I use the internal K3 keyer with a Kent iambic paddle -- but I work a LOT of guys (mostly in the US) who are clearly using bugs -- often poorly adjusted bugs IMHO. I used a bug for years back in the day. Getting the dits just right takes a little patience and a good ear, and not everybody has both, apparently.
A lot of the DX stations I work, especially in contests, seem to be using software-driven keyers that can send certain canned strings (like "CQ <callsign>" and "599") at QRQ, while instantly slowing down for unexpected, unique strings of characters (like QSO serial numbers). It sounds to me like each canned message element is tagged with its own speed attribute. You can't conveniently do that with a keyer and paddles. LOL This is probably old hat stuff for a lot of HF contest guys -- I just recently got back my toes back into HF CW after many years out of the game. Straight keys -- I hear one every once in a while. Bill W5WVO -------------------------------------------------- From: "Alexey Kats" <alexeyk...@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 7:54 AM To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] One more question about CW operation > I apologize if my question is not related to elecraft products at all, > but I am simply curious... Of all fine folks using Elecraft > transceivers, do you still use straight keys or bugs? Or are you using > paddles and keyers all the time? > > I am asking because so many times I am hearing almost the same code on > the air with only two things changing - timing between letters and > words and QRS/QRQ. Which usually means that people use paddles. So I > wonder, do people still use straight keys these days? > > -- > Alexey Kats (neko) > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > > ______________________________________________________________ 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
