[UK-CONTEST] Keyer or Keyboard?

[G3SJJ]

Ok,  thanks to everyone for all the comments. As I said I do use
semi-keyboard, ie F1 etc and Numeric Pad Insert 9 including type-ahead which
is very useful and Plus to Enter & Send TU G3SJJ etc. Stewart is doing just
what I have always thought I should do, ie learn to touch-type. I bought
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for my BBC2 computer about 20 years ago but
never did use it!

I guess for me it depends on the contest. The little 80m CC events are short
enough to use the keyer all the time, where as something like CQWW, I would
probably start using the keyer until I had settled into a rhythm and then go
to F/Ins/+ combo for long runs.

I think my initial thoughts have been confirmed. If you are keyboard trained
then you can probably dispense with an external keyer, but many of us feel
more comfortable with the keyer to interject comments as required. I
certainly dislike the idea of only having ? to ask for a repeat.

BTW, my initial computing experience began in the mid 70s whilst working at
Plessey Telecomms, my boss and I wrote a Basic program for something to do
with capacitors, I forget what. He was on the BS9700 committee for
capacitors. We produced a punched tape, dialled a London, Birmingham or
Manchester number and sent the data on its way. Came back next day for the
answers!

Chris G3SJJ
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