As a rightie, I taught myself to send left handed for the very same reason - contesting. Send with the left, write with the right. I saw an Op at my first FD doing this and I told myself I needed to do the same. At first it was with the key turned around but later I added a small switch to the Heath HD-10 single lever keyer. This was the late 60's. I still send mostly with the left hand, especially in contests, because the keyboards are set up for righties. Therefore, I tune/operate my K3 with the left hand as well. Been that way since the beginning for me. I actually have two paddles set up, one on each side so I can send from whichever hand is free. Probably explains why I never could play the piano with my left hand - needed a "reversed" keyboard.
tnx Mike W5JR > On Dec 2, 2014, at 1:17 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi All, > > I'm a lefty too, and I just acquiesced to the right handed setup on paddles > (and bugs) from the outset. As has been pointed out, it really makes it > easier if you go to another ham's station--usually a right handed person. I > really don't think it makes much difference which way you do it on a paddle. > One way is no more efficient than the other. Possibly it might be slightly > less efficient on a bug, but I do that using a right handed setup as well, > and it never seemed to be a big problem. Besides, finding left handed bugs > wasn't easy. As Don points out, most newer rigs, and most newer keyers, have > an option to switch sides, so it has become less complicated if you need to > switch. If you run into a situation where either the rig or keyer doesn't > have that option, you can just turn the paddle around--awkward, but it works! > > One of these days I'm going to try and learn to send right handed--I've been > saying that for years! The incentive, though, is to free up my left hand for > writing. Being a "bean counter" by profession, I found that process to be > very helpful when operating a calculator. I could "tick and tie" (accounting > jargon) with the best of them! Anyway, it might be beneficial on Field Day, > etc. Hi. > > Dave W7AQK > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
