Kent Single Lever Paddles

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Kent Single Lever Paddles

Jack
Last week I asked K3 Support if single lever paddle support was on the to
"to do" list.  Gary Surrency responded that it was not but would be
considered.

within days the answer came back that it would not be supported due to the
small number of users affected.

 

At first I was a little annoyed but now I am all right with that decision
because I have found that I can in fact use my Kent paddle with a slap and
dash technique with the K3 internal keyer just the way it is.

 

1.       I changed my weighting to 1.25 and selected MODE A.

2.       I used the TEXT DECODE function to get feedback.

3.       I made sure I was consistently as fast as possible with my keying
of elements within a character when switching from dot(s) to dash(es).

 

This technique "cured" my problem of things like CQ being seen NNMET!!!!

Using the TEXT DECODE function also helped with getting rid of unwanted
Farnsworth spacing between characters.  The better I get at hearing CW the
more annoying it becomes.  It also makes sending a more natural rhythm.

 

BTW, before I worked this method out I hooked up my microHam CW Keyer and
used it and it worked FB with no effort on my part but I resented having an
extra box and extra cables on my desk!  In an attempt to clean up my station
I went back to using the K3 keyer and worked things out!  Not only did I get
rid of the external keyer and cables but now the Kent single lever paddle is
plugged into the paddle jack and so TEXT DECODE as well as TERMINAL mode in
the K3 Utility both work on send and receive.

 

Jack AE6GC, K3 1433, KX1 1403

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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

WILLIS COOKE
Why do you need special interface for a single lever paddle?  It works the same as an Iambic paddle except that you can't close both contacts at once.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ


--- On Sun, 8/31/08, Jack Regan <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Jack Regan <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:10 PM
> Last week I asked K3 Support if single lever paddle support
> was on the to
> "to do" list.  Gary Surrency responded that it
> was not but would be
> considered.
>
> within days the answer came back that it would not be
> supported due to the
> small number of users affected.
>
>  
>
> At first I was a little annoyed but now I am all right with
> that decision
> because I have found that I can in fact use my Kent paddle
> with a slap and
> dash technique with the K3 internal keyer just the way it
> is.
>
>  
>
> 1.       I changed my weighting to 1.25 and selected MODE
> A.
>
> 2.       I used the TEXT DECODE function to get feedback.
>
> 3.       I made sure I was consistently as fast as possible
> with my keying
> of elements within a character when switching from dot(s)
> to dash(es).
>
>  
>
> This technique "cured" my problem of things like
> CQ being seen NNMET!!!!
>
> Using the TEXT DECODE function also helped with getting rid
> of unwanted
> Farnsworth spacing between characters.  The better I get at
> hearing CW the
> more annoying it becomes.  It also makes sending a more
> natural rhythm.
>
>  
>
> BTW, before I worked this method out I hooked up my
> microHam CW Keyer and
> used it and it worked FB with no effort on my part but I
> resented having an
> extra box and extra cables on my desk!  In an attempt to
> clean up my station
> I went back to using the K3 keyer and worked things out!
> Not only did I get
> rid of the external keyer and cables but now the Kent
> single lever paddle is
> plugged into the paddle jack and so TEXT DECODE as well as
> TERMINAL mode in
> the K3 Utility both work on send and receive.
>
>  
>
> Jack AE6GC, K3 1433, KX1 1403
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

N4LQ-2
It's not the single vs. dual lever issue that bothers these guys. It's the
iambic mode, a or b. Mode B has been the standard since the early 70's.
TenTec came out with their KR-40 which is mode b and ever since then mode A
has been a step child. All JA rigs use mode B now.
Basically, mode B has enough brains to know if you held in a lever long
enough to produce the last element without actually starting to send it.
People who learned on mode B, trying to send the letter C on a mode A
machine will end up sending the letter K. The last dit is dropped because it
wants you to hold in the dit button until that dit has started to form. Mode
A people who try to send C end up sending KA _._._ because they hold the dit
lever in too long. Both modes are iambic since holding in both levers
results in alternate dits and dahs. It's just a matter of when to let go!
A single lever paddle works equally well with either mode. In fact when you
consider the entire alphabet, less finger movement is required with the
single lever paddle. This came as a shock to me. Check the letter C. On a
single lever we swing left, right, left, right. That's 4 movements. With
duals, we (push left and hold), (push right and hold), (release left),
(release right) for letter C. So we have the same number of movements with
either paddle. Now let's do A. With single lever we swing left, swing right,
release. 3 moves. With duals, we push left and hold, push right, release
left, release right. 4 moves! It all happens so fast that you don't realize
you are doing it.
The Kent single lever paddle is a precision device. I prefer a wider finger
piece over the thin paddle Kent uses however.
The K3 works well with either single or duals. It doesn't know the
difference.
Steve Ellington
[hidden email]
----- Original Message -----
From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[hidden email]>
To: "Jack Regan" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles


> Why do you need special interface for a single lever paddle?  It works the
> same as an Iambic paddle except that you can't close both contacts at
> once.
>
> Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
> K5EWJ
>
>
> --- On Sun, 8/31/08, Jack Regan <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> From: Jack Regan <[hidden email]>
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:10 PM
>> Last week I asked K3 Support if single lever paddle support
>> was on the to
>> "to do" list.  Gary Surrency responded that it
>> was not but would be
>> considered.
>>
>> within days the answer came back that it would not be
>> supported due to the
>> small number of users affected.
>>
>>
>>
>> At first I was a little annoyed but now I am all right with
>> that decision
>> because I have found that I can in fact use my Kent paddle
>> with a slap and
>> dash technique with the K3 internal keyer just the way it
>> is.
>>
>>
>>
>> 1.       I changed my weighting to 1.25 and selected MODE
>> A.
>>
>> 2.       I used the TEXT DECODE function to get feedback.
>>
>> 3.       I made sure I was consistently as fast as possible
>> with my keying
>> of elements within a character when switching from dot(s)
>> to dash(es).
>>
>>
>>
>> This technique "cured" my problem of things like
>> CQ being seen NNMET!!!!
>>
>> Using the TEXT DECODE function also helped with getting rid
>> of unwanted
>> Farnsworth spacing between characters.  The better I get at
>> hearing CW the
>> more annoying it becomes.  It also makes sending a more
>> natural rhythm.
>>
>>
>>
>> BTW, before I worked this method out I hooked up my
>> microHam CW Keyer and
>> used it and it worked FB with no effort on my part but I
>> resented having an
>> extra box and extra cables on my desk!  In an attempt to
>> clean up my station
>> I went back to using the K3 keyer and worked things out!
>> Not only did I get
>> rid of the external keyer and cables but now the Kent
>> single lever paddle is
>> plugged into the paddle jack and so TEXT DECODE as well as
>> TERMINAL mode in
>> the K3 Utility both work on send and receive.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jack AE6GC, K3 1433, KX1 1403
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
> _______________________________________________
> 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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Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1644 - Release Date: 8/31/2008
4:59 PM

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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Bill W4ZV

n4lq wrote
A single lever paddle works equally well with either mode. In fact when you
consider the entire alphabet, less finger movement is required with the
single lever paddle. This came as a shock to me.
Which is why nearly all competitors in the High Speed Telegraphy (HST) competition use single levers for the sending tests.
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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Nick Kennedy
In reply to this post by N4LQ-2
Wow, if I had to do all that extra junk I'd get rid of my dual paddle
Kent, Brown Bros., and K8RA keys and go back to that cruddy Heath single
paddle integrated unit I used to have.

Steve, I think you make the common assumption that having a dual paddle
*requires* the operator to use the "squeeze" method.  It really
doesn't.  It just *allows* you to go from dit to dah and vice versa more
efficiently.

73--Nick, WA5BDU


n4lq wrote:
> With duals, we push left and hold, push right, release left, release
> right. 4 moves! I
> Steve Ellington
> [hidden email]

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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Don Wilhelm-4
In reply to this post by N4LQ-2
Steve,

You want Ultimatic mode.  It makes a dual lever paddle operate almost
like a single lever. To quote from the K1EL K12 keyer manual, "In
Ultimatic mode when both paddles are pressed the keyer will send a
continuous stream of whichever paddle was last pressed."  That makes the
hand motions identical to using a single lever paddle.

The small K1EL keyers that support Ultimatic keying are a must for me
because it is not built-in to any transceiver internal keyer as far as I
know.

73,
Don W3FPR

n4lq wrote:

> It's not the single vs. dual lever issue that bothers these guys. It's
> the iambic mode, a or b. Mode B has been the standard since the early
> 70's. TenTec came out with their KR-40 which is mode b and ever since
> then mode A has been a step child. All JA rigs use mode B now.
> Basically, mode B has enough brains to know if you held in a lever
> long enough to produce the last element without actually starting to
> send it. People who learned on mode B, trying to send the letter C on
> a mode A machine will end up sending the letter K. The last dit is
> dropped because it wants you to hold in the dit button until that dit
> has started to form. Mode A people who try to send C end up sending KA
> _._._ because they hold the dit lever in too long. Both modes are
> iambic since holding in both levers results in alternate dits and
> dahs. It's just a matter of when to let go!
> A single lever paddle works equally well with either mode. In fact
> when you consider the entire alphabet, less finger movement is
> required with the single lever paddle. This came as a shock to me.
> Check the letter C. On a single lever we swing left, right, left,
> right. That's 4 movements. With duals, we (push left and hold), (push
> right and hold), (release left), (release right) for letter C. So we
> have the same number of movements with either paddle. Now let's do A.
> With single lever we swing left, swing right, release. 3 moves. With
> duals, we push left and hold, push right, release left, release right.
> 4 moves! It all happens so fast that you don't realize you are doing it.
> The Kent single lever paddle is a precision device. I prefer a wider
> finger piece over the thin paddle Kent uses however.
> The K3 works well with either single or duals. It doesn't know the
> difference.
> Steve Ellington
> [hidden email]
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Jack Regan" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
>
>
>> Why do you need special interface for a single lever paddle?  It
>> works the same as an Iambic paddle except that you can't close both
>> contacts at once.
>>
>> Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
>> K5EWJ
>>
>>
>> --- On Sun, 8/31/08, Jack Regan <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> From: Jack Regan <[hidden email]>
>>> Subject: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
>>> To: [hidden email]
>>> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:10 PM
>>> Last week I asked K3 Support if single lever paddle support
>>> was on the to
>>> "to do" list.  Gary Surrency responded that it
>>> was not but would be
>>> considered.
>>>
>>> within days the answer came back that it would not be
>>> supported due to the
>>> small number of users affected.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At first I was a little annoyed but now I am all right with
>>> that decision
>>> because I have found that I can in fact use my Kent paddle
>>> with a slap and
>>> dash technique with the K3 internal keyer just the way it
>>> is.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 1.       I changed my weighting to 1.25 and selected MODE
>>> A.
>>>
>>> 2.       I used the TEXT DECODE function to get feedback.
>>>
>>> 3.       I made sure I was consistently as fast as possible
>>> with my keying
>>> of elements within a character when switching from dot(s)
>>> to dash(es).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This technique "cured" my problem of things like
>>> CQ being seen NNMET!!!!
>>>
>>> Using the TEXT DECODE function also helped with getting rid
>>> of unwanted
>>> Farnsworth spacing between characters.  The better I get at
>>> hearing CW the
>>> more annoying it becomes.  It also makes sending a more
>>> natural rhythm.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> BTW, before I worked this method out I hooked up my
>>> microHam CW Keyer and
>>> used it and it worked FB with no effort on my part but I
>>> resented having an
>>> extra box and extra cables on my desk!  In an attempt to
>>> clean up my station
>>> I went back to using the K3 keyer and worked things out!
>>> Not only did I get
>>> rid of the external keyer and cables but now the Kent
>>> single lever paddle is
>>> plugged into the paddle jack and so TEXT DECODE as well as
>>> TERMINAL mode in
>>> the K3 Utility both work on send and receive.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jack AE6GC, K3 1433, KX1 1403
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1644 - Release Date:
> 8/31/2008 4:59 PM
>
> _______________________________________________
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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Don Wilhelm-4
In reply to this post by Nick Kennedy
Nick,

I don't know about any of the others who have trouble with dual lever
paddles except myself, but I developed a habit a long time ago that I
just can't shake - with dual levers I end up squeezing when I should
not, so I get dot insertions in a string of dashes.
The habit comes from using a bug - Both the thumb and finger are in
contact with the paddles until the character is ended - it works fine
with a single lever or an Ultimatic mode keyer, but just will not send
correct code from dual paddles with any Iambic keyer - mode A or mode B,
but mode B is worse.  Despite endless periods of practice I have not
been able to change.  My taste for CW has diminished a lot because of
the non-availability of Ultimatic mode on internal keyers.

73,
Don W3FPR


Nick-WA5BDU wrote:

> Wow, if I had to do all that extra junk I'd get rid of my dual paddle
> Kent, Brown Bros., and K8RA keys and go back to that cruddy Heath
> single paddle integrated unit I used to have.
>
> Steve, I think you make the common assumption that having a dual
> paddle *requires* the operator to use the "squeeze" method.  It really
> doesn't.  It just *allows* you to go from dit to dah and vice versa
> more efficiently.
>
> 73--Nick, WA5BDU
>
>
> n4lq wrote:
>> With duals, we push left and hold, push right, release left, release
>> right. 4 moves! I
>> Steve Ellington
>> [hidden email]
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date: 8/30/2008 5:18 PM
>
>  
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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Ken N9VV-2
I have always loved the A/B and Iambic vs XXX dicussions :-)
Here are some great articles by Chuck K7QO/K5FO (and others) that you
might enjoy.
http://www.n9vv.com/K7QO-A-B-Iambic-Keying.pdf
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/05/20/10107/
http://www.morsecode.nl/iambic.PDF
http://www.morsex.com/pubs/iambicmyth.pdf
http://www.ka0iqt.net/keys.htm
http://www.kl7kc.com/FistsCodeCourse/manual.pdf
http://home.att.net/~jacksonharbor/ultimat.txt

Thank you Chuck for all the enjoyment you have given us over so many
years of dits and dahs :-)

gratefully,
de Ken N9VV


Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Nick,
>
> I don't know about any of the others who have trouble with dual lever
> paddles except myself, but I developed a habit a long time ago that I
> just can't shake - with dual levers I end up squeezing when I should
> not, so I get dot insertions in a string of dashes.
> The habit comes from using a bug - Both the thumb and finger are in
> contact with the paddles until the character is ended - it works fine
> with a single lever or an Ultimatic mode keyer, but just will not send
> correct code from dual paddles with any Iambic keyer - mode A or mode B,
> but mode B is worse.  Despite endless periods of practice I have not
> been able to change.  My taste for CW has diminished a lot because of
> the non-availability of Ultimatic mode on internal keyers.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> Nick-WA5BDU wrote:
>> Wow, if I had to do all that extra junk I'd get rid of my dual paddle
>> Kent, Brown Bros., and K8RA keys and go back to that cruddy Heath
>> single paddle integrated unit I used to have.
>>
>> Steve, I think you make the common assumption that having a dual
>> paddle *requires* the operator to use the "squeeze" method.  It really
>> doesn't.  It just *allows* you to go from dit to dah and vice versa
>> more efficiently.
>>
>> 73--Nick, WA5BDU
>>
>>
>> n4lq wrote:
>>> With duals, we push left and hold, push right, release left, release
>>> right. 4 moves! I
>>> Steve Ellington
>>> [hidden email]
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database:
>> 270.6.14/1643 - Release Date: 8/30/2008 5:18 PM
>>
>>  
> _______________________________________________
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>
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RE: Kent Single Lever Paddles

AC7AC
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
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Re: Kent Single Lever Paddles

WILLIS COOKE
In reply to this post by N4LQ-2
When I use a paddle, I use a Bencher Hex, but I do not use the Iambic and only close one contact at a time.  It should be the same as a single lever paddle when used this way.  I will confess that I have never plugged a paddle into my K3, but this method works fine with my TS-850 or my WinKeyer USB.  So far, all my CW contacts with my K3 have been with my Vibroplex Original Bug.  Guess I need to try the keyer some time, but I am having too much fun with the Bug.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ


--- On Sun, 8/31/08, n4lq <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: n4lq <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
> To: [hidden email], "Jack Regan" <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:38 PM
> It's not the single vs. dual lever issue that bothers
> these guys. It's the
> iambic mode, a or b. Mode B has been the standard since the
> early 70's.
> TenTec came out with their KR-40 which is mode b and ever
> since then mode A
> has been a step child. All JA rigs use mode B now.
> Basically, mode B has enough brains to know if you held in
> a lever long
> enough to produce the last element without actually
> starting to send it.
> People who learned on mode B, trying to send the letter C
> on a mode A
> machine will end up sending the letter K. The last dit is
> dropped because it
> wants you to hold in the dit button until that dit has
> started to form. Mode
> A people who try to send C end up sending KA _._._ because
> they hold the dit
> lever in too long. Both modes are iambic since holding in
> both levers
> results in alternate dits and dahs. It's just a matter
> of when to let go!
> A single lever paddle works equally well with either mode.
> In fact when you
> consider the entire alphabet, less finger movement is
> required with the
> single lever paddle. This came as a shock to me. Check the
> letter C. On a
> single lever we swing left, right, left, right. That's
> 4 movements. With
> duals, we (push left and hold), (push right and hold),
> (release left),
> (release right) for letter C. So we have the same number of
> movements with
> either paddle. Now let's do A. With single lever we
> swing left, swing right,
> release. 3 moves. With duals, we push left and hold, push
> right, release
> left, release right. 4 moves! It all happens so fast that
> you don't realize
> you are doing it.
> The Kent single lever paddle is a precision device. I
> prefer a wider finger
> piece over the thin paddle Kent uses however.
> The K3 works well with either single or duals. It
> doesn't know the
> difference.
> Steve Ellington
> [hidden email]
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Jack Regan" <[hidden email]>;
> <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
>
>
> > Why do you need special interface for a single lever
> paddle?  It works the
> > same as an Iambic paddle except that you can't
> close both contacts at
> > once.
> >
> > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
> > K5EWJ
> >
> >
> > --- On Sun, 8/31/08, Jack Regan
> <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Jack Regan <[hidden email]>
> >> Subject: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
> >> To: [hidden email]
> >> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:10 PM
> >> Last week I asked K3 Support if single lever
> paddle support
> >> was on the to
> >> "to do" list.  Gary Surrency responded
> that it
> >> was not but would be
> >> considered.
> >>
> >> within days the answer came back that it would not
> be
> >> supported due to the
> >> small number of users affected.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> At first I was a little annoyed but now I am all
> right with
> >> that decision
> >> because I have found that I can in fact use my
> Kent paddle
> >> with a slap and
> >> dash technique with the K3 internal keyer just the
> way it
> >> is.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 1.       I changed my weighting to 1.25 and
> selected MODE
> >> A.
> >>
> >> 2.       I used the TEXT DECODE function to get
> feedback.
> >>
> >> 3.       I made sure I was consistently as fast as
> possible
> >> with my keying
> >> of elements within a character when switching from
> dot(s)
> >> to dash(es).
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> This technique "cured" my problem of
> things like
> >> CQ being seen NNMET!!!!
> >>
> >> Using the TEXT DECODE function also helped with
> getting rid
> >> of unwanted
> >> Farnsworth spacing between characters.  The better
> I get at
> >> hearing CW the
> >> more annoying it becomes.  It also makes sending a
> more
> >> natural rhythm.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> BTW, before I worked this method out I hooked up
> my
> >> microHam CW Keyer and
> >> used it and it worked FB with no effort on my part
> but I
> >> resented having an
> >> extra box and extra cables on my desk!  In an
> attempt to
> >> clean up my station
> >> I went back to using the K3 keyer and worked
> things out!
> >> Not only did I get
> >> rid of the external keyer and cables but now the
> Kent
> >> single lever paddle is
> >> plugged into the paddle jack and so TEXT DECODE as
> well as
> >> TERMINAL mode in
> >> the K3 Utility both work on send and receive.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Jack AE6GC, K3 1433, KX1 1403
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
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> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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> >
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>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1644 - Release
> Date: 8/31/2008
> 4:59 PM
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RE: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Arie Kleingeld PA3A
In reply to this post by AC7AC
In my shack:

On my left hand: iambic B ,if possible with auto character space
(depending on keyer used K3, K2, deluxe keyer late 70's, super-keyer
late 90's, Winkey)
On my right side: vibroplex bug (only one).
In the middle a keyboard connected to N1MM and winkey for contesting
(but that does not count :-) )

Never mix those three types up and can change my keying any time.
Doing that for 33 years now (of course the keyboard came in later).

73
Arie PA3A



==========================================



When I learned Iambic keying I had to *break* that habit so I could
squeeze. And I found Iambic keying very natural, smooth and efficient.

When I went back to a bug I had to relearn the "roll the hand"
technique.

Personally, I doubt if I ever could send text at 15 or 20 WPM for half
an hour by moving my fingers, which I had to do a *lot* when sending
traffic.

I wonder how many CW operators who worked "commercial" circuits (I was
Army) use their fingers instead of rolling their fists. I can understand
Hams learning to do that. After all, we don't usually send nonstop for
more than a few minutes. Indeed, if I was in a long-winded rag chew I'd
notice myself getting stiff using an Iambic key, even though the paddle
pressure was very light and the contact spacing very small. But I can
still sit down and send a whole page from the phone book, names,
addresses and phone numbers of perhaps 150 people on the bug rolling my
fist as if it were nothing.



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RE: Kent Single Lever Paddles

Darwin, Keith
In reply to this post by N4LQ-2
Ya know, I don't by the "movement counting" that I sometimes see posted
regarding single lever vs. iambic keying.  Do we count muscle movement
or joint movement?  Is it one motion to squeeze or two?  Do we count
close and open motions or only closing motions?  There is a lot of gray
and subjectivity.  I've even seen the counting applied unevenly (e.g.
releasing is counted as a motion for iambic but not for single lever).

I think the only sane way to look at is by looking at switch closures.
How many motions and how many muscles are involved in closing the
switches is a far more complex and subjective subject.  Switch closures
are very concrete and countable.

Looking at it from a switch closure perspective, we have the letter A
requiring 2 for iambic and 2 for single lever.  I say that is one
squeeze or grasp motion on iambic, others say it is 2 or 3 separate
finger motions.  Doesn't matter, we can both agree that it is 2 distinct
switch closers.  K requires 2 on Iambic but 3 on single lever.  C
requires 2 on Iambic and 4 on single lever.  Regardless of the amount of
joint / muscle movement, the iambic keyer requires less switch closures.
The thing that makes Iambic tougher is that those switch closures must
be precisely timed.  That timing is easy at slow speeds and doable at
moderate to fast speeds.  At competition speeds,  suspect the
competitors use to single lever paddles because of the nearly impossible
timing requirements of iambic, not because of any savings in motion.

Having said all that, I do CW for fun, not efficiency.  I know that
Iambic requires less switch closures but I hardly every use the paddles.
I use a bug or straight key most of the time simply because they're more
fun.  After all, this is a hobby

- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of n4lq

In fact when you consider the entire alphabet, less finger movement is
required with the single lever paddle. This came as a shock to me. Check
the letter C. On a single lever we swing left, right, left, right.
That's 4 movements. With duals, we (push left and hold), (push right and
hold), (release left), (release right) for letter C. So we have the same
number of movements with either paddle. Now let's do A. With single
lever we swing left, swing right, release. 3 moves. With duals, we push
left and hold, push right, release left, release right. 4 moves! It all
happens so fast that you don't realize you are doing it.
Steve Ellington
[hidden email]
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RE: Kent Single Lever Paddles

WILLIS COOKE
I agree 100% Keith.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ, K3 1025, SKCC 4077T


--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Darwin, Keith <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Darwin, Keith <[hidden email]>
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Kent Single Lever Paddles
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 8:47 AM
> Ya know, I don't by the "movement counting"
> that I sometimes see posted
> regarding single lever vs. iambic keying.  Do we count
> muscle movement
> or joint movement?  Is it one motion to squeeze or two?  Do
> we count
> close and open motions or only closing motions?  There is a
> lot of gray
> and subjectivity.  I've even seen the counting applied
> unevenly (e.g.
> releasing is counted as a motion for iambic but not for
> single lever).
>
> I think the only sane way to look at is by looking at
> switch closures.
> How many motions and how many muscles are involved in
> closing the
> switches is a far more complex and subjective subject.
> Switch closures
> are very concrete and countable.
>
> Looking at it from a switch closure perspective, we have
> the letter A
> requiring 2 for iambic and 2 for single lever.  I say that
> is one
> squeeze or grasp motion on iambic, others say it is 2 or 3
> separate
> finger motions.  Doesn't matter, we can both agree that
> it is 2 distinct
> switch closers.  K requires 2 on Iambic but 3 on single
> lever.  C
> requires 2 on Iambic and 4 on single lever.  Regardless of
> the amount of
> joint / muscle movement, the iambic keyer requires less
> switch closures.
> The thing that makes Iambic tougher is that those switch
> closures must
> be precisely timed.  That timing is easy at slow speeds and
> doable at
> moderate to fast speeds.  At competition speeds,  suspect
> the
> competitors use to single lever paddles because of the
> nearly impossible
> timing requirements of iambic, not because of any savings
> in motion.
>
> Having said all that, I do CW for fun, not efficiency.  I
> know that
> Iambic requires less switch closures but I hardly every use
> the paddles.
> I use a bug or straight key most of the time simply because
> they're more
> fun.  After all, this is a hobby
>
> - Keith N1AS -

> number of movements with either paddle. Now let's do A.
> With single
> lever we swing left, swing right, release. 3 moves. With
> duals, we push
> left and hold, push right, release left, release right. 4
> moves! It all
> happens so fast that you don't realize you are doing
> it.
> Steve Ellington
> [hidden email]
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
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