII |
Straight key speed
On Apr 2, 4:21�pm, Fred McKenzie wrote:
My favorite straight key is a WWII surplus J-38, mounted on a more stable base. The Model J-37 is the same key without a shorting switch. � They're similar, but not the same key. Both are good choices IMHO. Here are links to pictures so you can recognize them: J-37 (sometimes called "J-41" when mounted on its knee-clamp base): http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2257/...a553a9acf4.jpg J-38: http://www.hamradiocenter.biz/photos/preowned/j-38.jpg Note that the J-37 has a plastic base and painted-steel lever, while the J-38 is almost all metal. ---- Morse Code lo The shorting switch on keys was not originally intended as a tune-up aid. In the wire-telegraph days, many line circuits were left normally closed when not in use. That way, any break in the line would be detected. The shorting switch was used to close the line when *not* sending. In radio use, it could be used for tuneup, of course. Also, when a ship was in grave distress and the radio operator was abandoning ship, the shorting switch would be closed so that the transmitter would stay on the air as long as possible. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
Straight key speed
notbob wrote in :
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully intend to learn morse code and not at a mere 5wpm. I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw, so I'm hot on it, listening to the Koch method to learn code. I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) Any advice is appreciated. nb Back in the dauys of ships having to carry radio operator, the requirement here in Canada was 25 wpm for a commercial operaators license. You had to take the test using a straight key not even bugs were allowed for the test. If memory serves I used a SpeedX hand key to pass the test. There were also some very nice German and English had keys around, left over from WWII that you could use and get upwards of 30 wpm from if you had the skills. The speed recprd holder is W9YZE(SK) at 35 wpm. I believ it is still recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. See: http://oldqslcards.com/W9YZE.pdf -- Panzer |
Straight key speed
In article
, N2EY wrote: The Model J-37 is the same key without a shorting switch. ? They're similar, but not the same key. Jim- These keys were provided by several different makers. If you find a J-37 and a J-38 made by same company, there is a chance they are identical except the switch-related hardware is missing from the J-37. That may not be true for all makers, but it was in one case I'm familiar with. It appeared that the switch hardware could be transferred from the J-38 to the J-37 without any modifications. Fred K4DII |
Straight key speed
On Thu, 1 Apr 2010 20:41:54 EDT, notbob wrote:
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully intend to learn morse code and not at a mere 5wpm. I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw, so I'm hot on it, listening to the Koch method to learn code. I'm also looking for a GOOD straight key. I want to invest in quality, but am not wealthy. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. So, I talked to Al at Milestone Technologies and he said something that kinda set me back on my heels. He claimed a straight key is not much good for anything over 15 wpm. Yikes! Am I unnecessarily knocking myself out trying to learn code at Just Learn Code's default 20wpm? Dropping down to 15wpm sure would speed up the learning curve. If I want to eventually make 20wpm and faster, would I be better off with a less expensive straight key in the beginning and later investing the money in a quality bug? I want to go bug before paddles and keyers. I guess the bottom line is, do I want to graduate to a bug as soon as possible and maybe lower my initial goals for a straight key. IOW, just get on the air? ;) Any advice is appreciated. nb Hmmm. After reading all the replies on this thread, I'm tempted to ask: "Don't you people know that CW is dead?" While you prepare your answers, I'm off to work the low end of 40. :-) |
Straight key speed
On 2010-04-02, notbob wrote:
I'm a retired geezer studying for my technical license. I fully intend to learn morse code..... Thank you all for the great replies to my query. I couldn't ask for a better cross section of opinions and depth of experience. Your replies really made me rethink my options. See my new semi-related post! ;) nb |
Straight key speed
In article ,
Fred McKenzie wrote: It appeared that the switch hardware could be transferred from the J-38 to the J-37 without any modifications. Jim- My memory from the 1950s is a little dim. I can't find my original J-38, but did find several other keys I've picked up over the years. There is one J-38 like my original one from the 50s. There are two J-37 keys: one like you described and one like the J-38. One of the J-37s is mounted on a knee-clamp! The J-37 that is like the J-38, has the switch part attached to the hot contact. However the place where the switch lever would bolt to the base, is missing. I think this was the case I remembered from years ago. Half of the switch is there, but there is no provision to attach the lever. NB- As you asked in your original post, you need to find a key. Any key. And get on the air! Your code speed will improve more rapidly when you are forced to copy in a way you can't when listening to a recording. It may not matter which style of key you get, as far as RSI is concerned. You can operate either kind without resting your hand on the desk. One feature you may like is a Navy knob. The Navy knob has a round disk under the knob. You can make one by drilling a hole in a poker chip, and mounting it under the original knob. Fred K4DII |
Straight key speed
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names wrote:
After reading all the replies on this thread, I'm tempted to ask: "Don't you people know that CW is dead?" While you prepare your answers, I'm off to work the low end of 40. I am a retired Police Dispatcher.. One day one of my dispatchees had a radio problem (Bad Mic cable) and could not talk to me. Since we were both licensed hams, and both knew it. We managed to get the necessary traffic passed and his rig scheduled for a very quick visit with the Radio Shop.. No problem. So, CW may be dead... But the number of carriers I find on the band suggests... NOT. Though I do admit I now know why folks were saying "GOD IS DEAD" some years ago... But that is a topic for a different NG. (NOTE: This statement does not comment on anything other than my knowledge of that subject.. It is thus, NOT open for discussion) |
Straight key speed
On 4/4/2010 5:46 PM, notbob wrote:
Thank you all for the great replies to my query. But you didn't answer any of the questions I asked. Jeff-1.0 wa6fwi |
Straight key speed
On 2010-04-02, Jeffrey Angus wrote:
On 4/1/2010 7:41 PM, notbob wrote: I figure one is not truly a ham until one can cw Out of curiosity, could explain why not? Fifty years ago, My buddy and I (in jr high, then) were going to become hams. Short story, my family moved, my new surroundings opened up new vistas and I put all my energies into becoming a rock musician. While my buddy went on to get his license, I did not. I now want to. As for the cw thing, I'm a romantic and from a different time. I was gonna buy a Vibroplex Know Code key, but the reviews are less than heartening. I own the Standard version and I haven't had any issues with it. What exactly were the faults with this? eHam had one review where the owner described the key as having a "soft" feel: "The only thing I didn't like is the feel of the contacts. It has a 'soft' feel due to the upper contact being mounted to a tab, instead of directly to the lever. The tab bends as contact is made, acting like a leaf spring. I suspect this is the same situation on all versions of the Vibroplex straight key. The solution was simple. I placed a #4 flat washer between the contact tab and the lever, beside the existing screw and washer. It was necessary to remove the lever assembly to accomplish this. The new washer is held in place by the top protrusion of the upper contact. It fills the gap between the tab and the lever and prevents any spring action from occuring in the contact tab, providing a more typical feel to the key's action." --N0NV I don't want a "soft" feel and think spending almost $200 on a key I may need to modify is not in my best interests. It's been pointed out that Vibroplex has a new owner and perhaps some design and/or quality control issues will improve. We'll see. nb |
Straight key speed
On 2010-04-05, Jeffrey Angus wrote:
On 4/4/2010 5:46 PM, notbob wrote: Thank you all for the great replies to my query. But you didn't answer any of the questions I asked. Your wish is my command. nb |
Straight key speed
On Apr 5, 12:11 pm, notbob wrote:
On 2010-04-05, Jeffrey Angus wrote: On 4/4/2010 5:46 PM, notbob wrote: Thank you all for the great replies to my query. But you didn't answer any of the questions I asked. Your wish is my command. Hi Notbob, I think maybe Jeff's comment was toward what does or doesn't make a real Ham. The great thing about Ham radio is that there are so many facets to the hobby. So many in fact that it isn't possible to determine one particular part's worth over another. Morse code use is one of the coolest parts of the hobby, in which very unsophisticated and low power equipment can in the hands of a skilled practitioner of the art, be used to communicate around the world. Doesn't get much better than that. Your comment about the Romantic in you is spot on. I love the old equipment, one of my borrowed sayings is that "I love the smell of a tube rig in the morning. Hopefully however, in time you will come to understand that it isn't the mode that makes a real ham - it's the person behind the key, or the mic, or the computer. Now go get that license, I'll be listening for ya! - 73 de Mike N3LI - |
Straight key speed
On Apr 5, 8:18 am, Jeffrey Angus wrote:
On 4/4/2010 5:46 PM, notbob wrote: Thank you all for the great replies to my query. But you didn't answer any of the questions I asked. Jeff-1.0 wa6fwi Jeff, I started with the $20 MFJ brass straight key. Good adjustment span. Set the contact space with a business card. Make sure you remove the telegraph short bar or set it right. Office friends pitched in and got me a Bencher RJ2 for retirement. It's all I use now. Retail $155...discounted $130. Probably the reason you never got the answers is there probably are only opinions. Straight vs. bug. vs paddles? Reality does have top speed capable is with the iambic paddles, but is top speed best means of communication? I've known straight key users to send consistently 35 wpm. They use those speeds with others of like ability. Remember, you have to copy at/near the speed you send, so being able to blaze away with an iambic paddle at 60-70 wpm means you expect to copy from the lone ham out there at the same rate. 90% of my CW contacts are 20 wpm; most around 15. That seems to be about average copy ability for information QSOs. Our CW group of 6 has 5 paddlers and 1 straight. My now-SK CW Elmer could move between paddle and straight for SKNs (straight key nights). He expressed that it is easier to learn on paddle and move later to straight keys -- but that was his opinion. Most contests pass rudimentary information and you develop a pattern of copying and sending based on the contest info. Often you are copying a recorded 'macro'. 73, Carl KB9RVB |
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