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[OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

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James Beitchman

[OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

Bug users,

A few months ago Jim, W0EB, posted a notice offering a device called a "dot
stabilizer" to bug users. I have purchased and installed one of these on my
ancient Vibroplex Champion. It is quite amazing. Gone are "scratchy dots"
and sending is smoother and more regular. Before Jim's post I did not know
that such a device existed. No bug user should be without one. The CW
Police may still not like my occasionally intentional long dashes and
sometimes Lake Erie swing - sorry about that decoder-users, but my dots,
smoothness and error-free sending have significantly improved.

73,

Buzz

W3EMD

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EricJ-2

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

All electronic keyers should come with a Lake Erie Swing mode. Makes
more sense than having two iambic modes.

Eric
KE6US

On 7/4/2014 10:55 AM, James Beitchman wrote:

> Bug users,
>
>
>
> A few months ago Jim, W0EB, posted a notice offering a device called a "dot
> stabilizer" to bug users. I have purchased and installed one of these on my
> ancient Vibroplex Champion. It is quite amazing. Gone are "scratchy dots"
> and sending is smoother and more regular. Before Jim's post I did not know
> that such a device existed. No bug user should be without one. The CW
> Police may still not like my occasionally intentional long dashes and
> sometimes Lake Erie swing - sorry about that decoder-users, but my dots,
> smoothness and error-free sending have significantly improved.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
>
>
> Buzz
>
> W3EMD
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>

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k6dgw

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

As long as the Iambic mode you replace isn't *my* Iambic mode. :-) Why
is it called "Lake Erie Swing?" For that matter, why are there two
Iambic modes in the first place?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 7/4/2014 11:57 AM, EricJ wrote:
> All electronic keyers should come with a Lake Erie Swing mode. Makes
> more sense than having two iambic modes.
>
> Eric
> KE6US

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EricJ-2

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

In reply to this post by James Beitchman

Here's a couple of recordings of W0BMU and the Lake Erie swing that Buzz
mentions. Listen online or d/l them. The bands used to be full of
interesting and quirky fists and styles like this. Not unlike speech
patterns some were quite beautiful, some were in-your-face obnoxious.
That was before non-meat code readers and (gakk!) keyboards.

I always thought the Lake Erie swing was easy to copy in the speed range
of most ham QSOs. It has an informal chatty feel to it.

Anyway, for those who want to remember and for those who never knew:

https://archive.org/details/W0bmuHowardtexHarveyW0bmu

Eric
KE6US

On 7/4/2014 10:55 AM, James Beitchman wrote:

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

In reply to this post by k6dgw

> Why is it called "Lake Erie Swing?"

Who knows? I always heard it called a "banana boat swing" but then
my CW mentors were from around Lake Erie <G>.

> For that matter, why are there two Iambic modes in the first place?

The original "Curtis" Iambic mode completed the element (dot or dash)
being sent when [both] paddles were released at the same time. The
iambic mode in the AccuKeyer had a logic error - the element memories
were set as soon as the previous element completed - that completed the
element being sent and then sent the *opposite* element if both paddles
were released at the same time. This became known as Iambic B to
distinguish it from the original Curtis iambic (Iambic A) mode.

Those who learned on an AccuKeyer generally have problems with Curtis
and vice versa. For an Iambic B (Accukeyer) user, trying to use an
Iambic A keyer generally results in problems with incomplete letters
(C, K, R, etc.) while for an Iambic A user trying to use an Iambic B
keyer, the problems are generally more severe with extra elements
added to the end of nearly any character which ends in alternating
elements.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-07-04 3:29 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> As long as the Iambic mode you replace isn't *my* Iambic mode. :-) Why
> is it called "Lake Erie Swing?" For that matter, why are there two
> Iambic modes in the first place?
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 7/4/2014 11:57 AM, EricJ wrote:
>> All electronic keyers should come with a Lake Erie Swing mode. Makes
>> more sense than having two iambic modes.
>>
>> Eric
>> KE6US
>
>
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JHRichards

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

In reply to this post by k6dgw

It is in what the keyer does when both are pushed:

http://www.palm-radio.de/pdf/IambicPaddleModeAorBfunction-1.pdf

================== JHR ========================

On 7/4/2014 3:29 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> As long as the Iambic mode you replace isn't *my* Iambic mode. :-) Why
> is it called "Lake Erie Swing?" For that matter, why are there two
> Iambic modes in the first place?
>
>
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k6dgw

Re: [OT] Jim's Dot Stabilizer

In reply to this post by EricJ-2

OK, thanks for the recordings Eric. It isn't unique to hams, or to Erie
Canal RO's. I worked Coastal Marine from So California in 56-57 while I
was a senior in high school. That "swing" was fairly common, as were a
large number of fists I can only categorize as "truly sloppy," like an
air traffic controller giving a clearance with a mouthful of marbles.

His signal was clean however, and very easy to copy. Transmitters
afloat were usually powered by M-G sets which often modulated the
carrier with a whine. MCW from an audio oscillator was common on 500 Kc
[emergency receivers afloat were usually unpowered crystal sets with no
BFO], and key down dragged the M-G down. The result was a carrier that
chirped, sometimes through the passband of my receiver, a steady whine
that chirped, and the MCW audio that chirped, each in it's own key and
tempo.

I sort of assumed the name came from the RO's on the freighters in the
Great Lakes, but never really knew.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 7/4/2014 12:39 PM, EricJ wrote:
> Here's a couple of recordings of W0BMU and the Lake Erie swing that Buzz
> mentions. Listen online or d/l them. The bands used to be full of
> interesting and quirky fists and styles like this. Not unlike speech
> patterns some were quite beautiful, some were in-your-face obnoxious.
> That was before non-meat code readers and (gakk!) keyboards.

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k6dgw

OT - Old Keyers

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

I knew there was a history to this. Related question: About the end of
1956, I and a couple of my teen friends built "electronic keyers" from
some magazine article which is long gone from my memory. I remember
they had 8 or so dual triodes [12AT7's/12AU7's ??], had self-completing
dots and dashes, and nothing else. With the power supply, mine weighed
about a small brick and was similar in size. Used a relay for the
then-ubiquitous cathode keying. We modified our bugs to key them.

I'm fairly certain the design pre-dated the TO-Keyer, I think the TO
came about 10 years later, and as I recall used fewer tubes. If any
OT's remember the 50's well enough to identify my keyer, I'd appreciate
hearing from you. I had an opportunity to operate as HS1FJ for a few
weeks in the mid-60's, Dad sent me my keyer and Lionel J-36, and when we
went back to war, I never saw either of them again.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 7/4/2014 12:49 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

>> For that matter, why are there two Iambic modes in the first place?
>
> The original "Curtis" Iambic mode completed the element (dot or dash)
> being sent when [both] paddles were released at the same time. The
> iambic mode in the AccuKeyer had a logic error - the element memories
> were set as soon as the previous element completed - that completed the
> element being sent and then sent the *opposite* element if both paddles
> were released at the same time. This became known as Iambic B to
> distinguish it from the original Curtis iambic (Iambic A) mode.

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David Christ

Re: OT - Old Keyers

Probably the All-Electronic Ultimatic. Kaye, John W6SRY QST April 1955 p 11 and QST May 1955 P 36. Four 12AU7 and four 12AT7. Built on a 4x4x3 base.

David K0LUM

On Jul 4, 2014, at 5:48 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I knew there was a history to this. Related question: About the end of 1956, I and a couple of my teen friends built "electronic keyers" from some magazine article which is long gone from my memory. I remember they had 8 or so dual triodes [12AT7's/12AU7's ??], had self-completing dots and dashes, and nothing else. With the power supply, mine weighed about a small brick and was similar in size. Used a relay for the then-ubiquitous cathode keying. We modified our bugs to key them.
>
> I'm fairly certain the design pre-dated the TO-Keyer, I think the TO came about 10 years later, and as I recall used fewer tubes. If any OT's remember the 50's well enough to identify my keyer, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I had an opportunity to operate as HS1FJ for a few weeks in the mid-60's, Dad sent me my keyer and Lionel J-36, and when we went back to war, I never saw either of them again.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 7/4/2014 12:49 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>
>>> For that matter, why are there two Iambic modes in the first place?
>>
>> The original "Curtis" Iambic mode completed the element (dot or dash)
>> being sent when [both] paddles were released at the same time. The
>> iambic mode in the AccuKeyer had a logic error - the element memories
>> were set as soon as the previous element completed - that completed the
>> element being sent and then sent the *opposite* element if both paddles
>> were released at the same time. This became known as Iambic B to
>> distinguish it from the original Curtis iambic (Iambic A) mode.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: OT - Old Keyers

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Fred,

Here's a short bibliography from the 1960 Handbook ...

Brann, "In search of the Ideal Electronic Key", Feb 1951
Bartlett, "Compact Automatic Key Design", Dec 1951
Kaye, "All-Electronic 'Ultimatic' Keyer", April & May 1955.

I'd bet you're looking for the Kaye articles - all of 1955
is here: https://archive.org/details/qstamer00amer

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-07-04 6:48 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> I knew there was a history to this. Related question: About the end of
> 1956, I and a couple of my teen friends built "electronic keyers" from
> some magazine article which is long gone from my memory. I remember
> they had 8 or so dual triodes [12AT7's/12AU7's ??], had self-completing
> dots and dashes, and nothing else. With the power supply, mine weighed
> about a small brick and was similar in size. Used a relay for the
> then-ubiquitous cathode keying. We modified our bugs to key them.
>
> I'm fairly certain the design pre-dated the TO-Keyer, I think the TO
> came about 10 years later, and as I recall used fewer tubes. If any
> OT's remember the 50's well enough to identify my keyer, I'd appreciate
> hearing from you. I had an opportunity to operate as HS1FJ for a few
> weeks in the mid-60's, Dad sent me my keyer and Lionel J-36, and when we
> went back to war, I never saw either of them again.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 7/4/2014 12:49 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>
>>> For that matter, why are there two Iambic modes in the first place?
>>
>> The original "Curtis" Iambic mode completed the element (dot or dash)
>> being sent when [both] paddles were released at the same time. The
>> iambic mode in the AccuKeyer had a logic error - the element memories
>> were set as soon as the previous element completed - that completed the
>> element being sent and then sent the *opposite* element if both paddles
>> were released at the same time. This became known as Iambic B to
>> distinguish it from the original Curtis iambic (Iambic A) mode.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>