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Tom, you've opened a small can of worms with this one. Everyone has =
their own opinion, and not all of them will match up.
First off, the other fellows are right - start with a straight key. A =
medium-quality J-38 (Army surplus or a Japanese knock-off will do just =
fine). Until you start to pick up the intrinsic qualities of hand-sent =
CW, it simply doesn't pay to use anything fancier or more expensive. =
Once you start making the transition to speeds above 13 wpm, then it's =
time to start looking for faster tools.
This is where things start to go sideways. Keys and paddles are as =
personal as toothbrushes or razors - what feels best in an educated =
hand?=20
What style of CW do you want to send? You could go with a bug (not =
recommended if you're just starting out - look for one later, when =
you're really comfortable at 20+ wpm). In that case, I would recommend =
an OLDER Vibroplex (10 years or older). Maybe you would prefer a =
single-lever paddle with a keyer? The Kent is okay, but I find the =
finger paddle a bit too thin. I prefer either a WBL Vertical paddle. or =
an old Autronics (no longer in manufacture, but availbe as used.), or if =
you're kinky, a Vibrokeyer. Maybe you'd prefer iambic paddles? WBL and =
Jones have both become the new standards, and not without good reason; =
Brown Brothers used to make some really fine paddles as well (but =
they're somewhat collectable now). Vibroplex iambics tend to be a bit =
too stiff for me to use every day. Except for the bugs, all the above =
paddles require a keyer. If you really want a challenge, you could try =
sideswiping - take a single-lever paddle, and wire both sides to the =
same contact on the plug; your own fingers do all the timing, weighting, =
and spacing - it takes a LOT of practice.
What do I use? At various times, all of them. It just depends on what =
rig I have online, and what I'm doing with it. I even have a piece of =
PVC tubing with a couple of microswitches that I use when I'm =
backpacking. For most folks, however, I would have to recommend the =
Jones or WBL paddles.
Keyers? I would recommend the AEA MM series (I have an MM-3), or any of =
the MFJ keyers. Most of the other brand-name keyers are also quite good. =
You just have to decide on exactly what features you want - mostly =
memories, weighting, and sidetone are the biggest considerations.
I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers with this one: what I would =
STAY AWAY FROM are paddles (not keys) from Bencher or MFJ or Nye - =
they're simply not built for speed or stability. I would also run =
screaming, away from the Vibroplex Brass Racer.
As to getting more comfortable with CW, once you get started on the air =
with CW, try to work at least one QSO per day (two or more is better). =
This is probably the best practice you can find to increase your speed. =
Copying W!AW, or listening to practice tapes should be used as a =
secondary practice. The on-air stuff with give you the best and quickest =
results.
And, like everyone else, I think the rest of your gear is just fine. I =
plan on being buried with my Omni-V when I finally go! And I wish =
someone would build a copy of the Matchbox for 160-10 meters. Are you =
guys in Sevierville listening?
Good luck, Tom. I'll now stand by for flames.
Mike KI6PR
El Rancho R.F., California
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>Tom, you've =
opened a small=20
can of worms with this one. Everyone has their own opinion, and not all =
of them=20
will match up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>First off, =
the other=20
fellows are right - start with a straight key. A medium-quality J-38 =
(Army=20
surplus or a Japanese knock-off will do just fine). Until you start to =
pick up=20
the intrinsic qualities of hand-sent CW, it simply doesn't pay to use =
anything=20
fancier or more expensive. Once you start making the transition to =
speeds above=20
13 wpm, then it's time to start looking for faster tools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>This is where =
things start=20
to go sideways. Keys and paddles are as personal as toothbrushes or =
razors -=20
what feels best in an educated hand? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4> What=20
style of CW do you want to send? You could go with a bug (not =
recommended if=20
you're just starting out - look for one later, when you're really =
comfortable at=20
20+ wpm). In that case, I would recommend an OLDER Vibroplex (10 years =
or=20
older). Maybe you would prefer a single-lever paddle with a keyer? The =
Kent is=20
okay, but I find the finger paddle a bit too thin. I prefer either a WBL =
Vertical paddle. or an old Autronics (no longer in manufacture, but =
availbe as=20
used.), or if you're kinky, a Vibrokeyer. Maybe you'd prefer iambic =
paddles?=20
WBL and Jones have both become the new standards, and not without =
good=20
reason; Brown Brothers used to make some really fine paddles as well =
(but=20
they're somewhat collectable now). Vibroplex iambics tend to be a bit =
too stiff=20
for me to use every day. Except for the bugs, all the above paddles =
require a=20
keyer. If you really want a challenge, you could try sideswiping - take =
a=20
single-lever paddle, and wire both sides to the same contact on the =
plug; your=20
own fingers do all the timing, weighting, and spacing - it takes a LOT =
of=20
practice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>What do I =
use? At various=20
times, all of them. It just depends on what rig I have online, and what =
I'm=20
doing with it. I even have a piece of PVC tubing with a couple of =
microswitches=20
that I use when I'm backpacking. For most folks, however, I would have =
to=20
recommend the Jones or WBL paddles.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>Keyers? I =
would recommend=20
the AEA MM series (I have an MM-3), or any of the MFJ keyers. Most of =
the other=20
brand-name keyers are also quite good. You just have to decide on =
exactly what=20
features you want - mostly memories, weighting, and sidetone are the =
biggest=20
considerations.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>I know I'm =
going to ruffle=20
some feathers with this one: what I would STAY AWAY FROM are paddles =
(not keys)=20
from Bencher or MFJ or Nye - they're simply not built for speed or =
stability. I=20
would also run screaming, away from the Vibroplex Brass =
Racer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>As to getting =
more=20
comfortable with CW, once you get started on the air with CW, try to =
work at=20
least one QSO per day (two or more is better). This is probably the best =
practice you can find to increase your speed. Copying W!AW, or listening =
to=20
practice tapes should be used as a secondary practice. The on-air stuff =
with=20
give you the best and quickest results.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>And, like =
everyone else, I=20
think the rest of your gear is just fine. I plan on being buried with my =
Omni-V=20
when I finally go! And I wish someone would build a copy of the Matchbox =
for=20
160-10 meters. Are you guys in Sevierville listening?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>Good luck, =
Tom. I'll now=20
stand by for flames.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>Mike =
KI6PR</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual" size=3D4>El Rancho =
R.F.,=20
California</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Lucida Casual"=20
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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