Here are my 2 cents worth about new features in the CW Decoder and elsewhere.
Elecraft has done a good job of selecting features in my book and I would prefer that their work implementing these features continue without adding new things to the list. New things can come after the original features all work and the known bugs are killed. Farnsworth keying is a tool for teaching code to people trying to build speed. I don't think it is a good idea for two beginners to try to send Farnsworth style to each other. My 52 years of hamming indicate that a beginner should leave the keyboard and the paddles for later until they can converse at 16 to 20 WPM. I think they should stick to a straight key until then. If I hear a station using Farnsworth keying and a memory keyer to call CQ, I will conclude that they are a high speed operator who wants to give the slow speed guys some practice. I will pass them by if I am in the mood to give a slow speed operator some practice. If I am looking to work a slow speed operator, I will use my hand key which I keep plugged in. The K3 has a very thoughtful feature in that it has two jacks for a straight key or external keyer and another for a paddle. I think that is enough and I don't really want two speed controls. Any memory keyer can send Farnsworth style by leaving a word space between characters. If you program it with a keyboard, you can insert a space with the space bar between characters. Farnsworth keying is only useful below about 10 wpm and hopefully you will not be in that category very long. Practice is the key, now features on an already feature rich transceiver. So with that I wish the boys at Elecraft Godspeed in implementing the features they have already chosen and with producing the transceiver that I eagerly await. It has been about 3 weeks since my December 27 orders and they are still filling the May orders. So, I will get off my soap box and get back to playing CW with my TS-850 until March, April or whenever! 73s and good CW to all, Cookie, K5EWJ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
