On CW and Paddles;
Occasionally, a thread concerning which paddles are best pop up on Qrp-l and other ham related e-mail reflectors, not specifically related to the topic charter of the news group. I have chosen to post my opinion(s) on the subject below, rather than take up the reflectors off-topic space.
Although the bottom line result is an opinion only, I believe it necessary to rationalize them just a bit. The opinions are formed through more than 35 years of operating CW and watching others operate CW using a great number of different brand keys and/or paddles. I have formulated these observations into what I believe to be an objective opinion, with only the occasional subjective results based on my personal preference.
The subject of which key is better is, in many instances, similar to Audiophiles arguing over which amplifier or speaker is better. It is highly subjective and prone to be strictly a personal preference of one design over another. Instead, what I want to tackle is the notion that a key or paddle is going to make you a better CW operator, which is the prevalent motivation behind buying some of the premium priced units on the market. While it is true there are many who buy keys for the pure joy of collecting these sometimes beautiful mechanical pieces of art, the primary motivation is the hope that a "better key" will help one improve his or her sending proficiency.
IF..., you have had the thought, "if only I had a good set of paddles, my sending would improve", put your money away and use it for another purpose. Indeed, with some of the high end premium priced paddles, if you have not yet perfected your sending with a more common set of paddles, your sending will probably get worse before it gets better! Premium paddles have a tendency to accentuate both sending proficiency AND sending errors. I'll take it one step further by saying that if you have not yet mastered (that’s, MASTERED) sending and receiving 30 wpm or more, the "better keys” will be of absolutely no benefit to you.
The advantages gained by superior mechanical construction is surface and/or bearing tolerance, and methods of setting tension, all of which ultimately results in a tactile feel of the mechanism. This tactile feel is precisely where subjectivism is introduced, as all of us have different preferences as to how a key "should" feel. None of us have the same impressions of this feel, as it is merely an interpretation of finger tip impulses sent to our brain. These interpretations are always subject to past experiences or similarities to form a yet new experience, from which we then begin to judge other keys. What I feel at the end of a paddle is not the same thing that you feel. What an OT feels, having used a bug his entire life, is not the same thing a newcomer to CW, or someone who has always used paddles, may feel.
All of this is probably a bit excessive for the argument, "which key is better", but I think it explains why there are sometimes such vast and varied opinions floating around.
That being said, as one surpasses 30 wpm, the ability of the mechanism to respond smoothly, positively, and efficiently to the manipulations of the operator are indeed attribute qualities worthy of consideration. However, the feeling at the business end of the paddle is again, regardless of speed, strictly a subjective experience.
Let's
look at the "typical" learning curve of a CW operator. Most if not all of us
start learning the code by first receiving and then sending using a standard
hand pump. As our proficiency improves, we very quickly graduate into a keyer
and a set of paddles, in many cases the Bencher BY-1 or the MFJ equivalent is
chosen. We practice and practice with an intent of improving our sending to 100%
accuracy, no errors.
We quickly realize that sending perfect code is quite a noble, yet seemingly impossible goal to achieve. Then we hear of other highly respectable CW operators using paddles heretofore unknown to us. We speculate these Hams surely know more than we do about the art of sending, and because they send so well using these other paddles, that the Benchers must be to blame for our less than perfect code. Very soon we believe this to be the gospel truth, and begin our quest for the paddle that will make us the perfect CW operator to which we aspire.
Looking at some of the reviews at http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/16 will bear out this observation. The Paddlette Mobile Paddle (nothing more than two pieces of sprung metal) received a higher rating then the Benchers! Too many of you are blaming the device rather than the user of the device. (By the way, I am in no manner associated with the Bencher company)
First, I would suggest that we all calm down a little about sending perfect code. No one sends perfect code. No-One. Listen around the bands and you will hear even the best operators sending at all speeds making an occasional mistake. I am not advocating sloppy code! Rather, if you calm down about your quest for perfection and instead, practice to make your code as readable as possible while enjoying the conversation, the probable result will be an improvement in your code sending proficiency.
Second, don't blame the paddles. You set yourself up for always looking for the solution outside of where the problem actually resides, with the result being less than what you hope for. Master the paddles you have. Yes, it is possible. Then and only then will you truly appreciate the finer qualities of a superior set. I can promise you if you cannot send well on a Bencher, you will not send any better with a $1000.00 Mercury, or any other premium paddle. Yes, the premium paddle will probably feel better to you, and you may even rationalize you are sending better (after all, you just spend a bucket of money that must be rationalized), but the proof is in how others are able to read your code.
Lastly, focus on making your communication understood by the receiver. This after all, is what CW communication is all about. It may seem silly to state the obvious however, too many operators forget the purpose in the code as Morse intended. Sometimes that means altering your sending to accommodate the receiver. In actuality, it means that AT ALL TIMES you should alter your sending style to accommodate the receiving operator. Consider it YOUR responsibility to ensure the operator at the other end copies your transmissions.
As an example, when I send my QTH of Riverside, I understand the character spacing of the individual letters can sometimes create a poor copy potential and so, I intentionally alter the character spacing, particularly between the “S” and the “I” and the “D”. The alteration in spacing is not immediately obvious in fact; most people do not realize I am doing it until I tell them. However, it does show up on a computer reader and I know from experience there is never a problem with copy. It is merely a matter of considering the other guy.
With these methods and your focus on a higher standard of CW proficiency, there can be no doubt your skill set will improve significantly. It is not a matter of “If”; it is only a matter of when.
Lastly, become familiar with the different modes of Iambic Keyer operations, choose one and stick with it. Switching back and forth between Mode “A” and Mode “B” can only lead to confusion and ultimately more errors than you or the receiving operator will be comfortable. I learned using Mode “B” Iambic operation and to this day, cannot send in Mode “A” to save my life.
Mode “A” operation is an automatic mode with dot or dash completion i.e., if you press the dash lever and quickly follow with the dot lever, a “Dah – Dit” will be sent with both characters self completing that is, element length and spacing will be perfectly correct, automatically. A single lever set of paddles works fine for this mode however many if not most people use double lever paddles.
Mode “B” is known as Iambic operation, and will perform as described in the above paragraph, as well as inserting elements between other elements for example, if I press the “dah” lever, and then while continuing to hold down the “dah” paddle press the “dit” paddle, and then let go of them both, a perfectly formed “dah-dit-dah” will be sent. This is sometimes referred to as “squeeze” keying because the required movement of the fingers is to “squeeze” the paddles, as opposed to the back and forth motion of the wrist in mode “A” operation. From this description it can be seen that only a double lever set of paddles can be used.
A mode ‘A’ operator can usually use a mode ‘B’ keyer without ever knowing he has changed but a mode ‘B’ operator will know very quickly he is not in Kansas anymore, while trying to use a mode ‘A’ non-iambic keyer.
I hope some of this has been helpful to you. I applaud your efforts at becoming the best CW operator you can be.