Will, The distinguishing characteristic is that it does not alternate between dits and dahs. You are correct, that a dingle dot insertion can work the same way in either case, and by the same reasoning, a single dash insertion. but if you send a character like "Z", you close the DAH paddle and get the first DAH off, then after the 2nd DAH starts, close the DIT paddle (you do not have to take your finger off the DAH paddle) and it will begin sending a string of DITS - get both fingers off the paddle after the 2nd dit has started.
Or take the letter "B" - DAH first, then close the DIT paddle - it does not mater much whether you take your finger off the DAH paddle or not, it will send 3 dits as long as you do not lift the finger from the dit paddle. The last paddle closed takes priority. There are many other examples where Ultimatic is easier - but the timing is not as critical as it is for the Iambic alternating dots and dashes system. I think Iambic was a mistake created by the Curtis chip manufactures and salesmen (OK, I am ignoring the Accukeyer, I admit that) - but the original Ultimatic mode was easier to my mind, and it is more like bug keying that any other keyer mode - except the bug will not do a string of DAHs, only dits. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/10/2012 6:13 PM, Mercury wrote: > Maybe I'm missing something, Bud, but I send the letter Q the same way with > Iambic B keying. Hold the dah paddle for the duration of the letter and tap > the dit at the appropriate place. No need to let up on the dah paddle. Is > there some other characteristic that distinguishes Ulimatic from Iambic B? > I've never used Ultimatic keying but hear a lot of folks rave about it. I do > just fine with Iambic B but mess up big time with Iambic A. To each his own. > > 73 - Will, AI4VE > > Sent from my iPad > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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
