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731111039j AA0HC abnorc ac4sw arasaki Carey dlewis doc4153 Domenec edwardgodlevsky greg7650 Hecale HIDE7455 Ian24 IU3IPH janusz1961 Jefito JH1SIX K2MAS kc3mzi kenken2533 KK7NYB LB8TJ luisfeliphe miz n7dir nevets66 ofe ON7SX rertl test Uvtdicou W5GLD w6jkg wb0zjj

Starting off on my journey (again!) to learn CW. When it comes to sending, should I start with a straight key first, then move on to a paddle latter, or just go with a paddle straight up? I have both here. So what are the general thoughts of you peoples out there?

My opinion you best start with a paddle and an electronic keyer, because in case you listen on the ham-bands the cw is often hardly or not readable from people obviously using a vibroplex or whatever. With an electronic keyer you produce perfect timed characters easily, your only concern are the character and word spaces.

When you start this way, lateron you can use a straight key, and you will correct yourself automatically towards the ideal timing of character elements, that you are used to, when using your electronic keyer.

My first attempts at sending CW where on CWCOM. My intention was to start with a paddle but had issues interfacing it to the PC.

Gerry, G3MW the man behind CWCOM, caught me in the act and strongly suggested to start with a straight key. Reason being that this way I would develop a feel for rhythm and pace.

From old days I still had a junker key around and after following Gerry's advise, setting up the key properly and going for it, I quickly fell in love with the junker key and that sending method.

So far I have not tried my paddle in a serious manner, though I intend to do it to increase speed.

All the best on the journey!

I can underline the approach of starting with a straight key. Indeed you develop the rhythm feeling faster. As a bonus in the end you'll be able to key even with to open ended wires in a readable manner, in case you have no key at hand.

If you have both, it's better to practice both and find your own preference other than "you people's" preference.

For the same sending speed, paddle is (much) easier but straight key gives your full control and more satisfactions.

I'd like to use a straight key: rhythm, heritage and general coolness; but from a pragmatic point of view I want to have QSOs, at modest speed, readable by others, and soon. Not too concerned about grace and style at the moment, perhaps later.

Having tried both, I think a paddle will do it for me. I may come back to a straight key later.

I have been strictly cw fer just about 3 years . I started with a electronic keyer and thought it just wasn’t for me and I started useing a straight key I think the straight key helped me develop the rythem and timeing to make the music . My main key is a vibroplex bug then my straight key I very seldom use a electronic keyer I like being nostalgic and use the original tools of cw .

WD3DX I have never tried a bug, been using electronic Iambic keys since I started keying around 2.5 years ago. I really like electronic keys, but recently I have thought to purchase a bug, either from Vibroplex or Begali and give it a try. Hamcation is coming to my area in Feb. and they have a lot of key vendors at that show. I am going to try a bug and see how I do with it.

To the original posts question....electronic keying iambic I really like because you do not have to form the dits and dahs, one side is dits the other dahs. You can become quite proficient with a key like this. I have heard that keying this way compared to a straight key is easier, faster and less fatiguing. But if you are a purest , or nastalgic to morse you may prefer an old school key. I do see quite a few people that utilize both and I think I will venture that way as well. One of the reasons I started with CW was because morse is so foundational to HAM Radio. I now have 5 keys and would like more, I think my next could be a bug/cootie. I hope this helps.

Frank vibroplex sells used bugs when they have them I acquired my from my Elmer . However a bug has a very unique sound as in the fuzzy dits that can be overcome but I like mine the way it was designed. Do some research on a bug there is things like weights and adjustments but once your tuned in you will be pounding brass. Like I said my main key is a bug then my straight key I think in today’s world the call that old school

Interesting discussion. My problem with that is that, regardless of the method (straight vs paddle), I wouldn't know where and how to start.

What should I practice? How? Should I start with letters, words, numbers, etc.

I wish there was a method for sending only.

I use a couple methods of sending practice.
1/ vband.com practice channel. Needs a usb adaptor to plug your key into. Mine was 5 GBP from china (Google vband adaptor for lots of them)

2/ sidetone from an electronic keyer into fldigi, which decodes cw. I just sit the keyer near the laptop mic.

With a broken piece of iron saw blade two nails and a small piece of ply wood you make a double speed key.
Nobody here speaks about a Cootie key also named double speedkey. Left push is mark, right push is mark, you make double the number of dits per second by moving left to right and back compared to a straight key.

Get on the bands call cq and there you go . That’s the best way

Thanks WD3DX I do like the bug keys mechanics of adjusting weights, the looks of it. Its a very cool design like a piece of art.

there is, that is counting for developing your 'fist' with a straigt key, example aa sending requires counting 1 1 123 123 1 1 123 without the spaces, inserted for clarity.

Another way, sent a few linnes of kkkkpreferable using a decoder to check your anomalies, go on with mmmmm etc

A third method is using a text that you put in text to CW in this website. A piece of paper with the text in front of you and trying to produce Morse with your key sunchronous with the sound produced by text to CW.

Be careful that you use 12/12 speed, not 20/8 or something crazy like that. That should ruin your fist, possibly forever.

In case you start with paddle this forum adviced :
https://morsecode.nl/iambic.PDF

Ok, but wouldn't that go against the principle of "don't count dits and dahs"?

oc - you have found the elephant in the room! I started a mail thread on Long Island CW Club Google group about the necessity of sidetone with a paddle. Paraphrasing the replies, they agreed that to distinguish between eg D and B when sending, you need to count the dits.
They did avoid actually using the heretical 'counting' word, but that was the thrust of it.
So there you are: don't count elements of a character except when you do.

G8GDS - Have you got a link to that thread?

So, what to do? If you count, then is this not going to ruin your morse "fluency"?

When we learn a new language, don't we do separate training for speaking and reading?

https://groups.io/g/LongIslandCWClub/message/49000

I'm easy about counting/not counting but it's a bit much to be told counting is some sort of sin, but then it's ok, by the same experts.

It's a complex issue but as grown-ups we are quite capable of understanding the nuances. Just come clean and don't be absolute about no counting.

Ah, I am not a member and I can't see it.

Could you copy that page and put it on Pastebin?

Here is a slightly ugly copy and paste.

Me
[quote]
The question is more to do with whether it is good practice to rely on sidetone to form characters with correct number of dits or whether I should expect, in time, to be able to judge the duration that delivers the right number.
[/quote]

Reply

Dave VK5PL #191
[quote]
Without the feedback of the tone, you will never know if you are making the correct characters. The keyer in the radio makes the dits and dahs. How can you tell how many dits or dahs you are making without hearing the tone.
Dave
VK5PL
[/quote]
Note 'how many', which implies counting. As I say, I'm easy about it, but it's not 'never count'

Pecision CW FistCheck - interface

For exercise on Morse code keying I use: Precision CW Software -> FistCheck - https://qsl.net/dj7hs/download.htm
Suggestions for interface with this program (more in the manual):
* I use Morse key interface found on: "Keying using COM" https://dm2fue.darc.de/key_coach.html USB to serial interface with DTR and CTS on it. But there are other interfaces possible. (Mouse - audio)
* For paddle using this USB to serial interface: https://www.kanga-products.co.uk/ourshop/prod_7750813-New-self-contained-Universal-Keyer-Suitable-for-ALL-Radios.html

Precision CW software has the ability to:
* Blank the screen on exercise.
* Have an easy ticker tape - morse code writer to inspect your code.
* Hear yourself synchonous with computer generated sound - "Stereo".

73, Nico.

Ok, straight key or paddle? The winner is...

... keyboard!

Don't tell me a keyboard is not a natural way of sending morse because a keyer is not natural way either.

A keyboard has the advantage of producing machine code. Vibroplex and later on electronic iambic keyers are invented to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome (glass arm)
One important use of CW is emergency use. The least chance a keyboard is available in those situations.

The different way of keying in the American or European area results in the different occurrence of the "glass arm" and in the development of the Cooty and (semi)automatic keying in the American area. In an emergency, simplicity is the winner. For decoding in a QRM-QRN and busy environment, a trained human is superior. (Fuzzy Logic)

[quote]
The question is more to do with whether it is good practice to rely on sidetone to form characters with correct number of dits or whether I should expect, in time, to be able to judge the duration that delivers the right number.
[/quote]

Yes, that is good practice for beginners and probably all through your CW career. With experience, however, you may not need a continuous sidetone (with handkey or cootie). In the old days CW ops used sounders (in landlines). Some keys (e.g. the Junker) have a "clean" mechanical feedback and sound like a sounder ;-) If you come across a sounder, try it -- it's great fun! They are somewhat hard to find in Europe but plentiful in the US.