Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
Was that straight key really used or was it only for the cameras? -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-in-the-Media-tp6523462p6524764.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
I'm not sure if the actual video shot was of Christopher in action on they key or staged, but he prefers the straight key and *can use one*. His elmer will not let him move to a paddle yet. :-) 73, Doug KF4VTT -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-in-the-Media-tp6523462p6525282.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
That's one of the best PR pieces on the hobby I've ever seen, Doug. A simple message that the media editors and writers could easily follow and fit into the time allocated really helped. Congratulations to you and the FB PIO! 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Hi Guys, I thought I would post a link to our local club's 2011 Field Day effort in Burlington, NC. It was pretty neat how much they focused on the K3 (proud to say it was my personal #1289, fresh back from a week in VP9). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uMY-HtV85Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uMY-HtV85Y Our 11 year old PIO did a great job! 73, Doug KF4VTT KF4VTT/VP9 K3#1289 AARC K4EG ex officio __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
It amazes me how many people hold a straight key these days. I'd have been chucked in the head and laughed out of the room holding a key like that when I was a kid but, in recent years, Christopher wasn't the first I've seen actually sending like that. Proper grip and posture is all about avoiding fatigue (the famous glass arm syndrome), and few Hams today sit down with a straight key and enough traffic to keep them at it nonstop for any length of time. I'd never want to discourage a new CW operator. It's great seeing how many younger Hams find CW as fascinating as we did way back when it was the dominant mode on the bands. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- I'm not sure if the actual video shot was of Christopher in action on they key or staged, but he prefers the straight key and *can use one*. His elmer will not let him move to a paddle yet. :-) 73, Doug KF4VTT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
Hooray for the Elmer! ;o) 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE ARRL Lifetime Member QCWA Lifetime Member On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:16:12 -0700 (PDT), KF4VTT kf4...@mebtel.net wrote: I'm not sure if the actual video shot was of Christopher in action on they key or staged, but he prefers the straight key and *can use one*. His elmer will not let him move to a paddle yet. :-) 73, Doug KF4VTT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
* On 2011 28 Jun 10:19 -0500, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: That's one of the best PR pieces on the hobby I've ever seen, Doug. Seconded! We're too far away from any TV stations to get any video coverage. We did have the editor from the neighboring county paper show up after he contacted me Friday morning asking about amateur radio. Seems he had found the ARRL site and was curious. He went home with a Now You're Talking manual! Afteward he tweeted, Just watched ham radio guys in action. Cool! We may have him hooked. At least he took some pictures and promised a PDF for our publicity bonus. I'll be sure to point him toward the Elecraft site since he is a self-professed gadget nut. 73, de Nate N0NB -- The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true. Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
after having operated both a straight key and a paddle, I'm not really sure that the two are comparable I don't think being able to send using a straight key does anything to help you send better than using a paddle, but using a paddle is much easier to me than using a straight key and if you take nostalgia out of it, I would think starting with a paddle is what I would recommend to anyone just starting out. I just don't understand the fascination with straight keys, they are hard to use and tiring if you don't use them correctly anyway my .02 cents worth al ve3gam - Original Message - From: n...@n5ge.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:01 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media Hooray for the Elmer! ;o) 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE ARRL Lifetime Member QCWA Lifetime Member On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:16:12 -0700 (PDT), KF4VTT kf4...@mebtel.net wrote: I'm not sure if the actual video shot was of Christopher in action on they key or staged, but he prefers the straight key and *can use one*. His elmer will not let him move to a paddle yet. :-) 73, Doug KF4VTT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
Al, The issue isn't nostalgia - it's technique and timing. Paddles cover a multitude of sins: as long as you're hitting the paddles somewere close to the right point you'll get nice even CW. With a straight key any technique or timing issues are immediately obvious. The old timer WWII radio ops that I've known (in particular my dad) always stressed mastering the straight key before ever trying to use paddles. And if you've heard those OTs on the air, a large percentage of them illustrate the wisdom of learning (and mastering) the straight key first. 73, Al On Tue June 28 2011 5:31:10 pm VE3GAM Allen McRorie wrote: after having operated both a straight key and a paddle, I'm not really sure that the two are comparable I don't think being able to send using a straight key does anything to help you send better than using a paddle, but using a paddle is much easier to me than using a straight key and if you take nostalgia out of it, I would think starting with a paddle is what I would recommend to anyone just starting out. I just don't understand the fascination with straight keys, they are hard to use and tiring if you don't use them correctly anyway my .02 cents worth al ve3gam - Original Message - From: n...@n5ge.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:01 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media Hooray for the Elmer! ;o) 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE ARRL Lifetime Member QCWA Lifetime Member On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:16:12 -0700 (PDT), KF4VTT kf4...@mebtel.net wrote: I'm not sure if the actual video shot was of Christopher in action on they key or staged, but he prefers the straight key and *can use one*. His elmer will not let him move to a paddle yet. :-) 73, Doug KF4VTT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
I agree, Al: Interestingly, some younger Hams I know who want CW proficiency often insist on learning to use a straight key and many even move on to a bug before touching a paddle, but I'd not demand they do so. I stuck with a straight key until I got my Extra Class Ham license and my 2nd Class RadioTelegraph license because, back then (1950's) an applicant was required to send on a straight key at 20 wpm for at least one full minute to the satisfaction of the FCC examiner. (Those applying for a First Class RadioTelegraph license - after completing 6 months at sea -- could apply to use a bug instead of a straight key, but the FCC examiners said that almost all of them failed on the first few tries; one extra dit was a failure). I've continued to use and enjoy a straight key for QRS operations ever since, but I use my old 1950's vintage bug 99% of the time. I got that bug immediately after passing my FCC exams, Hi! I built an Iambic keyer in the 1970's and became proficient with squeeze keying but set it aside. I enjoy the challenge of using a bug well. When I learned to fly, my instructor insisted that I learn to land a tail-dragger first -- an airplane with main gear and a tail wheel. They are much more sensitive to being handled exactly right in a landing than the more common tricycle gear aircraft with a nose wheel. Only after I could execute spot landings flawlessly in a tail dragger in cross winds and rough air did he check me out in a tricycle gear plane. He always said that anyone who can drive a car can land a tricycle light plane and he was very nearly right. It took me about two landings to be comfortable in one. And I was always grateful. I enjoyed many, many hours flying vintage tail dragger airplanes I'd not have been able to touch without that skill. I guess that, for many, knowing how to use a straight key or a bug is much the same. It's all in what interests a person. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- after having operated both a straight key and a paddle, I'm not really sure that the two are comparable I don't think being able to send using a straight key does anything to help you send better than using a paddle, but using a paddle is much easier to me than using a straight key and if you take nostalgia out of it, I would think starting with a paddle is what I would recommend to anyone just starting out. I just don't understand the fascination with straight keys, they are hard to use and tiring if you don't use them correctly anyway my .02 cents worth al ve3gam __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
I agree. I started on paddles and used them for four years before I ever tried a straight key. By then the rhythm of the code was built in so using the key was simple. But I could only send for ten minutes or so before noticing how hard it was. I think I could run a key for a few hours but why when I can use paddles instead? Kevin. KD5ONS On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:31:10 -0700, VE3GAM Allen McRorie ve3...@rogers.com wrote: after having operated both a straight key and a paddle, I'm not really sure that the two are comparable I don't think being able to send using a straight key does anything to help you send better than using a paddle, but using a paddle is much easier to me than using a straight key and if you take nostalgia out of it, I would think starting with a paddle is what I would recommend to anyone just starting out. I just don't understand the fascination with straight keys, they are hard to use and tiring if you don't use them correctly anyway my .02 cents worth al ve3gam __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the Media
On 6/28/2011 4:07 PM, Al Gulseth wrote: The issue isn't nostalgia - it's technique and timing. Paddles cover a multitude of sins: as long as you're hitting the paddles somewere close to the right point you'll get nice even CW. With a straight key any technique or timing issues are immediately obvious. Hmmm ... if the object is to send good, readable Morse code, and if we live in the end of the first decade of the 21st century [or beginning of the 2nd decade depending on whether you count from zero or one], why not let the technology of the times help? I think this issue *is* nostalgia, and maybe some of I had to do it so you do too? You can send without spaces with an automatic keyer, and I know a few who do, and they're hard to copy especially if I had to make record copy. But learning to send the spaces isn't any harder with a paddle than a straight key or bug. And timing on a straight key isn't all that good anyway, even among really OT's. The old timer WWII radio ops that I've known (in particular my dad) always stressed mastering the straight key before ever trying to use paddles. And if you've heard those OTs on the air, a large percentage of them illustrate the wisdom of learning (and mastering) the straight key first. That would not be my experience. In the later 50's I was a relief op at a coastal marine station while a high school senior. A few fists afloat were good, although I wouldn't ever suggest timing was their high point, Google lake erie swing for more than you ever wanted to know. A great number were just bad, and some took a couple or three of us to pool our copy and see if we could decipher it. Meanwhile, on the ham bands, they were very good and some excellent fists. I take a little pride in that. I'd rather have new hams [preferably young, but all ages will do] on CW and making Q's. Let's not discourage them by telling them they need training wheels when they actually can ride the bike. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
