Straight Key vs Paddles

[n0ov]

Good Morning,

I've been talking with several folks who actively use CW on a regular basis. #Some use straight keys, others use paddles.

The straight key folks love to send cw using the traditional methods but stress it takes a lot of practice to send a code consistantly enough for other folks to copy.

The paddle folks seem to enjoy this method because they are able to use this device to improve the quality of the cw they send, allowing them to focus less on the technique and more on the qso.

I have an old MFJ practice key which I plan to hook up to my SGC2020 once it gets back from the shop and make some initial contacts. #I am seriously considering going to paddles if it will increase the possibility that qso initiated from this rusty old ham can be easier understood.

From the receivers perspective, which do you prefer.

Note: #CW from keyboard or a computer is not an option.

[N5PVL]

For me, the straight key works best. I played around with a Vibroplex bug off and on for years, and several different keyers, but my old 1917 vintage sparkproof army key with the bent handle and big navy knob always seems to work best. - I've tried some high-end straight keys but really like the old antique best. At one point I had it permanently mounted on the arm of my chair in the hamshack so I could sit back and send.

No, I'm not particularly fast.

You develop a "fist" with consistent straight-key use that others can recognize as easily as your callsign. This is true with semi-automated systems too, but to a lesser extent.

I particularly like to hear a familiar "fist", and new Hams almost always use straight keys, so I guess you could say that I like to hear the straight keys best. There's a difference there, but it's no big thing.

Charles Brabham, #N5PVL

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[WB2WIK]

Problem with a straight key is that just about nobody can send well with one faster than 20 wpm -- and even 20 wpm is stressful for the operator sending, as it requires substantial motion and dexterity. If everybody was going 5 wpm, no problem. But at higher speeds, it's just not practical.

I've used nothing but an electronic keyer and iambic paddle for 35 years. Indeed, there is so little effort involved that I really get into the QSO and send "streams of consciousness," just like in a voice conversation, and never think about keying or the motion it requires.

At 50 wpm, most stations I work tell me they assume I'm using a keyboard/computer to send. I'm not, just a paddle and keyer. With practice, the paddle/keyer can send absolutely perfect code -- and the good thing is, the practice is fun, because it occurs while you're making contacts. The paddle also occupies a lot less space than a keyboard. I use a paddle/keyer combination mounted in my center console between the front seats of my car to work CW mobile, and even that requires no effort at all. Although I admit it's hard to drive, drink coffee and send CW all at the same time... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

WB2WIK/6

[AK7V]

I've never used a paddle. I started with a straight key and moved on to a bug when I wanted to send faster. I really like the bug. I also like the straight key, but I get tired after several QSOs. I can't imagine using one at field day.

Are there commercial electronic paddles that can function like a bug?

I'll eventually get some paddles and learn how to use them.

[K7JBQ]

Dan,

As both Charles and Steve noted, it really comes down to speed. The straight key works fine up to about 15wpm, which is just about the point a bug becomes useful. At the kind of speeds Steve refers to, a paddle is probably the way to go, but since I usually work around 20wpm, the bug is fine.

The main advantage to a paddle, over a bug, is probably that speeds can be adjusted easily. A bug is "resonant," if you will, at one speed, and changing speeds means doing considerable fiddling. With a keyer, you just turn a knob.

73,
Bill

[W5HTW]

The philosophy used to be when beginning, one should use only a straight key. The reasons were that there were few electronic keyers, so the alternative was a bug. And few people could handle a bug starting off with it. It was felt (and I agree) that the way to learn to use code on the air was with a straight key, and no transition should be made to the bug until one could send a good 15 wpm with the straight key. And "good" means very copyable, with minimal mistakes. In that era, one had to demonstrate one's sending ability to the FCC testing engineer, and if he had difficulty reading your code, you were out the door until next month.

As keyers became more popular and more available commercially (without having to build one - a lot of us built the original version of the W9TO keyer, and then the solid state version of it later) the philosophy seemed to change. Still, if taking an FCC test, you had to use a straight key, so it was wise to know how.

Another factor. Age. Not of the key, but of the operator. I prided myself on my straight key, and was told by considerably more than one ham that it sounded like a keyer. But that was at 15-16 wpm, and 35 years ago! Today it sounds like a beginner! Old stiff fingers make the difference, as well as "train of thought," so I rarely use a straight key anymore. I try to once in a while, but am limited to about 12-14 wpm maximum to maintain a clean sound. Above that and it gets choppy.

So you have to take these factors, and perhaps others, such as the straight key available to you, and your ability to adjust it, into consideration. A poorly adjusted key may still be made to sound neat, but your arm, wrist, fingers and brain will grow tired very quickly.

The problem I find with a keyer when beginners start off with it, is then tend to not have the necessary timing and rhythm. So they wind up sending one or two too many dits for characters, such as di-di-di-di-di-dit-dah for four. To properly use a keyer at 15 plus wpm (and they aren't much good below that) one has to already know what the characters should sound like, AND one has to be able to be confident in his mind he can duplicate that sound. A six-dit four can sound like a four-dit four to someone not well aquainted with the 'feel' and 'sound.'

The solution is to practice with the paddle and keyer into a tape recorder. Send a couple of paragraphs, record it, and then, a day or two later, try to copy it. If you can't copy what you sent, you need to make improvements. Either you are sending above your copy speed (and you should not do tht) or your code is not put together correctly. Too many or too few dits or dahs for a particular character.

Doing this, you can do the keyer-paddle bit rather quickly, after just two or three corrective study sessions, and be confident on the air. Then, at speeds of 20-30 wpm, your characters will be the correct length, and so will your spacing.

If you have a buddy who is really pretty good at code, make a recording for him. Or have him just sit and listen to your keyer's monitor while you send at what will be a comfortable speed for you. If he can copy it, and if he is honest and willing to critique it for you, you will be way ahead of the game.

So the answer to the question? Use whatever will give you good, copyable code. If you are new to keyers, that will probably be the straight key. If you are only copying code at 8 to 10 wpm, you are below the range of a keyer anyway. Unless you can use the Farnsworth method and make your characters at 18-20 wpm. But on the air, that is not nearly so acceptable as in practice, as the guy on the other end, copying ten wpm, needs characters at ten wpm, not 18.

Best bet. Create the code tape. Then try to copy it. And don't fool yourself and "pretend" you knew that was really a "C". Be tough on yourself!

You'll be glad you did.

Ed

[W5MJL]

I like the iambic paddle, but you definitely have to keep a good rhythm. When I get out of rhythm the mistakes really start accumulating. I do know one thing for sure, as you get older, the paddle will ultimately be better than your fist.

[al7n]

W5HTW pretty much said it all...

A straight key should be used to learn with, but you have to learn how to send code properly with one.You have to know how it "should" sound, then you can learn
to make your sending sound the same. #Ideally the goal is smooth, even sending that sounds just like the tape or computer-sent code practice that W1AW sends out over the air.

Used to be, #the FCC examiners required you to send to them during your code test. #If the examiner deemed it satisfactory, OK. If not, you got to go home and practice for another month before you could try again. #
Unfortunately, that requirement is no longer there, so amateurs are on their own in the sending department. I think that not testing for sending proficiency actually has done the amateur service a considerable disservice.

After you get proficient at working at speeds above about 15 wpm, #a bug or keyer is pretty much going to be needed. #While good sending "can" be done at higher speeds with a straight key, few people can do it well for sustained periods, and it IS hard on your arm.

A bug is not difficult to learn to use, but few seem to do it these days. #The automatic keyer is easier to learn and will allow you to send nearly "perfect" code at any speed you can learn to handle it at. #But you must practice with it in order to do so...and you still need to know what "good" or proper code sounds like.

I own an automatic keyer, but I broke in with a bug years and years ago when keyers were not common, so I use the bug almost exclusively. #I had trouble training my "bug" hand on the keyer, so learned to use the keyer with my left hand, and rewired my paddles to make the thumb and finger work the same as the right hand. #I got so I could do it OK, but I still prefer the plain old bug for regular work. #I also still use the straight key a lot for slower work when needed.

Some things about the American straight Morse key that are not often mentioned and I think should be....

The key must be mounted solidly on the table or desk
where it cannot move around. #Either mounted directly, or on a larger board that is under some heavier piece of equipment to hold it in place. #You don't want to have to hold it down with your "off" hand. #It has to stay put. #
It also must be positioned properly on the table or desk, so that it is far enough back that you can rest your elbow on the table. #Your sitting posture needs to be correct. You should sit erect in the chair, relaxed, and
work the key with a "limber" wrist motion. You need to "hold" the key knob properly with your thumb and first two fingers of your sending hand. #This gives adequate control and helps reduce the tencency to "tap" the key knob which leads to "choppy" sending.
The key spring also must not be too strong...turn in just enough spring to lift the key lever smartly to the upstop...anything more will only tire the arm unnecessarily.

Now go practice!......

As Ed said, the best way to find out how your sending is, is to record some of it, #put it away for a week or so, and then play it back to yourself....it will expose any bad habits you have...... pronto. #

You have to work at sending "good" code all the time, no matter whether you use a straight key, bug or keyer.

AL7N # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[N8CPA]

I have heard people of all manners of keying sending poorly. It's as if they know too well how to proportion dit and dah, but just don't get spacing between words.

[WA3KYY]

I like a straight key because that was all I had to begin with and what I learned to send with. But as others have pointed out, you are speed limited. I can hit 20wpm for contest and DX 5nn type exchages but can't keep it up for long. My first CW contest after years of not doing any was the ARRL CW DX contest in 2003. I sent everything with a straight key. By the final evening my hand and arm were cramping so badly it would sometimes take 2 or 3 tries to send my call correctly. I have switched over to a paddle and computer for contesting. Still like to use the straight key for QSOs at <15wpm it just "feels" right somehow. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n0nwo]

This seems to come up every few months. It is whatever works for you is what is best.

For over 12 years, I used a streight key. I loved it and got a lot of compliments on my fist http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif That was neat. But my health took a major nose dive and I have found that using a streight key was starting to hurt my hand and wrist. (so does typing for that matter) So I switched to paddles. It took me two months of practicing off the air to get the mistakes down to a reasonable levle to get back on the air.

Paddles have increased my speed a lot, but I cant say I get as many compliments on my fist anymore. If someone wants me to QRS, I move over to the streight key again. It seems I can only go so slow on the paddles.

Code has always been work for me. I sometimes lose my consentration and don't get much, and on more times than I care to admit, I have had to apoligize for my poor sending sending and just sign and go QRT for the day. But then there are the times that I have my head and butt wired together and have had nice relaxing hour or hour and half cw QSO's talking about everything from; our kinds, to Wallmart, to music, to home remodeling.

even tough code is sometimes hard work for me, it is still my favorite mode and I have been CW only for a year and a half now. Maybe it is because it is hard for me, that I get so much satisfaction out of a well done CW QSO.

It don't matter what you use: streight key, paddles, two bare wires, a sip and blow tube etc. Find what works for you and go for it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Minton

[WA2ZDY]

Minton, I just read your post above and your qrz.com bio. You are one impressive person. Ham radio needs more guys like you.

[9V1VV]

Hi there,
I don't agree with some statements that a straight key is only useful up to 15 or 20 wpm. With practice you can send excellent morse at 25 w.p.m. and the proof is all those old UK ship's radio officers like me, who were forced to send perfect straight key code, and to receive as well, at 25 wpm, plain text, groups of letters and numbers, and mixed groups including puncuation marks. #I admit #we were taught over a long period by professionals and it is not easy in this day and age to get such tuition.
Since that time I have not used anything but a straight key. I can send at 28 wpm comfortably, and that is , IMHO, fast enough for a QSO/ragchew.
Incidentally, when electronic paddles first came on the scene in the '70's, ship's RO's, at least in the Brit merchant navy, were prohibited from using them, and many coast station operators worldwide ignored your calls if you used one. #This was probably because of all the Greek RO's with paddles sending awful mutilated symbols, like C's with an extra dit on the end, etc.
But having said all this, I have heard some excellent paddle and bug operators on the ham bands, and the Americans ops seem to have mastered the art.
Keyboard Morse defeats the object of gaining enjoyment from CW, again IMHO, and you may as well use PSK31 for your QSO.
73
John

[k9cn]

I still think I produce my best code with a straight key, but find speeds above 20 wpm to be more work than fun. I have no doubt that skilled operators can use straight keys at higher speeds (I've personally known some of them!) but for me it's work.

A bug gets you faster and has the added advantage (advantage?) that you can still get a bit of personality into your fist. True, the goal is not to, but, hey, no one's perfect! Someday I'm going to try to adjust my Vibroplex properly and see if I can finally master the damn thing. (Seriously, there's an awful lot of information now available online regarding such matters that I wish I had thirty years ago.)

A properly operated keyer is beautiful to listen to and easy to copy, but does lack personality. And besides, these days, if you come across someone sending perfect code (and if you're an opinionated, narrow-minded OF like me) you're likely to accuse him -- mentally at least -- of using a keyboard even if he isn't. Talk about injustice!

I once read a joke that the primary function of a bug or keyer is to send "error" messages with minimum effort. Unfortunately, I find there is more truth in that than the author perhaps originally intended. Anyway, these are the types of things that make CW and ham radio fun.

[W3MIV]

I am not a good CW op. Not even close. I am ragged and I have a hard time paying attention (a 62 going on six, apparently).

That said, I bought a very nice CT paddle from the kind folks at Morse Xpress in hopes of improving. Not a good idea, I have found, and I have set the little jewel aside as a sort of incentive.

I will struggle along with the ol' Speed-X until I have truly mastered the basics. Or expire in the attempt.

[n0ov]

I appreciate the feedback -- lost of food for thought. Need to fine someone local that uses the bug, don't believe I've seen that one.

And like we all know, reading about something and doing it is very different.

73

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (w0pee @ April 01 2005,09:49)]I appreciate the feedback -- lost of food for thought. #Need to fine someone local that uses the bug, don't believe I've seen that one.

And like we all know, reading about something and doing it is very different.

73
Unless you want a long exercise in frustration, I'd skip the "bug." "Bugs" (mechanical sideswipers with a vibrating arm to create dits) definitely had their place, but rare is the operator who can send good code with one -- especially nowadays, as the best bug operators are all silent keys.

A "bug" doesn't make the dashes -- you do, with as much motion as required for a straight key.

An electronic keyer and decent paddle is waaaaay easier to use, and to adjust. An advantage of the electronic keyer/paddle combination is the ability to instantly change sending speed with the push of a button or twist of a knob (unlike a "bug," which requires careful mechanical adjustment to change "dit" speed).

Go for the keyer/paddle. Most modern rigs have a built-in electronic keyer, so all you need's the paddle.

WB2WIK/6

[K7JBQ]

Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ April 01 2005,10:25)]"Bugs" (mechanical sideswipers with a vibrating arm to create dits) definitely had their place, but rare is the operator who can send good code with one -- especially nowadays, as the best bug operators are all silent keys.
The rumors of their deaths are greatly exaggerated.

Last time I looked, Vibroplex was still selling bugs. And there are plenty of good bug operators out there.

Steve is correct about the ease of changing speeds -- I made the same point earlier in this thread -- but properly adjusted, and within its "speed window," a bug can still make sweet music.

73,
Bill

[ai4ep]

My father was a firm believer in paddles... or if there was no paddle handy -- a leather belt would do. I would get spanked for things I did, and for things I did not know he knew about that I did.

If I got a paddling at school, I got another one at home.

Plus if I forgot to tell about one that occurred at school, the one I got at home would be much worse.

My father kept telling me " this hurts me more than it does you ", but at the time it did not appear to be possible. Why would he keep spanking me if it hurt him more than it did me ?

Afterwards was the roughest part...he would tell me to go SIT in the corner. That did not make good sense, why spank my bottom, then make me go sit on it ?

ai4ep

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (K7JBQ @ April 01 2005,10:35)]The rumors of their deaths are greatly exaggerated.

Last time I looked, Vibroplex was still selling bugs. And there are plenty of good bug operators out there.

Steve is correct about the ease of changing speeds -- I made the same point earlier in this thread -- but properly adjusted, and within its "speed window," a bug can still make sweet music.
Well, that's why they make chocolate and vanilla, Bill. I disagree with you in fact, but not in theory. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

In theory, there are plenty of good bug operators out there (because there are plenty of people using bugs). But in fact, or at least in my opinion, and I'm pretty active on CW, there are very few who are good at it.

Very few.

I don't call sending dits at 40 wpm and dahs at 20 wpm good code, nor do I call sending extra dits that shouldn't be there good code, and the majority of bug operators I hear do either or both of these things.

Last week on 80 CW, I heard one OF call "CQ" more than fifty times before he ID'd, and when he did finally ID, his call wasn't decipherable at all. I was going to call him, but had no idea what his call was, so I sent, "http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif de WB2WIK," after which he sent another fifty CQs....

Not an uncommon theme among bug operators, I'm afraid (much as I hate to say that).

WB2WIK/6

[al7n]

Yup....Anybody can learn to use the old mechanical "semiautomatic" bug...excellent Morse can be sent with one, but you have to know and do a couple things to become skilled in using one.
#
First, you have to know what good code sounds like.
Then you have to get the thing adjusted properly.
This can sometimes be a little bit of a problem. #The "newer" bugs made in recent years have a large single weight on the pendulum...Those made way back when (and there are probably thousands of them around yet) were made with two smaller weights (or a smaller one-piece weight on the flat pendulum shaft like the Vibroplex Lightning Bug, and the Champion).
The bug must carry enough weight on the pendulum shaft to "match" the vibrating reed spring on the pendulum and the "U" shaped hairspring on the dot contact. #These three things, plus the location of the sliding weight on the pendulum shaft control the "dot" speed of the bug. #
You must have enough weight to keep the dots under control for the speed you want to send. #The dashes are of course manually made by your finger working the key lever the opposite direction. #
You want the "dot" and "dash" elements to be about in the ratio of "three to one" give or take a tiny bit, so the code characters you send have properly formed elements.

The "dot" speed can be adjusted then, within considerable range, by simply moving the weight(s) back and forth on the pendulum shaft. #Most bugs cannot be slowed down to much under 15 WPM or so dot speed, some not even that slow...even with considerable added extra weight. #It depends on the springs the bug has. #

Once you get the "dot" speed set where you want it, the operator must then manually make the proper length dashes to match it. #The "dot-dash" ratio has to be right.
This is where many new bug operators have problems and is where you have to know what good code sounds like to make it come out right. # The tendency is to get the "dot" speed set too fast, and then not manually make the dashes the right length to match it. #The tension of the spring on the "dash" side of the lever needs to be set right as well...not too heavy, so the dashes aren't "choppy". #The older bugs made for wire Morse use often have "stiffer" or "faster" springs, and the weights are not as heavy as the newer bugs have. #You usually need to add considerable weight (often about twice as much) as the bug originally came with, to even out the dot speed for radio use on these older bugs. #The dot contact spacing should be set so that the "break ratio" of a string of dots is about 50 % give or take a little. #Some experimentation might be necessary to match the keying circuit constants in the radio transmitter being used. #What it sounds like on the air is what is important. # A good bug should make in excess of 20 or more dots before the pendulum comes to rest, and the dot contacts should be closed solidly when it does run down. #Once set up properly, these old sweeties settle right on down, and they will equal a keyer for good quality Morse IF, and only if, the operator practices enough with it so that the code is properly sent. #Trouble is, #you have to do about half the work yourself with a bug, whereas the electronic keyers do all of it for you. #

Anyone wanting to get proficient with a bug should practice with it by sending text and numerals to a tape recorder, then play it back to yourself. #This will graphically illustrate any problems. #You want your code to sound like the smooth machine-sent practice stuff that W1AW sends out over the air. #When you can get your own bug sending to sound like this, you are ready to go for it on the air. #

Another advantage a mechanical semi-automatic bug has is that it requires no power source to run it, which might
be a consideration if you have to be using an emergency rig or operate on emergency power sometime. #

AL7N

Who uses a Vibroplex bug all the time....'cause I
LIKE it! # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ka9inv]

Personally, most of the ops using bugs that I've heard have been damn near impossible to copy. 10wpm dahs with 35wpm dits, with no spacing between letters or words - eh, it doesn't work for me. I've heard some ops make wonderful use of them, but I would think that it would require great practice to make it sound good.

A straight key is a valuable tool to the beginner, and a pleasure for the more experienced op (at least, in my opinion). Again, it takes practice to make it sound good, and it does not permit anything much above 25wpm, but people can tell who you are just by listening to your fist. That can't be done with the paddles/keyer, and not as much with a bug. Furthermore, for some, it's just more fun to send by hand.

Paddles allow a high degree of accuracy at higher speeds, but your fist loses all of its personality, and the possibility arises again for different kinds of mistakes, i.e. sending extra dits or dahs by mistake. And like some of the fellows above mentioned, if you can send at 50wpm using paddles and a keyer, many are going to assume you're sending with a keyboard, not a key. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

As far as I'm concerned, as long as you can actually make your code copiable, it's purely a matter of preference. At low speeds, paddles are quite inefficient. I'm a pretty slow op, so I've had some experience with this. It's very easy to lose concentration, and then you forget what letter you were sending, what letter you just sent, you start spacing your characters too close, then too far, then you don't leave space between words, then you realize you've been sending characters at 20wpm when your spacing was at 5wpm.... better just to use a straight key at that point. I've worked guys who I know switched from paddles to a straight key to go down to my speed.

Go with what works, but do like someone mentioned earlier and record yourself to see how you sound to everyone else.

[W8MW]

Whatever floats your boat, but I agree with WIK and INV that bug-generated code is garbage more often than not. #However, poorly sent code is good for a laugh from time to time. #A fun trick is to have both a straight key and a keyer connected to the rig. #Set keyer dits at 80 and form dahs on the straight key at 10. #Instead of trying for individual dits, just send bursts of dits. #There is seldom any question which type of sending device is being simulated. #Many of the grand old men of cw used that method for comic relief during QSOs otherwise consisting of beautiful code. #

I still get a chuckle out of deliberate mutilation of code by good operators who do it to provoke a response. #

73 Mike

[al7n]

What you mention is what I was getting at...
There are ops out there that get Granpa's old bug that he used on the railroad, or buy a similar vintage one off e-bay, then don't do what they need to do to it to make it right to use on the radio. #
Setting a bug up for Morse wire use (using American Morse) is a little different than setting one up for use on a radio transmitter...most often considerably more weight has to be added to what was originally provided on the pendulum to make it "sound" right on the radio circuit.
When you hear some guy that sounds like he took the weights clear off, you are probably dealing with this sort.....probably an inexperienced operator.
Anybody who cares about the reputation he gathers among his peer radio operators will take much more care in how his sending sounds, and won't be guilty of such Morse mangling with an improperly set up bug, or a keyer he can't handle.

AL7N