Steve, I started with a straight key. In 1957, I think MOST hams used straight keys. Most emerging novices couldn't afford more than a surplus J-38 and there were only a few bugs available. Electronic keyers didn't clean up CW. The percentage of bad fists on the air then with straight keys was about the same as it is today with electronic keyers. They just offer different opportunities to mangle the code.
I agree with Don that a straight key trains you to learn and appreciate proper spacing if you have someone who can give you feedback. But I don't necessarily agree that you should start there. Try them all. Find out what suits you. They are all fun. But get someone to help you with the timing. My main advice to anyone is to SLOW DOWN. Most of the bad fists with keyers are because the dots are cranked up to 35 wpm and they are still struggling to copy 15. There is a nameless ham on one of the several cw nets I am on who has NEVER sent my call properly. His only consistency is a self standing dah followed by a string of 7 dits for the 6 in my call. The rest of it is so mangled I only know its for me is that I was the last one to send something. As for iambic vs non-iambic, I never saw the point of iambic. Any efficiency from saving 2 microcalories in a 24 hour period somehow escapes me. But let's not start that one again. So I only have three pieces of advice. Use whatever key appeals to you. Don't send faster than you can receive. The second marriage is the best one, so get the first one out of the way. Eric KE6US _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
