I like the Vibroplex straight keY--it's smooth. For paddles, the Brass Racer paddle (also Vibroplex, both current production). If you get the Bug bug, buy an older Vibroplex bug with the "I" style damper, and a Vari-Eze (bar style) to slow it down. You can send perfect code from 11wpm up. The Champion and Lightning models had the old"I" damper. You can then extend the Vari-eze straight out the rear of the bug. You can't do that with newer-style dampers. The Viz Vertical is also a great bug that can be slowed down--just ask Tom to make you a double-length weight, and extend it up beyond the damper peg. Some will tell you to buy these brass weights sold for another use, or just use solder. These have never worked for me. If you add too much weight, it screws up your timing--you need the longer arm.
Just please do not become one of the many lids who send at 13wpm with their bugs making 30wpm dits. Ewww! And keep your contacts clean to avoid that awful scratchy sound I'm happy to work a QRS sked on the air with you on CW anytime. 73 Eric WD6DBM Tom Blahovici <tom...@videotron.ca> wrote: >Ok >So I'm sure this is going to get a lot of opinions... What's the best key to >start with? >With the k3 of course. > >On Nov 30, 2014 10:04 PM, Ray Sills <raysil...@verizon.net> wrote: >> >> And, don't forget that CW is almost an international language. Even >> if you don't speak any of the many foreign languages, most DX >> operators understand the characters that we use for a QSO... QTH, >> name, WX, RST. And when it's a DX station running... well, all you >> get is your call and report (5nn). Many DX operators know enough >> English to do the same in voice, but not all. CW fills in that gap. >> >> 73 de Ray >> K2ULR >> KX3 #211 >> >> >> On Nov 30, 2014, at 8:08 PM, lmarion wrote: >> >> > If you want to work more DX than you ever thought possible: >> > >> > 1. Learn enough CW to do basic exchanges. >> > Your speed and proficiency will increase dramatically by just doing >> > it. >> > 2. Get on 30 meters. Other countries have not abandoned CW >> > like the USA has. You will work DX after DX station. >> > >> > You can even call CQ with QRP power and work stations worldwide. >> > No need to wait for contests with their special rules and pileups. >> > >> > >> > Leroy AB7CE >> > >> > >> > >> > On Sun, 2014-11-30 at 18:32 -0500, Tom Blahovici wrote: >> >> Hi >> >> Just thought I'd drop a note about the Elecraft CW decoder. I've >> >> been on the air for a number of hours hunting new DXCC's with the >> >> K3's built in CW decoder. This was my first time using CW, I only >> >> know the letters CQ 5NN TU and that's it! ( OK E also) Never been >> >> on CW before so all DXCC's were 'new'. >> >> Armed with that and a spotting program I racked up 50 new dxccs >> >> from around the world. This was a new experience and introduced me >> >> to CW. Now I want to learn it so the next time the contest comes >> >> around I'll enjoy it that much more. Was a blast. >> >> 73's Tom >> >> va2fsq.com >> > ______________________________________________________________ >> > Elecraft mailing list >> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> > >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > Message delivered to raysil...@verizon.net >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to tom...@videotron.ca >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >Message delivered to norrislawfi...@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
