Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth

[Bill W4ZV]

N1AS:

 >2.  Timing - The timing needed to insert elements can be very tight.
This is only an issue at high speed though.  At normal speeds, the
timing is very workable and the user can benefit from the greater
efficiency.

         Which is why QRQ (60+ WPM) folks who win HST Championships
don't use it.  It is also why anyone with less than perfect
hand coordination, due to age, palsy or whatever will have
difficulty using it.  My good friend N4SU had to give up hamming
when he developed palsy and could no longer send iambic CW.  If
I had realized this problem before he passed away, I would have
suggested he switch back to a single paddle, which is much more
forgiving of timing errors...a bug being an extreme example.

 >The efficiency of the iambic method is no myth.  Whether it is worth
learning depends entirely on how able or motivated you are to learn
something new.

         Theoretically you are correct, but practically you
are wrong.  I assure you that true competitors in any endeavor
would die for a 5% advantage, and yet HST winners don't use iambic.
Any theoretical advantage of iambic is lost when your hand cannot
meet its exact timing requirements.

         If we based our conclusions purely on one theoretical
parameter, there would be no reason to have competitions.  The
highest powered car would simply be declared the winner.  In the
real world, results are a combination of many factors...which is
why we still have competitions.

                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV

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[Ken N9VV-2]

Thank you Bill and David for your excellent comments. This makes great
reading. I broke my wrist falling off a ladder in 2005. Ever since the
accident I have had debilitating timing problems with my paddles. I
switched to a single lever (custom built by Joe K8LKC) and my speed
immediately picked up 10wpm (20 --> 30). This also applies to anyone
with carpal tunnel issues.  I agree, as age and timing dominate, a
single lever paddle is a joy to use.
de ken n9vv

Bill Tippett wrote:

> N1AS:
>
>  >2.  Timing - The timing needed to insert elements can be very tight.
> This is only an issue at high speed though.  At normal speeds, the
> timing is very workable and the user can benefit from the greater
> efficiency.
>
>         Which is why QRQ (60+ WPM) folks who win HST Championships
> don't use it.  It is also why anyone with less than perfect
> hand coordination, due to age, palsy or whatever will have
> difficulty using it.  My good friend N4SU had to give up hamming
> when he developed palsy and could no longer send iambic CW.  If
> I had realized this problem before he passed away, I would have
> suggested he switch back to a single paddle, which is much more
> forgiving of timing errors...a bug being an extreme example.
>
>  >The efficiency of the iambic method is no myth.  Whether it is worth
> learning depends entirely on how able or motivated you are to learn
> something new.
>
>         Theoretically you are correct, but practically you
> are wrong.  I assure you that true competitors in any endeavor
> would die for a 5% advantage, and yet HST winners don't use iambic.
> Any theoretical advantage of iambic is lost when your hand cannot
> meet its exact timing requirements.
>
>         If we based our conclusions purely on one theoretical
> parameter, there would be no reason to have competitions.  The
> highest powered car would simply be declared the winner.  In the
> real world, results are a combination of many factors...which is
> why we still have competitions.
>
>                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV
>
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>

--
What a fantastic time to be in Ham Radio!
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[Darwin, Keith]

I said:
>> 2.  Timing - The timing needed to insert elements can be very tight.

Bill replied:
> Which is why QRQ (60+ WPM) folks who win HST Championships don't use
it.  It is also why anyone
> with less than perfect hand coordination, due to age, palsy or
whatever will have difficulty using it.


Yes, the timing makes high speed iambic is unworkable.  But that is AT
HIGH SPEED.  At normal speeds, (setting coordination issues aside) the
timing is very manageable.  


I said:
>> The efficiency of the iambic method is no myth.  Whether it is worth
learning depends entirely
>> on how able or motivated you are to learn something new.

Bill replied:
> Theoretically you are correct, but practically you are wrong.  I
assure you that true competitors
> in any endeavor would die for a 5% advantage, and yet HST winners
don't use iambic.
> Any theoretical advantage of iambic is lost when your hand cannot meet
its exact timing requirements.


Well, no, I'm not wrong practically.  HST folks are interested in speed,
not efficiency.  All their choice tells me is that iambic is not the
thing to pick for HST.  What they drive in the Indy 500 is not what I
drive to work.  Different conditions require different solutions.

So what we've established is that Iambic:
  - Doesn't work for high speed (> 50 wpm?).
  - May be tough for people with coordination limitations.
  - May be tough for some people to learn.
  - Is noticeably more efficient than any method excluding computers.

I'm still wondering where the myth is.

I'll not post again on the topic as I've drug it rather far OT.

Good discussion Bill.  Tnx & 73!

- Keith N1AS -
- k2 5411.ssb.100 -

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