Elecraft

Bug mode on K3?

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John Fritze

Bug mode on K3?

I have a really dumb question:

For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?

--
John Fritze Jr
K2QY
[hidden email]
ACACES president 2014
Albany County RACES Radio Officer
ARES ENY DEC Northern District
Hudson Div. Asst. Director
Twitter: @k2qy
401 261 4996 (cell)
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Jim Allen

Re: Bug mode on K3?

Maybe an even dumber question: Why do you need a bug mode?

The radio doesn't know you are using a bug, or a straight key, does it?

73 de W6OGC Jim Allen

On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 11:45 AM, John Fritze <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have a really dumb question:
>
> For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
> a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
> paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?
>
> --
> John Fritze Jr
> K2QY
> [hidden email]
> ACACES president 2014
> Albany County RACES Radio Officer
> ARES ENY DEC Northern District
> Hudson Div. Asst. Director
> Twitter: @k2qy
> 401 261 4996 (cell)
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

At the same time, I'd like to have a selection of "nothing" on at least the
ring input of the key jack. (Actually my request is for the KX3, but I
assume they work the same way.)

With "Nothing" selected on the ring and "KEY" selected on the tip, the key
input would be compatible with mono 1/8" plugs.

73 - Jim K8MR

In a message dated 12/7/2014 5:19:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[hidden email] writes:

I have a really dumb question:

For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?

--
John Fritze Jr
K2QY

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Alan Bloom

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

You can certainly do that, but when I've tried it in the past I found
that the feel is totally different from a mechanical "bug"
(semi-automatic key). To the point that I basically couldn't send with it.

Alan N1AL

On 12/07/2014 09:45 AM, John Fritze wrote:
> I have a really dumb question:
>
> For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
> a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
> paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?
>

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Bill Breeden

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

I have tried that, but (at least on my K3) there is a timing interaction
between the paddle input and the straight key input that delays the
first dah when crossing over from a dit to a dah in same character.
There is no issue when crossing over from a dah to a dit. In other
words, I could send a "B" just fine, but couldn't send "V". There maybe
some adjustment I could have made, but I didn't pursue it. The delay I
encountered isn't related to the semi break-in delay adjustment on the
front panel.

73,

Bill - NA5DX

On 12/8/2014 7:17 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2014 12:45:23 -0500
> From: John Fritze<[hidden email]>
> To:[hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Bug mode on K3?
> Message-ID:
> <CAC2wZkb_Z6xT-JFKHPhdKxH+C2xFPhHvZ3eAK3=OEec=[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I have a really dumb question:
>
> For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
> a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
> paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?
>
> -- John Fritze Jr K2QY [hidden email] ACACES president 2014 Albany
> County RACES Radio Officer ARES ENY DEC Northern District Hudson Div.
> Asst. Director Twitter: @k2qy 401 261 4996 (cell)

Bill Breeden

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

A real "bug" works fine works fine in the straight key jack, but some
would like their paddles to send automatic dits and manual dahs like a bug.

73,

Bill - NA5DX

On 12/8/2014 7:17 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Message: 2 Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2014 11:48:32 -0600 From: Jim Allen
> <[hidden email]> To: John Fritze <[hidden email]> Cc:
> elecraft <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bug mode
> on K3? Message-ID:
> <CAABX7hpMGifLwsH6ztN62Mqw6i4mAbKkT2zNP=[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Maybe an even dumber question:
> Why do you need a bug mode? The radio doesn't know you are using a
> bug, or a straight key, does it? 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen On Sun, Dec 7,
> 2014 at 11:45 AM, John Fritze <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> >I have a really dumb question:
>> >
>> >For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to wire
>> >a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to the
>> >paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?
>> >
>> >--
>> >John Fritze Jr
>> >K2QY
>> >[hidden email]
>> >ACACES president 2014
>> >Albany County RACES Radio Officer
>> >ARES ENY DEC Northern District
>> >Hudson Div. Asst. Director
>> >Twitter: @k2qy
>> >401 261 4996 (cell)

Guy Olinger K2AV

Re: Bug mode on K3?

Well....

It would be extremely hard to duplicate the "feel" and timing of a
mechanical bug in anything electronic. The application of timing from the
dit side on a bug is NOT linear with the code speed. The time interval to
move the bar from not ditting to the point where it does dit is FIXED
without any relationship to dit speed. Also the delay varies depending on
how hard you hit the bug with your thumb. Then once the bar is moved to
ditting, thereafter it dits at the speed based on the placement of the
weight.

There also is a difficult to predict minor additional delay because the end
of the weighted bar does not move immediately, but with the buildup of
tension in the bending point of the bar.

If that were not enough, my Vibroplex has seven different adjustments that
will vary one or the other or all of these mechanical delays.

Anyone who ever learned to send perfect tape machine code with a bug simply
got used to those delays and accommodated for them unconsciously in their
wrist and thumb movement. Those who did not accommodate had an immediately
recognizable "swing" to their "fist". Also, in the "fist" discussion, there
were many that sent dits at one speed and dahs at another. The resulting
sent CW was as easily recognizable at anyone's voice.

On a mechanical bug, a B would send differently than a V, because the the
dit pressure in the B would have to be advanced in timing to prevent a too
long spacing between the dah and the first dit. Since the dah is a simple
mechanical press, the dits are uncousciously started whenever they need to.
In the V, the correct space between the last dit and the dah is easy.
Someone whose muscle memory had the unconscious adjustment for all the
mechanical issue, now using an uncompensated electronic device would find
themselves overwriting the opening dah of the B with the dits, now being
sent too soon.

IMHO, someone who goes from operating a real mechanical bug to some
electronic rube goldberg is going to stumble all over it because the
programming to allow dits at one speed and dahs at another WITH the fixed
bar movement delay, etc, is an expenditure of commercial funds that ain't
gonna happen in a for-profit enterprise.

Those of you who want to program an electronic bug WITH the appropriate
mechanical biases employed, you go right ahead with your own time and
money. Some of us will test it for you and see if it FEELS or SENDS like a
bug. Then someone tell me we should put that firmware in a K3 because ???

73, Guy K2AV

On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Bill Breeden <[hidden email]>
wrote:

>
> A real "bug" works fine works fine in the straight key jack, but some
> would like their paddles to send automatic dits and manual dahs like a bug.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill - NA5DX
>
> On 12/8/2014 7:17 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
>> Message: 2 Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2014 11:48:32 -0600 From: Jim Allen <
>> [hidden email]> To: John Fritze <[hidden email]> Cc:
>> elecraft <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bug mode on
>> K3? Message-ID: <CAABX7hpMGifLwsH6ztN62Mqw6i4mAbKkT2zNP=
>> [hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>> Maybe an even dumber question: Why do you need a bug mode? The radio
>> doesn't know you are using a bug, or a straight key, does it? 73 de W6OGC
>> Jim Allen On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 11:45 AM, John Fritze <
>> [hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> >I have a really dumb question:
>>> >
>>> >For those that want a "bug mode" on the K3, why is it not possible to
>>> wire
>>> >a set of paddles (or even a single lever keyer) with the dot going to
>>> the
>>> >paddles input and the dash going to the straight key input?
>>> >
>>> >--
>>> >John Fritze Jr
>>> >K2QY
>>> >[hidden email]
>>> >ACACES president 2014
>>> >Albany County RACES Radio Officer
>>> >ARES ENY DEC Northern District
>>> >Hudson Div. Asst. Director
>>> >Twitter: @k2qy
>>> >401 261 4996 (cell)
>>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Edward R Cole

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

I received a K1EL K14 Keyer in the mail from Joel, W4BBJ, who offered
it to me when I reported having trouble learning to use my paddle
with Iambic keying (using the k3 internal keyer).

The K14 offers six keying modes:
1- Iambic-A
2- Iambic-B
3- Ultimatic
4- straight key
5- Dit priority
6- Dash priority

Not sure I would ever use the last two, but I am eager to try out
Ultimatic mode to see if it feels more natural for me.

The plus is 12 programable messages, two callsign memories, beacon
mode, programmable delays, message stacking, etc. etc. with no
computer. I'll be able to store five standard eme messages with
additional memory left.

I can see it running my 6m in beacon and my 10-GHz beacon with no
extra hardware.
Big plus was the two radio connections so I can have both my Bencher
and straight key available for either K3 or KX3 at the throw of a
switch. Loving it already ;-)

Thanks to Joel for the nice offer - and it looks quite nicely assembled!

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

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Vic Rosenthal

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Guy Olinger K2AV

And don't forget the tactile feedback provided to your fingers by the momentum of the weight and the arm swinging back and forth.
I suspect that those who want this haven't a clue about actually using a mechanical bug.

Vic K2VCO/4X6GP

> On Dec 9, 2014, at 2:20 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Well....
>
> It would be extremely hard to duplicate the "feel" and timing of a
> mechanical bug in anything electronic. The application of timing from the
> dit side on a bug is NOT linear with the code speed. The time interval to
> move the bar from not ditting to the point where it does dit is FIXED
> without any relationship to dit speed. Also the delay varies depending on
> how hard you hit the bug with your thumb. Then once the bar is moved to
> ditting, thereafter it dits at the speed based on the placement of the
> weight.
>
> There also is a difficult to predict minor additional delay because the end
> of the weighted bar does not move immediately, but with the buildup of
> tension in the bending point of the bar.
>
> If that were not enough, my Vibroplex has seven different adjustments that
> will vary one or the other or all of these mechanical delays.
>
> Anyone who ever learned to send perfect tape machine code with a bug simply
> got used to those delays and accommodated for them unconsciously in their
> wrist and thumb movement. Those who did not accommodate had an immediately
> recognizable "swing" to their "fist". Also, in the "fist" discussion, there
> were many that sent dits at one speed and dahs at another. The resulting
> sent CW was as easily recognizable at anyone's voice.
>
> On a mechanical bug, a B would send differently than a V, because the the
> dit pressure in the B would have to be advanced in timing to prevent a too
> long spacing between the dah and the first dit. Since the dah is a simple
> mechanical press, the dits are uncousciously started whenever they need to.
> In the V, the correct space between the last dit and the dah is easy.
> Someone whose muscle memory had the unconscious adjustment for all the
> mechanical issue, now using an uncompensated electronic device would find
> themselves overwriting the opening dah of the B with the dits, now being
> sent too soon.
>
> IMHO, someone who goes from operating a real mechanical bug to some
> electronic rube goldberg is going to stumble all over it because the
> programming to allow dits at one speed and dahs at another WITH the fixed
> bar movement delay, etc, is an expenditure of commercial funds that ain't
> gonna happen in a for-profit enterprise.
>
> Those of you who want to program an electronic bug WITH the appropriate
> mechanical biases employed, you go right ahead with your own time and
> money. Some of us will test it for you and see if it FEELS or SENDS like a
> bug. Then someone tell me we should put that firmware in a K3 because ???
>
> 73, Guy K2AV

Phil Wheeler-2

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Edward R Cole

I have the K1EL K42, Ed. Built it last Spring for
the fun of it as much as anything. It was a very
nice kt and the final product seems excellent.

This thread title has been making me chuckle a
bit: How often do hams ask for bugs in their
equipment? :-

So I have a weird sense of humor :-)

Phil W7OX

On 12/8/14 9:56 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:

> I received a K1EL K14 Keyer in the mail from
> Joel, W4BBJ, who offered it to me when I
> reported having trouble learning to use my
> paddle with Iambic keying (using the k3 internal
> keyer).
>
> The K14 offers six keying modes:
> 1- Iambic-A
> 2- Iambic-B
> 3- Ultimatic
> 4- straight key
> 5- Dit priority
> 6- Dash priority
>
> Not sure I would ever use the last two, but I am
> eager to try out Ultimatic mode to see if it
> feels more natural for me.
>
> The plus is 12 programable messages, two
> callsign memories, beacon mode, programmable
> delays, message stacking, etc. etc. with no
> computer. I'll be able to store five standard
> eme messages with additional memory left.
>
> I can see it running my 6m in beacon and my
> 10-GHz beacon with no extra hardware.
> Big plus was the two radio connections so I can
> have both my Bencher and straight key available
> for either K3 or KX3 at the throw of a switch.
> Loving it already ;-)
>
> Thanks to Joel for the nice offer - and it looks
> quite nicely assembled!
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> http://www.kl7uw.com
> "Kits made by KL7UW"
> Dubus Mag business:
> [hidden email]

Edward R Cole

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by John Fritze

Phil,

You got a chuckle with your comment. Probably even more "humorous"
is that I am not a "CW guy", so why am I buying a keyer?? Well, I
did start out ham radio on CW as a Novice (KN8MWA) mainly 40m, so I
am not totally a "CW virgin" ;-) But I struggled to pass my 13wpm
test before the FCC and essentially let life overcome my further
efforts for the next 24 years (college/career...).

So after moving to Alaska in fall of 1979 and getting my first sled
dog in 1980, dog mushing captured my interest so that I signed in
1982 up to run an Iditarod Sled Dog Race ham station in a remote
check point on the trail - what fun! But there was a hitch - check
points scattered over 1200 miles of trail used 80/40m to communicate
with HQ in Anchorage. I had to get my General Class - had six months
to get up to 13wpm!

With the use of cassette tapes (remember those?) I passed my 13wpm
test at the Anchorage FCC Office and decided to take my Advanced
(AL7EB) test and passed it, too. But after passing the test I still
was not a CW op.

1998 I decided to do "moon-bounce" (eme) and what was used? Uhuh =
CW. Fortunately, I obtained my first pc in 1996 and there was a
keyboard CW program so I did not have to send by hand (only had my
original Novice straight key). But receiving super-weak CW is still
by ear! 15-18wpm is favored for eme.

2010 I bought my K3 and decided to buy a paddle (Bencher-2) to try
automatic CW and made a royal mess of that! I reverted to the old
straight key (though I got rusty after all the years of nonuse).

So I am actually going to try out the "bug" mode with the
keyer. Push one way string of dots, push back and get string of
dashes. I will not send faster than 18wpm so that ought to work OK.

Let you know how it goes after a couple weeks! ;-)

73, Ed - KL7UW
PS: I waited until 2000 to upgrade to Extra after CW requirement was
lowered to 13wpm.

Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:46:26 -0800
From: Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bug mode on K3?
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

I have the K1EL K42, Ed. Built it last Spring for
the fun of it as much as anything. It was a very
nice kt and the final product seems excellent.

This thread title has been making me chuckle a
bit: How often do hams ask for bugs in their
equipment? :-

So I have a weird sense of humor :-)

Phil W7OX

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Bug mode on K3?

Ed,

I think you will have a better time with Ultimatic mode than Bug mode -
especially with dual lever paddles.
Actually it is about the same - close the dit side and get a string of
dits, then close the dah side (even if the dit side is still closed) and
you get a string of dahs. In other words, the last lever closed
determines whether there is a string of dits or dahs.
It still allows dit and dah inserting - for instance with a "K" start
with the dah paddle, then before the dah is complete, tap the dit paddle
quickly (leaving the dah paddle closed) - the dit will be inserted
between the two dahs - just have to remove fingers from both paddles
after the last dah.

With Bug mode, there is no relationship between the dits and dahs,
except that the dahs are manually formed. The timing relationship is
difficult because you have to do it audiably from the sidetone rather
than depending on the tactile feedback that one gets with a real bug.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/9/2014 3:46 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:

>
>
> 2010 I bought my K3 and decided to buy a paddle (Bencher-2) to try
> automatic CW and made a royal mess of that! I reverted to the old
> straight key (though I got rusty after all the years of nonuse).
>
> So I am actually going to try out the "bug" mode with the keyer. Push
> one way string of dots, push back and get string of dashes. I will not
> send faster than 18wpm so that ought to work OK.
>

Bill-3

Re: Bug mode on K3?

I learned on a Vibroplex single lever paddle and a Hallicrafters HA-1 TO
Keyer. That was in the 60s.

Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way, as most of the current
rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key. Hence, I built a
little box with a couple of 2032 batteries in it, a keyer chip, and a
pot. It is attached to the side of my trusty single lever paddle. I
connect it to my 480 or K3 as I would a straight key or a bug. No big
deal to me.

Of course, I am old fashioned. Imagine, still using a single lever
paddle in this modern age of whatevers that can number messages or
entries, self log, and maybe even time the turkey roast.

Bill W2BLC K-Line

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Bug mode on K3?

Bill and all,

There are single lever paddles to be had (but not inexpensive ones).
There are two manufacturers of paddles that offer single lever varieties.
I am the proud owner of a K3ZN KNSLR single lever paddle set. Tony does
make very find paddles and other keying devices, smooth as silk.
Begali also makes single lever models.
There may be others, but those are the two I know about without doing a
Google search.

I do have a couple others that are in the 'junk' category.

Some dual lever paddles can be altered to provide single lever action by
placing a fixed spacer between the two paddles, but that works on some,
but not others. If the pivot pins are between the finger grips and the
contacts, that will not work, but if the contacts are between the
pivots and the finger grips, the spacer solution will work fine.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/9/2014 7:35 PM, W2BLC wrote:

> I learned on a Vibroplex single lever paddle and a Hallicrafters HA-1
> TO Keyer. That was in the 60s.
>
> Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way, as most of the
> current rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key. Hence, I
> built a little box with a couple of 2032 batteries in it, a keyer
> chip, and a pot. It is attached to the side of my trusty single lever
> paddle. I connect it to my 480 or K3 as I would a straight key or a
> bug. No big deal to me.
>
> Of course, I am old fashioned. Imagine, still using a single lever
> paddle in this modern age of whatevers that can number messages or
> entries, self log, and maybe even time the turkey roast.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Bill-3

> Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way,

Vibroplex, Begali, Schurr (Scheurnemann) and others still offer single
lever paddles.

> most of the current rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key

Any of the rigs, including the K3, that include keyers work just fine
with single lever paddles.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-12-09 7:35 PM, W2BLC wrote:

> I learned on a Vibroplex single lever paddle and a Hallicrafters HA-1 TO
> Keyer. That was in the 60s.
>
> Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way, as most of the current
> rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key. Hence, I built a
> little box with a couple of 2032 batteries in it, a keyer chip, and a
> pot. It is attached to the side of my trusty single lever paddle. I
> connect it to my 480 or K3 as I would a straight key or a bug. No big
> deal to me.
>
> Of course, I am old fashioned. Imagine, still using a single lever
> paddle in this modern age of whatevers that can number messages or
> entries, self log, and maybe even time the turkey roast.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
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Bill-3

Re: Bug mode on K3?

The internal keyers on several rigs I have used, including the K3, do
not well support the single lever paddle. They are progressive, offering
versions of Iambic keying only. If they did function properly with a
single lever paddle - then why do you suppose I built a keyer to use
with my paddle?

Bill W2BLC K-Line

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David Bunte

Re: Bug mode on K3?

Bill -

I don't understand what you mean by "They are progressive...". I use a
single lever paddle, and have for years, with my IC-7000, with a borrowed
IC-756 Pro III, and for about 3 years now, with my K3.

Dave - K9FN

On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 8:56 PM, W2BLC <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The internal keyers on several rigs I have used, including the K3, do not
> well support the single lever paddle. They are progressive, offering
> versions of Iambic keying only. If they did function properly with a
> single lever paddle - then why do you suppose I built a keyer to use with
> my paddle?
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
>
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Bob-2

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Here is another single lever paddle:

http://www.americanmorse.com/bushwhacker.htm

Pretty decent bang for the buck.

73,
Bob
K2TK

On 12/9/2014 8:37 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

>
> > Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way,
>
> Vibroplex, Begali, Schurr (Scheurnemann) and others still offer single
> lever paddles.
>
>> most of the current rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key
>
> Any of the rigs, including the K3, that include keyers work just fine
> with single lever paddles.
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 2014-12-09 7:35 PM, W2BLC wrote:
>> I learned on a Vibroplex single lever paddle and a Hallicrafters HA-1 TO
>> Keyer. That was in the 60s.
>>
>> Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way, as most of the current
>> rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key. Hence, I built a
>> little box with a couple of 2032 batteries in it, a keyer chip, and a
>> pot. It is attached to the side of my trusty single lever paddle. I
>> connect it to my 480 or K3 as I would a straight key or a bug. No big
>> deal to me.
>>
>> Of course, I am old fashioned. Imagine, still using a single lever
>> paddle in this modern age of whatevers that can number messages or
>> entries, self log, and maybe even time the turkey roast.
>>
>> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>>

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Bill-3

> They are progressive, offering versions of Iambic keying only.

The fact that a keyer offers Iambic A/Iambic B has *nothing* to do
with the ability to support a single lever paddle. I have used single
lever paddles with the Iambic keyers in Icom (IC-706mkIIg), Yaesu
(FT-1000D, FT-1000MP MKV, FT-2000) and Elecraft (K3) with no issues.
The iambic features of the keyer are not active unless both left and
right contacts are closed at the same time - which is a physical
impossibility with a single lever paddle.

> then why do you suppose I built a keyer to use with my paddle?

I have no idea why you built a totally unnecessary keyer to use with
your paddle.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-12-09 8:56 PM, W2BLC wrote:

> The internal keyers on several rigs I have used, including the K3, do
> not well support the single lever paddle. They are progressive, offering
> versions of Iambic keying only. If they did function properly with a
> single lever paddle - then why do you suppose I built a keyer to use
> with my paddle?
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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>

Al Gulseth-2

Re: Bug mode on K3?

In reply to this post by Bob-2

Agreed on "bang for the buck"; another in that category IMHO is the Kent SP-1.
I have both, with a slight edge to the Kent, but YMMV. And, for the op who
wants the feel of a bug with an electronic keyer, the Vibroplex "VibroKeyer"
is still in production... fifty years after it was introduced....

73, Al

On Tue December 9 2014 8:11:51 pm Bob wrote:

> Here is another single lever paddle:
>
> http://www.americanmorse.com/bushwhacker.htm
>
> Pretty decent bang for the buck.
>
> 73,
> Bob
> K2TK
>
> On 12/9/2014 8:37 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> > > Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way,
> >
> > Vibroplex, Begali, Schurr (Scheurnemann) and others still offer single
> > lever paddles.
> >
> >> most of the current rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key
> >
> > Any of the rigs, including the K3, that include keyers work just fine
> > with single lever paddles.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > ... Joe, W4TV
> >
> > On 2014-12-09 7:35 PM, W2BLC wrote:
> >> I learned on a Vibroplex single lever paddle and a Hallicrafters HA-1 TO
> >> Keyer. That was in the 60s.
> >>
> >> Single lever paddles appear to have gone the way, as most of the current
> >> rigs (K3 included) do not well support such a key. Hence, I built a
> >> little box with a couple of 2032 batteries in it, a keyer chip, and a
> >> pot. It is attached to the side of my trusty single lever paddle. I
> >> connect it to my 480 or K3 as I would a straight key or a bug. No big
> >> deal to me.
> >>
> >> Of course, I am old fashioned. Imagine, still using a single lever
> >> paddle in this modern age of whatevers that can number messages or
> >> entries, self log, and maybe even time the turkey roast.
> >>
> >> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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