start with straight key or paddles?

classic Classic list List threaded Threaded
37 messages Options
12
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Jeff asked:
How was the speed determined for a sending test?

-------------------

The FCC examiner sat there and listened to you send, and judged whether the
sending was acceptable or not - both speed and accuracy. I'm sure that's why
the sending test was dropped. There wasn't a decent way to quantify the test
so it could be administered by VEC's. That was back before PC's and software
were available cheaply to copy code.

Ron AC7AC


_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Paul Bruneau
In reply to this post by Jeff Rosenberger
On May 10, 2005, at 11:23 AM, Jeff Rosenberger wrote:

> Mike wrote:
>> When I took my Extra exam 25 years ago, they had already eliminated
>> the
>> Morse sending test.  Too bad, I thought.  When I took my commercial
>> telegraph exam the same year, Morse sending tests were still required
>> (one
>> minute without error at 20 wpm plain language, and16 wpm code
>> groups).  I
>> still remember having qualms about using a ratty old FCC office
>> straight key
>> for the 20 wpm test.  That's always been about my limit for straight
>> key
>> operation.
>
> How was the speed determined for a sending test?  I know I couldn't
> sit down at a straight key and send at a specific numeric speed.  I
> can send at a comfortable speed for me to receive, or roughly match
> speeds with the other operator, but send at exactly 16wpm, no way.

Certainly it was a minimum for certification, not a target to be
hit...no?

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

Ron D'Eau Claire-2
In reply to this post by Vic K2VCO
Vic wrote:
In my experience, the examiner just listened a little and then said 'OK'.  I

took it twice (13 and 20 wpm), and I don't know anyone who failed it.  I
don't
know about commercial tests, but I was allowed to bring a (large, homebrew)
keyer to my extra class test.  The examiner just unplugged it when he'd
heard
enough (luckily I was too young to have a heart attack).
--------------------

At the San Francisco FCC offices, one could use a bug if one applied in
advance, and only for the First Class RadioTelegraph license test. One of
the engineers who did the exams told me those were the sessions with the
highest failure rates. Ops would be nervous and couldn't control the dits on
a bug. One extra dit is a mistake, no matter where it happens!

They did not allow keyers of any kind, only bugs by special pre-arrangement.
The operator had to demonstrate his/her ability to make proper code, spaces
and all.

Ron AC7AC


_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

N2EY
In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
AC7AC wrote:

>The FCC examiner sat there and listened to you send, and
>judged whether the sending was acceptable or not - both speed
>and accuracy.
 
Yep. FCC supplied a straight key, but you could bring your
own bug or keyer *if* it could interface to the FCC's
setup easily.
 
>I'm sure that's why the sending test was dropped.
 
IIRC, the stated reason was that very very few people
passed receiving and failed sending. IMHO the real reason
was that FCC had a limited number of qualified examiners.
 
>There wasn't a decent way to quantify the test
>so it could be administered by VEC's.
 
I disagree! IIRC, the sending test ended in the late
1970s but the VE system didn't appear until the
early 1980s. About a 5 year gap.
 
Exams by mail existed before the VECs. Novice,
Technician and Conditional exams could be given
by a volunteer examiner (no caps) if certain conditions
were met. Testing included code sending and receiving,
and proctoring the writtens. So FCC figured that any
ham qualified to be a volunteer examiner was qualified
to judge at least 13 wpm code.
 
73 de Jim, N2EY
 
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

EricJ-2
In reply to this post by Jeff Rosenberger
16 wpm or greater. It wasn't necessary to send at that precise speed. They
just cut some slack with code groups by reducing the requirement from 20
wpm. I never had an FCC examiner actually listen for the whole time. They
would stick one earphone up to their ear, listen for 15 or 20 seconds and
set the earphone back down. Always scared hell out of me. I thought they
just gave up because I was so bad.

Also, the FCC always allowed you to take in your own key. It wasn't
necessary to use their aptly described "ratty old FCC office straight key."

Eric
KE6US

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenberger
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 8:23 AM
To: Mike Morrow
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?

Mike wrote:
> When I took my Extra exam 25 years ago, they had already eliminated
> the Morse sending test.  Too bad, I thought.  When I took my
> commercial telegraph exam the same year, Morse sending tests were
> still required (one minute without error at 20 wpm plain language,
> and16 wpm code groups).  I still remember having qualms about using a
> ratty old FCC office straight key for the 20 wpm test.  That's always
> been about my limit for straight key operation.

How was the speed determined for a sending test?  I know I couldn't sit down
at a straight key and send at a specific numeric speed.  I can send at a
comfortable speed for me to receive, or roughly match speeds with the other
operator, but send at exactly 16wpm, no way.
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Bob Nielsen
In reply to this post by Vic K2VCO
On Tue, 2005-05-10 at 08:47 -0700, Vic Rosenthal wrote:

> Jeff Rosenberger wrote:
>
> > How was the speed determined for a sending test?  I know I couldn't sit
> > down at a straight key and send at a specific numeric speed.  I can send
> > at a comfortable speed for me to receive, or roughly match speeds with
> > the other operator, but send at exactly 16wpm, no way.
>
> In my experience, the examiner just listened a little and then said 'OK'.  I
> took it twice (13 and 20 wpm), and I don't know anyone who failed it.  I don't
> know about commercial tests, but I was allowed to bring a (large, homebrew)
> keyer to my extra class test.  The examiner just unplugged it when he'd heard
> enough (luckily I was too young to have a heart attack).
>
When I took my 13 wpm test at the Los Angeles FCC office in 1953, the
examiner just listened for 30 seconds or so and said that was fine.
There was one applicant who failed the sending test at that session.  I
think he was just too nervous.

Bob, N7XY


_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

EricJ-2
In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
It must have been discretionary. There was nothing in the regs about what
equipment you had to use. I took exams at Boston and Long Beach and took a
bug to both of them. Jammed the wedge right into their "ratty old FCC
office" key.

Eric
KE6US

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 9:07 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?

Vic wrote:
In my experience, the examiner just listened a little and then said 'OK'.  I

took it twice (13 and 20 wpm), and I don't know anyone who failed it.  I
don't know about commercial tests, but I was allowed to bring a (large,
homebrew) keyer to my extra class test.  The examiner just unplugged it when
he'd heard enough (luckily I was too young to have a heart attack).
--------------------

At the San Francisco FCC offices, one could use a bug if one applied in
advance, and only for the First Class RadioTelegraph license test. One of
the engineers who did the exams told me those were the sessions with the
highest failure rates. Ops would be nervous and couldn't control the dits on
a bug. One extra dit is a mistake, no matter where it happens!

They did not allow keyers of any kind, only bugs by special pre-arrangement.
The operator had to demonstrate his/her ability to make proper code, spaces
and all.

Ron AC7AC


_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Vic K2VCO
In reply to this post by EricJ-2
EricJ wrote:

> Also, the FCC always allowed you to take in your own key. It wasn't
> necessary to use their aptly described "ratty old FCC office straight key."

Which, in New York anyway, was set to a gap of about 1/2" (1.27 cm) and was
either welded or adjusted with a pipe wrench to stay that way!

--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

k6dgw
In reply to this post by EricJ-2
I'm sure it was discretionary.  I took the Novice in late '53, and the
General in mid '54, at the FCC Office in Los Angeles.  Obviously, a bug
was inappropriate for the Novice, and while I took my bug for the
General, I still had to use the "FCC Key," although I don't remember it
being "ratty."  Both times, I probably sent for no more than 10 - 15
seconds and was told "You pass."

When I went for the Extra in '56, I had just started driving, went
alone, and was so involved getting my route planned out so as not to get
lost in downtown LA that I arrived several hours early.  I had my Lionel
J-36 bug, but had practiced 20WPM on a straight key just in case.  The
examiner was about to give the 2nd telegraph, and told me that if I
filled out the app and passed the 25WPM test. Thoroughly intimidated (I
was exactly 16 in what seemed like a very adult place), I didn't even
ask about using my bug.  As I sat down at the straight key, he said, "Oh
come on, kid!  Who do you think you are!?  No one can send acceptable
code at 25 WPM on a straight key.  Plug in the bug and get on with
this."  Again, I doubt that I sent for more than 10 seconds.

With regard to the question that originally started this thread, when
I've been asked by a new ham wanting to upgrade, I always tell them,
"Learn on whatever you are comfortable with."  I've never understood the
alleged 'purity' that supposedly comes from learning on a straight key
first.

Just one opinion, YMMV,

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw

EricJ wrote:
>
> It must have been discretionary. There was nothing in the regs about what
> equipment you had to use. I took exams at Boston and Long Beach and took a
> bug to both of them. Jammed the wedge right into their "ratty old FCC
> office" key.
>
> Eric
> KE6US
>

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Left vs right handed keying

k6dgw
In reply to this post by EricJ-2
I am left handed and I can use a straight key only with my left hand.  I
learned to use a bug and keyer right handed because I cannot write
legibly right handed (OK, I can't write legibly with either hand, but
relatively speaking, left is less illegible than right!).  Oddly, I
always use the Bencher with my K2 right handed, however I find that I'm
nearly equally comfortable with either hand on the KX1.  

Years ago, a good friend and long-term ham (right handed) told me that
the proportion of hams who are left handed exceeds the overall
population average (~10%) by a "significant" amount.  He offered a few
lame reasons for this.  Given that 43.3 percent of all people make up
their own statistics, I've continued to wonder about this ... not all
the time, just every now and then.

SMALL EXPERIMENT:  If you'd like to, send me an email (OFF REFLECTOR for
Pete's sake!!!!) with the following information:

Basic Handedness  (right, left, either)
Writing Handedness
Straight Key Handedness (right, left, either, never used)
Bug Handedness
Iambic Keyer Handedness
PTT Switch Handedness (for phone-only ops)
Age
Years Licensed
Comments (but I'll probably ignore them for the survey)

Cut-off date for inclusion in the results is 2359Z 5/16/2005.

And, if you google "left handedness", you'll find a geocities entry on
the first page of results that offers this sobering (if possibly
extreme) analysis:

"What does left-handedness mean, practically speaking? Medical
literature reports that lefties more accident prone, are more likely to
have their fingers amputated by power-tools, suffer more wrist
fractures. Lefties are more susceptible to allergies, auto-immune
diseases, bed-wetting, depression, drug abuse, epilepsy, hypnotism, low
birth weight, schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, suicide attempts, and
certain learning disabilities. Lefties are six times likelier to die in
an accident, and four times to likelier to die while driving."

Bed wetting?  How have any of us actually survived to retirement?

73,

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw

EricJ wrote:

>
> I did the same thing, only I'm left handed, but the same idea. Because of
> the finer dexterity needed for a straight key, I am forced to use my left
> hand for that. I can send better with my right foot than my right hand. But
> with a paddle I'm nearly ambidexterous. I switched to my right hand with a
> paddle so that I could have my left hand free for writing notes, logging,
> etc. But I found I can now use a paddle with either my left or right hand
> with equal ease. All I have to do is reverse the paddle functions in the
> keyer (dits always on the thumb).
>
> Eric
> KE6US

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: Left vs right handed keying

EricJ-2
 In the mid-80's I was in a graduate seminar in economics at CSUF. There
were 9 of us including the professor sitting around a circular table. I was
writing something and looked up. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Everyone, including the professor, was left-handed. I didn't get a chance to
see which ones were bed wetters, suicidal or accident prone, but none of us
had learning disabilities.

Eric
KE6US

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 11:46 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Left vs right handed keying
 

Years ago, a good friend and long-term ham (right handed) told me that the
proportion of hams who are left handed exceeds the overall population
average (~10%) by a "significant" amount.  He offered a few lame reasons for
this.  Given that 43.3 percent of all people make up their own statistics,
I've continued to wonder about this ... not all the time, just every now and
then.
---

"What does left-handedness mean, practically speaking? Medical literature
reports that lefties more accident prone, are more likely to have their
fingers amputated by power-tools, suffer more wrist fractures. Lefties are
more susceptible to allergies, auto-immune diseases, bed-wetting,
depression, drug abuse, epilepsy, hypnotism, low birth weight,
schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, suicide attempts, and certain learning
disabilities. Lefties are six times likelier to die in an accident, and four
times to likelier to die while driving."

Bed wetting?  How have any of us actually survived to retirement?

73,

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Bill Coleman-2
In reply to this post by Mike Morrow-3

On May 10, 2005, at 10:41 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> Thank goodness for iambic mode A.  I never understood how mode B,  
> the result
> of a logic design error in an early (1960s) electronic keyer  
> design, caught
> on.

It's not an error, it is there on purpose!

I built a Mini-MOS key (from a 73 magazine article) back in 1979. It  
has dot and dash memories -- the quality that gives it Mode B. It  
takes extra circuitry to do this -- it's not just a "logic design  
error".

> Its timing is trickier than mode A, but it still requires exactly the
> same number of hand motions to send a particular character.

I don't find Mode B timing impossible - in fact, it is more relaxed  
than mode A -- you let go of the paddles a lot sooner.

I think the bottom line is that you prefer whatever technique you've  
trained on.

I have trouble with Bencher paddles. I usually knock my ancient  
paddles so hard the base moves slightly. First time I ever tried to  
use a Bencher, the paddles came off and the spring went flying across  
the room!


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Mike Morrow-3
In reply to this post by jferg977
I wrote:

> Thank goodness for iambic mode A.  I never understood how mode B,  
> the result of a logic design error in an early (1960s) electronic keyer  
> design, caught on.

Bill wrote:

>I built a Mini-MOS key (from a 73 magazine article) back in 1979. It  
>has dot and dash memories -- the quality that gives it Mode B. It  
>takes extra circuitry to do this -- it's not just a "logic design
>error".

And Dan wrote:

>I had a Heathkit keyer on which I learned iambic, and it was all
>discrete logic gates and RC circuits. No ICs. It did exactly what
>the schematic said it would do. No error there.

True, mode B did catch on (long before 1979) and circuits and chips were purposely designed to implement it.  But the evil that spawned mode B occurred in an improperly designed keyer from the mid-1960s.  Somewhere I've specific details...but not with me now.

>I don't find Mode B timing impossible - in fact, it is more relaxed  
>than mode A -- you let go of the paddles a lot sooner.

Which is the **only** "advantage" that can be claimed for mode B, though I see no value to this "advantage" and a "lot" sooner is not how I would quantify it.  If mode B reduced the number of paddle manipulations required over mode A, it would have purpose.  But exactly the same amount of paddle manipulation is required regardless of character sent.

>I think the bottom line is that you prefer whatever technique
>you've trained on.

There's 100 percent agreement here!  Learn one mode and the other will seem impossible.  

I haven't any moral objections to mode B, just to the firmware designers who design an embedded keyer in a rig to use only one mode and that mode is mode B!  (Example...the nasty FT-817!!)  For whatever reasons some such firmware designers seem more often to choose mode B, so I actually recommend that mode B be the mode learned if one is just learning iambic keying.

Thank goodness the Elecraft keyers allow either mode!

73,
Mike / KK5F
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Thom LaCosta
On Fri, 20 May 2005, Mike Morrow wrote:

>> I think the bottom line is that you prefer whatever technique
>> you've trained on.
>
> There's 100 percent agreement here!  Learn one mode and the other will seem impossible.
>
> I haven't any moral objections to mode B, just to the firmware designers who design an embedded keyer in a rig to use only one mode and that mode is mode B!  (Example...the nasty FT-817!!)  For whatever reasons some such firmware designers seem more often to choose mode B, so I actually recommend that mode B be the mode learned if one is just learning iambic keying.

I think it can all be traced to Entwistle the Lab Technician.  Entwistle was a
Sooner, bouncing from facility to facility.  Along with other bad habits, such
as womanizing, chewing tobacco, drinking and passing gas in public, he used mode B.

Rather than be confronted with his unseemly life style, the designers would not
only assign prototype building, but also product testing to Entwistle. Since he
didn't know mode B, he could neither build or test it, and simply told the
designers that their design was faulty, and suggested an alternative that he
felt confident would pass alll tests(Mode B).

Rumor has it that he was related to Daedalus & Icarus.  While IBM will not
confirm his employment in Persoanl Computer development efforts, the fact that
the early PC could not process simple addition problems may be an Entwistle
signature.

73,Thom-k3hrn
www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page,
Free Classified Ads for amateur radio, QRP IRC channel
Elecraft Owners Database
www.tlchost.net/              Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

EricJ-2
In reply to this post by Mike Morrow-3
 
And Straight Key for those of us who have never been impressed with either!
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces+eric_csuf=[hidden email]
[mailto:elecraft-bounces+eric_csuf=[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Mike Morrow
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 12:01 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?


Thank goodness the Elecraft keyers allow either mode!

73,
Mike / KK5F

_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: start with straight key or paddles?

Hisashi T Fujinaka
In reply to this post by Mike Morrow-3
On Fri, 20 May 2005, Mike Morrow wrote:

> I wrote:
>
>> Thank goodness for iambic mode A.  I never understood how mode B,
>> the result of a logic design error in an early (1960s) electronic keyer
>> design, caught on.
>
> Bill wrote:
>
>> I built a Mini-MOS key (from a 73 magazine article) back in 1979. It
>> has dot and dash memories -- the quality that gives it Mode B. It
>> takes extra circuitry to do this -- it's not just a "logic design
>> error".
>
> And Dan wrote:
>
>> I had a Heathkit keyer on which I learned iambic, and it was all
>> discrete logic gates and RC circuits. No ICs. It did exactly what
>> the schematic said it would do. No error there.
>
> True, mode B did catch on (long before 1979) and circuits and chips were purposely designed to implement it.  But the evil that spawned mode B occurred in an improperly designed keyer from the mid-1960s.  Somewhere I've specific details...but not with me now.

Not quite an answer but the ARRL article on John Curtis said,
"(according to John, Mode B was actually a design error by an unnamed
company)."

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2002/02/04/2/?nc=1

--
Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email]
BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte
_______________________________________________
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

Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

RE: start with straight key or paddles?

Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Hisashi Fujinaka wrote:

Not quite an answer but the ARRL article on John Curtis said, "(according to
John, Mode B was actually a design error by an unnamed company)."

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2002/02/04/2/?nc=1

----------------------
Thank you Fujinaka-san!

I enjoyed reading the article. I noticed one error for those tracking the
famous (or infamous) mode B. The article said, "In 1981 Curtis found that
many people liked the mode B keying characteristics of Ten-Tec, Heath, Nye,
and Accu-keyers."

I don't know about the others, but the Accu-Keyer was a mode "A" keyer, not
a mode "B". I used a homebrew Accu-Keyer built straight from the QST article
for 20 years. Since I reverted to a bug it's now sitting on the shelf, but
still works as well as the day it built in the mid-1970's.

Ron AC7AC



_______________________________________________
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

12