Tony,
Ignore the first bit of my last email. I should have read my entire inbox
before responding.
Your ideas pretty much coincide with mine. There's one more point. Its the
dit-memory and dah-memory. Some keyers have none, some have dit-memory, and
some keyers have both. People who squeeze (IAMBIC) also have more problems
adjusting to a keyer different than their own than those who do not squeeze.
Being a life long contester (40+ years), I have been to hundreds of events
where as many as 30 or 40 operators were participating. I have often heard
some of the guys who I consider to be great operators complain (curse and
swear) at some paddle or keyer. I didn't understand their problem. Sure I
have my preferences, but I've always felt I can key with any key or any
keyer and I can do it with either my left or right hand. How could these
guys not be able to cope with a different key(er)? Well, my friend Hartmut
pointed out that the (old) guys like me who never really learned to squeeze
seem to have no problems and those who initially learned on an IAMBIC paddle
have lots of problems.
I've always regretted not being able to use an IAMBIC paddle (simply because
I never took the time to practice), but now I'm glad I didn't.
Here in Germany we still have hand-key contests where everyone pulls out
their J-38 (equivalent key is called "Junkers" over here) or their old BUG
and away we go. I need a few minutes to get into using the bug, but it
works.
I fully agree with you and also recommend that people do not initially learn
to use an IAMBIC keyer. In fact I personally see no reason for it at all.
73
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tony Martin W4FOA
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:00 AM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] OMNI 6+ and Iambic (Different issues)
Hi Bill, and others,
Bill, we are in total agreement.
I have been a member of the CFO (and FOC) gang for years...they are all
superb CW operators. The CFO guys are for the most part the fellows you
hear around 7030 or so running 60+ WPM. Some of them run considerably
higher speeds. I cannot speak for them but when I was more active in the
CFO group, I did use a keyboard to send above 40 WPM, because I was just too
inaccurate on the paddle/keyer at those speeds. I can still copy WAY faster
than I can send, hi.
Others have asked for clarification on my comments regarding Iambic. Again,
please understand, I do not wish to debate the issue nor do I wish to put
anyone on the defensive. In response to several requests, I will be as
brief and to the point as I can in expressing adversity to learning the
Iambic method.
1. The Iambic trained operator is just as skilled as any other CW operator.
I find it impossible to detect whether one is sending using the Iambic or
standard method, so it is not a quality of CW issue.
2. To my knowledge, the ONLY (I may be mistaken here) advantage using the
Iambic method is that there are a few letters where less wrist movement is
required (squeezing the levers). To my knowledge it is NOT faster or
slower, or better or worse in quality.
3. There are several advantages to NOT being strictly an Iambic operator.
A couple of the more important ones that few that come to mind right away
are:
A. An operator trained to use the non-iambic system is able to use a
standard, single lever paddle as well as an iambic (dual lever) paddle
without missing a beat. The "iambic only" trained operator typically cannot
use a single lever paddle. Why is this important? Well the upcoming Field
Day will be a wonderful example. If you are going to operate a station (not
your own) and the position only has a single lever paddle and you are an
iambic user, you will most likely be lost. During a contest is not a good
time to try to learn to use a different paddle/key. The single paddle
trained op can use pretty much anything that is thrown in front of him or
her.
B. It is much easier for a bug/semi-automatic key user to learn to use a
single lever for obvious reasons (there is no "squeezing" on the bug. The
single lever/bug user generally can switch between keys without missing a
beat...not true with the average iambic op. The reverse is true as well,
should a non-iambic op decide he/she wants to try a bug at some point, it is
much, much easier for them to adjust to the semi-automatic method. And yes,
in some cases, a paddle/keyer user cannot swap between keyer and bug....it
doesn't matter which paddle he is trained to use. In my own case, I have a
single lever paddle, bug and sideswiper (cootie) key on my desk and can
switch between any of them in the middle of a word without a problem....but
them I am old and have been pounding brass for 50+ years (hi).
I hope this at least will show that my disdain for initially learning to use
the Iambic method is purely a personal preference BUT with some (IMHO) sound
reasoning.
Remember, this is a hobby....use whatever makes you feel good. There is one
"constant" in using CW....that is practice, practice and more practice. I
strongly advocate getting away from pencil/paper copy and going to head copy
as soon as you possibly can. As Bill mentions, it won't be long before you
will be hearing "words" and not letters, that is the difference between
working at CW and enjoying CW.
Good CW and contesting to all.
Tony, W4FOA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett@alum.mit.edu>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:53 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Finally got a Omni VI+ now I need a CW Elmer
> W4FOA wrote:
> >Not to debate the issue, but I have heard folks make the statement they
can
> send faster than they can receive.
>
> I agree with you Tony...especially at higher speeds using a
keyer.
> I can definitely copy much faster in my head than my hand coordination
> allows me to send with a keyer. I can receive about 60 WPM but my
> sending gets really sloppy over 40 WPM. I believe most of the QRQ guys
> (50-60 WPM) are using keyboards to send and not keyers for the same
> reason. Of course they receive those same speeds in their heads with
> no help needed from a computer.
>
> Regarding Ronnie's question, practice is really the answer, and
> try to copy in your head rather than writing each letter down. After
> awhile, you will just begin "hearing" common words like "the", "CQ"
> or "RST" without even hearing the individual letters. Once you get
> past the need to write each letter down, CW becomes much easier.
>
> 73, Bill W4ZV
>
> P.S. I completely agree with you about iambic keying.
>
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