The following is from one (me) who comes from decades as a seagoing op on USC&GS (now NOAA) vessels and HAM band operation starting in 1961.
The correct procedure is to use your wrist as a "spring". Failure to do so will soon cause a condition known as a "glass fist". I'm also a musician, so one foot serves as a metronome to establish a very even sending rate. TRIVIA ... if confronted with a brief need to use a "backwards" set of paddles, just turn it around and reach over the top. For more info see my QRZ page. 73 Ken Kopp - K0PP On Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 15:17 <[email protected]> wrote: > Copying code sent with a semi-automatic key is significantly different > than copying code sent with a keyer and paddle. Most amateurs, including > many old time operators, send the dits at 40 wpm and the dahs at 15 wpm. > Denise stoops sounds as good as anyone I have ever heard using a bug and > should be immolated to everyone attempting to use one. > > Marv KG7V > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> > On Behalf Of Bob McGraw K4TAX > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 2:02 PM > To: [email protected] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Not moving your wrist sending CW ? > > Sending with a semi-automatic key, a.k.a, bug, is significantly different > than sending with a paddle connected to a keyer. The keyer is supposed to > make the dit-dah ratio and spacing correct. The length of the elements is > controlled and timed electronically. > > With a bug the length of a dah is controlled by the operator and the dit > length by the vibrating pendulum. > > I learned on a bug but now favor the paddle/keyer combination. > > Bob, K4TAX > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Mar 29, 2020, at 3:37 PM, [email protected] wrote: > > > > Hi Fred, > > > > > > This is the video you remembered. Denise has a unique sending style > > and remarkably good -- and error free -- bug sending. > > > > > > www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYhrSEERvbI > > > > 73 > > Frank > > W3LPL > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Fred Jensen" <[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 6:40:22 PM > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Not moving your wrist sending CW ? > > > > Commercial operator Denice Stoops, KI6BBR, who has the distinction of > > sending the final broadcast from San Francisco Radio [KPH] when > > commercial CW shut down did so using a Vibroplex bug. Her technique > > was a rolling motion of her forearm with little if any independent > > finger movement. She made zero misteaks. It's the technique I remember > > other commercial ops using in the 50's, and it's a technique I never > learned. > > I think it's a lot like how you hold a pencil when writing, Whatever > > floats your boat. > > > > In this time of seclusion, and running out of stuff to watch on the > > DVR, we watched a Titanic program on the Smithsonian channel on > > Netflix. It turned out to be fairly superficial [I expected better > > from the Smithsonian], and did not do credit to the role wireless > > played in the disaster [the CW was from a code oscillator and did not > > sound like the 5 KW synchronous spark TX in the other room]. Jack > > Phillips was depicted sending with one finger on a somewhat J-38ish > > looking key and sending Continental code while working Cape Race. If > > memory serves me [often doesn't these days], ships in that era used > > American Morse with North American stations. Again ... whatever works > for you. > > > > 73, > > Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW > > Sparks NV DM09dn > > Washoe County > > > >> On 3/28/2020 3:47 PM, Jim Danehy wrote: > >> Well I have been sending CW for 70 years now. I am not the most > accomplished Morse operator you will copy. But I wonder why someone would > think it is improper procedure to move your wrist ? I have watched > musicians play guitars and bass instruments. They all move their wrists. I > am not a musician myself. But when I do send Morse I get into a rhythm like > musicians do. With 70 years of experience I have evolved into a competent > operator. > >> > >> Many years ago my XYL told me that I also send Morse with my vocal > cords when i send CW. She noted that when serving me food during my > contesting. She was correct. My speed might be higher than the average > Morse operator. I started with a straight key in 1950. Went to a Vibroplex > bug in 1954. Up Graded to an electronic keyer in 1966. During that 16 year > period I always moved my wrist. I probably own two dozen keys and paddles. > I don’t get over 35 wpm very often. But if I find that rare operator who > can copy QRQ I can crank it up. I can send with either hand too. The one > thing I do is not think about what I am doing. It is all reflexes. I am a > member of several CW oriented clubs. The German High Speed operators are > excellent users of Morse. Google that organization. > >> > >> To say that moving your wrist is incorrect procedure might appeal to > some. Not me. By the way I decided years ago to put a paddle on the floor > and use my foot. Really! That allowed me to use both hands. I have not done > that for some years. I think I can still do that. using your feet: LF > operating. In my case it was RF (right foot). That was just a challenge. It > did take some practice. > >> > >> I sure beats some of these current modes which do not require any > operator skill. > >> > >> 73 > >> Jim > >> W9VNE/VA3VNE > >> > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > 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] > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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]
