Bill,
Congratulations on getting back into CW. I got into ham radio in the 50's
and used hand keys and bugs for 30 years. I even operated comercially as both
a shore and shipboard radio op. Although CW was "my thing", the switch to
iambic keying was not easy for me. Finally after many years iambic keying now
seems natural to me. I was just too stuborn to give up and switch to a single
lever paddle which would have been easy and natural. The suggestion just
posted to switch to a single lever paddle is especially appropriate to someone
who finds iambic keying difficult. If I could do it all over, I think I would
have just gone to a single lever paddle. I have suggested the single lever
paddle before to older folks getting back into CW.
If you decide to tackle iambic keying, read the many postings on this and
other sites and determine if A or B is for you and then STICK TO IT. I had
trouble keying my new KX1 for weeks, until I discovered that it was set to A,
not the B mode I had been using for 20 years with other rigs.
I think new and especially younger hams should attempt to master iambic
keying. However if it does not "come together" then just relax and use your
single lever paddle.
You asked about how to learn Iambic keying. Perhaps you could search the
internet for a method, although I suspect that most of us just experiment and
practice for many hours (off the air).
One other thought....in the last few years many more bugs have been heard
on the air. In the old days often we could recognize who was sending even
before they sent their call. Today this is not possible.
Rick
KL7CW 99% CW since 1954
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [email protected]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
