What? All the bugs I have, all three of 'em, have dits on the thumb and dahs on the other not thumb side. Huh... -- Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
On Jan 5, 2013, at 9:26 PM, "Erik Basilier" <[email protected]> wrote: > Ron, since I learnt CW in Sweden many years ago, I am very comfortable > transmitting without having the forearm on the table. In fact, I have used > that method during all my years in the US until recently. The key to the > method (pls forgive pun) is to mount the key on a platform under the table > so that the upper arm can hang straight down and the forearm is in a > horizontal position when holding the key knob. This is a very relaxed > position. The type of key was (you guessed it) the Swedish type. The amount > of stiffness in the wrist needs to be just right, so that when the arm > presses down on the key, the hand moves a little upwards relative to the > arm, providing some spring cushioning action. Only after I had hit my knee > too many times on the key mounted under the table, and realizing that I was > using paddles rather than a straight key all the time, did I recently remove > that key and replaced it with a J-38 on the table. It took me a while to get > the hang of it, and I still think my fist is better with the old method. > > > > BTW, when I first started using paddles, I had the dashes on the thumb and > just couldn't learn it. Maybe I should have tried rolling the arm. When I > switched to dits on the thumb I suddenly found sending easy. Never having > tried a bug, I move only fingers, and with very small gaps. > > > > I would be interested to learn exactly how the super high speed types use > the whole arm. > > > > 73, > > Erik K7TV > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ----------------------------- > > Very interesting Barry. > > > > I'm not a high speed operator (my best is 35 wpm) and 99% of my operating is > > 15 to 25 wpm. I also use my whole arm, rolling it side to side to operate > the paddles and find it very comfortable at those speeds for very long > periods at the key. Indeed, many of the guys working at commercial stations > used the same technique for entire work shifts sending long messages. > > > > I'm aware that many non-US operators do *not* rest their forearm on the > table. I can see how moving one's whole arm would be extremely tiring doing > that. Indeed, I can't picture using a straight key that way, much less > paddles. You didn't note whether that was what the guys like EU1KI do. > > > > When I moved onto an Iambic keyer, I kept the same motion rolling my forearm > resting on the table top. I have never used very tight spacing with tiny > movements of thumb and fingers. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of us old > "bug" operators do the same. > > > > Also, I kept the standard orientation of dashes with thumb, dits with index > finger. Been pounding brass that way for >60 years now. > > > > My point is that the rarified world of 50 wpm and above obviously has its > special demands on the operator, but few of us actually "live" there. > > > > 73, Ron AC7AC > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
