[CQ-Contest] Rise time

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

All this talk about rise time, I didn't even recall that my (Icom) rigs had
an adjustable one, or what it was for (until I read this thread)

 

In my manual it gives me 4 options. 2, 4, 6 & 8 millseconds. (the default is
4ms according to my IC-7410 manual, though Icom warns that ( I quote) "If
the rise time of a CW waveform is too short, key clicks on nearby
frequencies can be generated"

 

One rig was set to 6ms and one to 8ms.(why exactly, I have no idea-one rig
is used and the other, while new,  has been away once for repair of
something unrelated to keying)

What would be the consequences of me setting them both to, say, 8 ms? 

 

Will amps key differently?  Will my CW sound soft? Will leading dits be
clipped?

 

Tnx for any info!

 

Keep it clean, folks

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB