Har! You guys remind me of why, after 20 years on the paddles, I put my Iambic keyer on the shelf and use my Bug. Not only is it no more difficult to get the timing right, it's perfectly capable of making long dashes for zero, etc.
When I do use a keyer such as the one in my KX1 for portability, I simply use it like a bug. The problem is the logic won't let me make a proper long dah for a zero. Sigh... I know, a keyer is less effort over time, but I'm one of those nuts who takes the stairs instead of the elevator too... Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Althoff Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 3:33 PM To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] k2 iambic modes Dan is right...it now comes down to personal "touch". K can be squeezed (both paddles held and let go at the 2nd dash) or dit-inserted (while holding dash, tap dit then let go). Dan's chart shows "dit inserted" paddle movement. I "squeeze" my K's and this is where the difference between the two modes bites the A user... Mode A K "squeezed" looks like this. Dah lever: DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH Dit lever: DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT Keys Daaaaaaah di Daaaaah A mode A user squeezing a K in Mode B looks like this: Dah lever: DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH Dit lever: DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT <<<<must let go of dit paddle sooner to avoid last dit. Keys Daaaaaaah di Daaaaah dit The 2nd example is really how a B moder would send a C but if he sat at A mode keyer he'd only get a K! It's going from one mode to the other that causes mistakes...neither mode is bad. B allows for less finger motion I believe and perhaps if it was available when I first learned iambic keying I would prefer it. I actually mix sqeeze with dot and dash insertion fingering nowadays because it seems to generate the correct letters most of the time for me. Whatever floats your boat. When the Orion first came out it ONLY offered Mode B. There were enough complaints to cause them to add mode A in an early firmware update. We are a nation divided! Code vs No Code, Bugs vs straight keys on SKN and now A'ers vs B'ers. LOL. _______________________________________________ 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
