[TenTec] Bug = truly bad CW!

[Mike Hyder -N4NT-]

I agree with Tony 100%.  Back in the mid '80s we were plagued by hordes of 
"video rangers" who operated CW using computers to both send and receive 
code.  Trouble with them was manifold but in general they would have canned 
blurbs telling me where they were, how many children they had, what their 
rig was, and on and on.  If I asked a question of them it was ignored --  
probably not intentionally, probably because their equipment missed a word 
here and there.  This could have been due to static or my sending or QSB --  
who knows.  I became discouraged with these people because any time I called 
CQ I might run across one of them and they were in a word,  b o r i n g.

A fellow named Hack from Chattanooga told me that those computers could not 
copy a sideswiper, a "Cootie."  Let me assure you that they cannot.

I presume that over the years the video rangers have dwindled, their being 
far better modes for computers to converse with one another, and this is 
good.

Some years ago I heard of a communication specialist's talk.  He said that 
when two people converse, only 15% of the information exchanged goes by way 
of the words.  The other 85% is conveyed by voice inflection, intonation, 
rhythm, and by body language including facial expression.  With electronic 
sending (which I define as iambic keying, keyboard and computer), only the 
words convey the information.  On the other hand, variations in the rhythm, 
which are introduced with mechanical keying (straight key, sideswiper or 
non-iambic keying), add another component to the information.  I find that I 
can often pick up on sadness, happiness, etc., in a friend's sending if he 
is using mechanical keying.  My feeling about it is that talking with a 
person using the electronic sending is like sitting in church between my 
mother and my English teacher while talking with a bug operator is more like 
having a pint at the pub with a mate.

73, Mike N4NT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Martin W4FOA" <w4foa at comcast.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Bug = truly bad CW!


Hey Guys,
I just have to add my two cents which of course is my personal opinion....as
are the other comments.  I'm a CW op, first and foremost, and to me a
"swing" on a bug or even better yet a good "cootie" operator is absolutely
music to my ears.  It is one of the only ways one can add a little personal
touch or feeling to CW...

I'd just like to offer this....just because it is difficult for you or
someone else to copy, doesn't make it bad or good.  I guess in a perfect
world it would be preferable for us all to send perfect code but to me one
of the most dreaded things on CW today is the "keyboard generated" CW.
Keyboard CW sort of reminds me of eating a "Soybean" hamburger with hothouse
tomatoes and lettuce, with salt substitute and sugar free ketchup and no
mustard.

Just my opinion....and guess it really doesn't belong on the TT
reflector...my apologies.

Tony, W4FOA