N1AS: >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 agree with all your comments Keith. I think the "myth" is that somehow iambic is "better". It is *not* for the first 3 reasons in your list, and it's only 4-6% more efficient when sending normal English text (i.e. not the ~11% when sending random code groups). 4-6% is not "noticeably more efficient" in my opinion. The marginal increase in efficiency is outweighed by the disadvantages cited above. If I were learning code today, I might suggest bypassing a key completely and learning touch-typing. You can send code more efficiently and faster, and small keyboards will directly interface to rigs like the K3. But for pure fun, portable operation, etc, I will always prefer a paddle until age takes its toll on my hand coordination. About that other myth that "you can send twice as fast as you can copy"... That only applies to beginners and is probably no longer true at speeds >20 WPM (i.e. sending code at >40 WPM becomes much more difficult than copying at >20 WPM because of mechanical limitations in hand versus none in your brain...assuming you can copy in your head. Good discussion and I'll now QRT also! 73, Bill W4ZV _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
For anyone who uses a paddle but not iambic keying, and wonders
whether iambic might be better, I'd suggest learning just a couple letters as a trial starter: the letters "C" and "Q. " You'll get good practice sending "CQ." If you don't find it helpful, you haven't lost anything: just return to non-iambic keying of "C" and "Q." But if you find it helpful, continue by gradually learning some more letters in iambic. I made the change to iambic with all letters (that are iambic) at once a few years ago. I didn't find it easy, but I did find it to be worthwhile at my usual conversational speed of 25-30 wpm. I don't see any reason why someone would have to make the change for all characters at once. 73 Dick, K0KK _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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