Who said anything about fast or even good. Fun! Just before the arm falls off, then go to the bug. Bowflex ought to make a "ham" version of their home gym. Have a place for a J38 so part of your exercise regimen is doing a bunch of cw reps. Maybe even mount a screwdriver antenna on top, and a place for a QRP CW rig. Maybe have a "Worked All Gyms" (WAG) award. Or maybe not.
A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory
RIP ALBI-W3MIV RIP RUSS-W5RB RIP BOB-VK3ZL
I'd like a Swedish Pumper style straight key.
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman
I have a J-38. I even use it on occasion. Well, I try to, at least.Originally Posted by K7SGJ
Operating in pain is not fun.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. 90% of the people don’t care, the other 10% are glad it happened.” — Clint Hurdle, 2019
BAN THE DH!
Fudd's First Law of Opposition: If you push something hard enough, it WILL fall down.
Teslacle's Deviant to Fudd's Law: It goes in, it must go out.
"The 2020 election wasn't stolen, and speaking the truth is only a crime in countries ruled by tyrants" - Liz Cheney
“Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfed.” — Bernie Sanders
Your either not using the right painkiller, or not enough. The more you take, the better your code sounds. To you, that is, and not the guy on the other end.
A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory
RIP ALBI-W3MIV RIP RUSS-W5RB RIP BOB-VK3ZL
could be worse. could be one of them people who shakes real bad.
your cq call would look like
---------- ........... ---------- .........
I AM THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS!
Have you ever tried one of those long armed pump keys? You actually keep your elbow and forearm off the table. Dang things are expensive, and massive, but I've played with them long enough to know it's a lot more comfortable... even though I don't have an issue with a glass fist.
Even use my right hand that was crippled from the motorcycle accident. I want one!
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman
The Eriksson, its a BIG Swedish key, but when adjusted properly, its smooth as silk. I have about 40 keys, i dont use electronic at all. My main key is a mid-60's Vibroplex Standard, and when i need to go really slow, i just use it as a straight key sideswiper style...manual CW is a blast. One of my smoothest and fastest hand pumps is a turn-of-the-century Triumph from some old railroad station, like melted butter.
Hang out in the novice bands until you get your chops up, then call CQ at a speed you are comfortable with down in the subband. Most CW ops will answer at the speed you send out of courtesy, if they dont, dont answer them.
I used a Lafayette (Japanese) "coffin" bug as a kid. Never had a keyer back then.
When I got back into radio after a 26 year absence, I got paddles and a keyer... started messing around with it.
Now when I try to use a bug, I swing horribly. I can't get the rhythm right. But I still got the beat with the straight key.
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman
I built my first keyer way back from an article in Hints and Kinks. It was made with germanium diodes, a couple of electrolytic caps, and a very sensitive relay. I believe the dit vs dah timing was a function of the caps, something like 3:1 or so. The paddles were a couple of J38s bolted base to base with a couple of ell brackets to mount them. Obviously there was no speed control, or any other control for that matter. Although crude by todays standards, it was cutting edge back then.
Although my fist sucks, I still like using a straight key from time to time.
A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory
RIP ALBI-W3MIV RIP RUSS-W5RB RIP BOB-VK3ZL
Did google-fu on "Swedish Pumper" and got three groups of images. One was a fire truck, one was a code key and the other was, well, a "Swedish Pumper." Dunno which is more fun.
If it's a war on drugs, then free the POW's.
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