Paddle key setup
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When using a paddle key, I have naturally used left (thumb) for dahs and right for dits, and set my gear up that way. I think I read during K1 build and setup that this is reverse from the "normal" setting. Also read somewere else that the dits on left and dahs on right setup evolved from use of bugs, and that if you were to go to field day and use another's rig with paddle it would most likely be setup that way.
I know this may be a subjective question . . . but is there a "standard" for this? Is it purely personal preference? I would be interested in your insight and opinions! 73, Mike N4JX K1/4 2319 on the air K2 6042 next project _______________________________________________ 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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As you noted, the "standard" way is to make dits with the thumb, and
this practice was indeed adopted because that is how bugs worked. If you do it differently, though, so be it. Most new radios now have the ability to switch this via a menu selection, so that even if you do go to Field Day and use someone else's gear, it should be relatively simple to change the setting. 73! Dan KB6NU ---------------------------------------------------------- CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator Read my ham radio blog at www.kb6nu.com LET'S GET MORE KIDS INTO HAM RADIO! On Mar 20, 2007, at 6:56 AM, Mike Geddes wrote: > When using a paddle key, I have naturally used left (thumb) for > dahs and right for dits, and set my gear up that way. I think I > read during K1 build and setup that this is reverse from the > "normal" setting. Also read somewere else that the dits on left and > dahs on right setup evolved from use of bugs, and that if you were > to go to field day and use another's rig with paddle it would most > likely be setup that way. > > I know this may be a subjective question . . . but is there a > "standard" for this? Is it purely personal preference? > > I would be interested in your insight and opinions! > > 73, > > Mike > N4JX 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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In reply to this post by Mike Geddes
Mike,
Assuming you ARE right-handed ... your setup is definately "different", and the convention is ... and always has been ... to use the right paddle for dashes. I'd be interested in how/why you learned this "backwards" way of sending. A related item ... in the pre-computer logging days of contesting one could quickly learn left-hand sending by simply turning the paddles away from the sender and reach over the top of the key. This left the right hand free for logging. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP [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 |
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No less than three Ops on Pratas Island, BQ9P, where we used
paper logging, turned my paddle around as you mentioned. At the time I thought there should be a better way. de Joe, aa4nn > A related item ... in the pre-computer logging days of contesting one > could quickly learn left-hand sending by simply turning the paddles > away from the sender and reach over the top of the key. This left the > right hand free for logging. > _______________________________________________ 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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I normally use my right hand to send and, indeed, learned to use my thumb
for dits. Electronically reversing the function and putting the paddle on my left, I can use my left hand without much training. My brain simply seems to cope with that... 72, Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe-aa4nn" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:03 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Keyer paddle setup > No less than three Ops on Pratas Island, BQ9P, where we used > paper logging, turned my paddle around as you mentioned. At > the time I thought there should be a better way. > de Joe, aa4nn > >> A related item ... in the pre-computer logging days of contesting one >> could quickly learn left-hand sending by simply turning the paddles >> away from the sender and reach over the top of the key. This left the >> right hand free for logging. >> > _______________________________________________ > 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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In reply to this post by Mike Geddes
Mike Geddes wrote:
> When using a paddle key, I have naturally used left (thumb) for dahs > and right for dits, and set my gear up that way. > > I know this may be a subjective question . . . but is there a > "standard" for this? Is it purely personal preference? As at least one other have said, the "standard" arose from the construction of mechanical bugs ... dits on left. I seem to remember you could get Vibroplex or McElroy to build you a reversed bug if you had a *lot* of money. Few did. Some time ago as a part of an on-going thread, we conducted an informal survey on this reflector regarding key/bug/paddle use: The vast majority of hams use a straight key with their dominant hand. The sample size of those who use bugs was pretty small, but most of the left-handers and all of the right-handers "bug-ed" right-handed. The couple of lefties that used their left hand just accepted dits on the fingers instead of the thumb. Nearly all northpaws paddled north. About half of the southpaws paddle north, ostensibly to leave the left hand for writing [I'm in that group]. Don't know why that wouldn't apply to right-handers as well, but it seemed that if you are right-handed, you are *really* right-handed. Maybe because it is a right-handed world and righties don't have to adapt. Most have dits on the left, regardless of which hand they like best. Since radios nowadays generally let you choose [and you can always wire your paddle as you wish as well], it really comes down to, "Whatever floats your boat." If someone's paddle is setup backwards for you, you can just turn it around on the table and put your hand over the top if you can't find the menu setting on the radio. Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2007 CQP Oct 6-7 - www.cqp.org _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by pa0pje
I took a slightly different approach. I am nominally left-handed but since I
operated at a variety of commercial and military sites as well as my personal Amateur station, I chose to learn to use a right handed bug (yes, there were expensive 'left handed' bugs available). Sending with my right hand freed my left hand to write while I'm sending. That is, if I can write and send CW at the same time. Personally I'm still working on walking while chewing gum... Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Peter PA0PJE Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 12:54 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Keyer paddle setup I normally use my right hand to send and, indeed, learned to use my thumb for dits. Electronically reversing the function and putting the paddle on my left, I can use my left hand without much training. My brain simply seems to cope with that... 72, Peter _______________________________________________ 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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Thanks for all the great feedback! I am a relatively new CW op (though of
course passed it for my licenses along the way) but only more recently wanting to improve my skills and develop somewhat of a decent fist. To that end, I have taken the microphone off of my "big" rig and starting to be more regular on CW. Been using my recently built K1 the most lately. The good news is that I don't think I am too entrenched in my current mode to change to the more standard mode. I think it is like anything . . . important to learn good form early in the development of a skill, because it is much more difficult to change once proficiency is reached. Not sure why I started with dahs on left. I built some QRP kits and guess I just wired them that way. Never really have had a CW op elmer. But I have a bunch on this great site! Thanks again for your feedback. It was interesting and helpful. 73, Mike N4JX K1/4 # 2319 on the air K2 # 6042 next project ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:20 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Keyer paddle setup I took a slightly different approach. I am nominally left-handed but since I operated at a variety of commercial and military sites as well as my personal Amateur station, I chose to learn to use a right handed bug (yes, there were expensive 'left handed' bugs available). Sending with my right hand freed my left hand to write while I'm sending. That is, if I can write and send CW at the same time. Personally I'm still working on walking while chewing gum... Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Peter PA0PJE Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 12:54 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Keyer paddle setup I normally use my right hand to send and, indeed, learned to use my thumb for dits. Electronically reversing the function and putting the paddle on my left, I can use my left hand without much training. My brain simply seems to cope with that... 72, Peter _______________________________________________ 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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