[RTTY] Point-and-click vs typing

[Michael Adams]

I am a relative newbie in RTTY contesting.

I'm also a trackball user, which I prefer because it requires less motion and is more precise than a mouse.   

This past weekend, I had my trackball sitting immediately to the right of my keyboard, so that I could tap the numeric enter key or move the ball with the thumb of my right hand, and click trackball buttons / move the scroll wheel with my index and middle fingers.  That left my left hand free to tune, or tap other keys if needed.   

I had one two-plus hour run where I just about kept my right hand on the trackball, my left index finger on the enter key...and just about didn't need to make any other motion.  The only way it could have been any easier would be if the station were completely automated.

I've seen and practiced "all keyboard" RTTY contest operation.  If I were set up to be more aggressive in pursuing SO2R operation during a RTTY contest, I probably would want to be all keyboard.  But for single radio, or "occasional second radio" use...well, my hands were less stressed/tired at 2400Z Sunday night than they would have been after a similar CW test (where I would have been "all keyboard").

(My opinion would be different, however, if I used a mouse instead of a trackball. Too much arm motion to make the mouse work.)

-- 
Michael Adams | N1EN | mda at n1en.org

-----Original Message-----
From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Larry
Sent: Tuesday, 30 September, 2014 11:23
To: rtty at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RTTY] Point-and-click vs typing

I have run RTTY off and on since the 1960's. No point and click with a Model 15.

FWIW, for me (hardly a hardcore RTTY contester), I almost never take my hand off the mouse for a RTTY contest or DXpedition mode of operation. Entering something like an exchange item  or to make a correction is about the only reason to let go of the mouse. CW and phone are different, of course, and I rarely use the mouse for those modes.

73, Larry  W6NWS