I am not saying that "sloppy" code is desirable. There's a huge difference between "sloppy" and hand vs. machine code, just as there is between someone who mumbles badly and someone who speaks normally, albeit perhaps with a regional accent. I also agree with your frustration over too-fast dits. There's no real justification for it.
Just like machine-generated music and that created by human musicians, the latter depends upon the experience and skill of the person. I try not to be too judgmental, especially of those working to improve their skill. That's what some of us enjoy most about Ham radio. One cause of fast dits is that many Vibroplex bugs require extreme measures to slow them down below 30 WPM. It's not that a bug cannot be run slower - my Speed-X and Vibroplex both work well even below 15 wpm - but for several years Vibroplex used a different, thicker pendulum spring and the standard weights are simply not heavy enough. It seems that many Hams acquiring those keys thought that a "machine gun" dit rate was "Normal" for a bug. Absolutely not so! My Vibroplex came from the widow of an old friend who was a commercial operator. It was one of the thick-spring variety, but my buddy, Les, sent great code with it. He did it by replacing the Vibroplex weights with a cable clamp! Here's Les at work at KPH using that Vibroplex sometime in the 1970's: http://www.radiomarine.org/idbfiles/0000/0093/HIST-RS-OP-4.jpg Notice the cable clamp, oriented with the threaded ends of the U-section pointing upward, on the pendulum. I have the same clamp on it, and it works beautifully if one doesn't mind the very heavy feel. Also, Vibroplex bugs require some fiddling to change the weight for a different dit speed, often using two weights each with thumb screws to loosen and tighten. That's why my Johnson version of the Logan Speed-X bug is my favorite. It has a simple weight adjustment that allows me to set the proper dit rate instantly with a simple squeeze of my thumb and fingers. And it doesn't need a cable clamp, Hi! 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- It sounds like everyone is saying sending sloppy code is desirable. How odd; I always thought hams took pride in their sending. Well formed, well spaced characters are much easier to copy. I find nothing quaint or charming about sending dits at 30wpm and dahs at 10 wpm, which is typical of what I hear. Either slow down the dits or speed up the manually sent dahs. I know there are limits on how slow you can send dits with a bug, but if you can't slow it down enough then consider using another instrument for sending code or resign yourself to the fact that VE3HLS will never answer your CQ (that should be pretty easy to live with)! :-) daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah dididit dididit daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! :-) Ken, VE3HLS ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
