Hint: On an IC-7300 (as in your reference station), if you set mode to 'CW' and 'Break in' to 'Off' you can hear your key's side-tone without transmitting. Useful for practice! No need to turn the Tx power down. Please see page 4-14 in the basic manual. Same deal on IC-7610 73 de M0PTB PeteS
Yes it is a fun use of the radio. But recently had this happen. I had been doing this same thing. Then I switched to USB-Data to work FT8. I forgot to turn the power back up. DX called !! I answered and actually made the contact at -21 with ZERO POWER !! I was like ?????? So it obviously transmitted some ridiculously small power. How much ??? Probably milliwatts. It kind of freaked me out as I have been practicing this way for years. Lol.
@@NoiseWithRules I was incorrect. The manual shows the power available on the radio as 0-100 watts but the manual states the radio is controllable from 2-100 watts so even in USB or CW, Zero watts on the selector switch is 2 watts. Actually somebody tested it with a wattmeter and it showed 0.7 watts output. I did understand what you were saying. Yes, this is the way I practice cw sending. Breakin/semi breakin off...and it's not going to transmit. What I meant to say, is that, after practicing i switched into USB DATA but forgot the Power was at ZERO.. (this is a habit I do).. Your point is correct about not having to turn down the power and selecting break-in/semi- breakin off. I have always set my power to zero if my radio is on but I’m not in front of the radio in case somebody bumps the keyer or transmits by mistake. But now that I know Zero watts on the dual is 2 watts in reality I will turn off my radio. Sometimes I leave it on-to pick up the WSPR signals. So I was amazed and still am that I made a contact on FT8 between the Midwest USA and Bulgaria with 0.7 watts and got a -21db. I laughed and thought it was amusing because it was not the usual -26 I get when I am running higher power and with bad conditions trying to reach Europe. It's also been a while since I read the manual. :)
Side swiper is a straight key on its side that makes contact in both directions. You alternate dits and dahs going back and forth with your fingers l-r-l-r...... you have to hold dahs longer than dits. It looks similar to a single paddle but does not work with an electronic keyer.
I always heard it called a Side _Swiper,_ or "cootie". A sidewinder is an infrared targeting air-to-air missile. And a venomous snake. My favorite paddle is a single lever Torsion Bar Cootie-Paddle by Steve, W1SFR. It can function as a sideswiper (or cootie), or as a paddle, depending how the cable is shorted. It has a stereo plug to use it as a paddle, and with a mono adapter it works as a cootie. It can't do true Iambic "squeeze keying" mode, but it will generate dits in one direction, dahs in the other. There are no springs, only as solid Torsion Bar that is twisted as you push the lever each way. The natural tendency of the metal to relieve the tension returns it to center. Steve makes several models, and they're all great. Of all my paddles, it's my favorite. But it's single lever. The only thing it can't do is squeeze keying. And for a handmade paddle, it's not terribly expensive.
Interesting explanation of a single key.. never seen one in action.. but I'm sure its neat.. being only a typist that could not get past 80 wpm.. I can understand your dilemma with a double paddle but with the simple blue box there is less movement if the hand if keying and the dahs.... stay in and the dit can pass into the other paddle already in motion or rather pulsing.. you actually leave it pushed in.. I think he is referring to iambic like something going back and forth with a rhythm like a metronome... where a spring loaded or tensile loaded keep is pressured out and released.. so in that sense a different type of rhythm..
I knew about the cootie or sideswiper key. It has other names. I understood what Dave was talking about. Regional dialect or senior moment, I do not know. Thank you for your comment. I learned Morse code as a Scout to get First Class rank. With learning disabilities, that was a challenge. Two medical doctors diagnosed me as dyslexic when I was in graduate school. I finished my Ph.D. anyway. I will check on W1SFR. Is his key still available? Again thank you. N0QFT
@@glenmartin2437 Yes, the W1SFR cootie is still available. Just google W1SFR and you will find it. I really like my cootie key and use it almost exclusively. No glass arm with a cootie.
Dave I wrote my license 2 weeks ago and got my Basic With Honours, which in Canada allows me access to all the amateur bands. I followed your advice and didn’t buy any gear until I got my license so am now putting my station together based on the reference station. The main difference will be a DX Commander for the antenna. Once I get on the air, my next step is to learn Morse through the Long Island CW Club and will also look into the SKCC. Thanks for your videos and inspiration to persevere. At 62 it’s been a challenge but fun. I look forward to more videos and maybe a contact sometime in the future. Cheers from Moose Jaw. Tim VE5THF
Good on you. Last year, I got back on the air after 25 years QRT. I had never done CW outside the requirement for getting my license and one disastrous QSO when I started off. I managed to teach myself the characters through The Morse Whisperer videos which is 5WPM sent at 10WPM spacing. Picked up the pace with the Lockdown Morse videos which is 10WPM sent at 20WPM spacing. And I am now pushing myself along with Morse Ninja who has me copying stuff at 22WPM.....not very well, but I am picking up more each day. All online resources, available for free to get you started. I got on the air once I knew enough to be able to copy at around 10WPM at around 80%. Most of my initial contacts have been using the SKCC sked page, where you can schedule a simple detail exchange QSO (RST, Name, QTH, SKCC Number) and talk through stuff you may have missed online. I have been at it for around 16 months now and can copy a lot at 15WPM, and confident enough to pull the RST, Name and QTH out of a 20+WPM QSO if it is repeated twice. When operating at home, I use FLDigi as a crutch, not a wheelchair, to decode the CW, while I practice _Head Copy_ My latest stunt is to operate CW whilst driving. In VK we drive on the left, so I am sending left hand with a mini straight key at around 12-13WPM and have had half a dozen simple QSOs. Surprisingly, it is no more distracting than talking to a passenger. I get more QSOs calling CQ on 702KHz during the day, a defacto rag chew daytime CW call channel here, than putting out a call on the local 2m or 70cm repeaters I would always send _NEW TO CW SO PSE GO EZ HI HI_ and everyone would slow down and / or repeat twice. Never had an issue, only courtesy. Go sign up to SKCC. Best thing you can do. Good luck. I'll be listening out for you
I still use a straight key. I’ve got several types/manufactures and can still run a conversational QSO around 20 - 22 WPM. Over 22 I get sloppy and can’t keep my spacing and ratios correct.
Iambic keys can give you keystroke advantages for C. F, K, L, Q, R, and Y. There is another list to memorize while you are learning code, and more sequences of finger operations. You did not see any single paddles, because they are often used by faster operators. I am not a faster operator, but I find them much easier to use than iambic. Much less chance of an accidental dit or dah by a beginning operator. You can only find them being made by Vibroplex, by Bencher, by Begali, and some other makers. If you do not look for them, you won't see them. If you buy a CW Morse key, I suggest you buy two. They are pretty delicate, as Dave demonstrated here.
That Vibroplex Racer is not in production anymore. According to Vibroplex there's no demand. As such, their parts supply is dwindling and running out. FYI. They're very nice keyers but buy with caution and try not to drop them. (Ask me how I know.🤦♂️)
Nice video. Honestly though, i haven't heard any code from 7050 KHz to 7060 KHz of 7110 KHz. That's a universe long ago and far away. I have built crystal and vxo rigs around 7040 KHz and even there it's rare to here CW signals there so I bought a few crystals for 7030 KHz in the HC-49U container and I've heard far more CW signals there than the traditional CW frequencies. It's kind of sad because I operated reliably around 7123, an old World War 2 era cyrstal, or one centered on 7125 I lucked out finding in a ham radio store when we had them. This was back in the mid 1970s for time frame.
I’ve seen a lot of ways to hold/send with a straight key in my 50 plus years using Morse (including several years in the US Army). I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that method. Just out of curiosity, how did you come about doing it that way? I don’t think, I’m coordinated enough to send with a straight key that way. 73 Mitch W9HZ
@@ProperLogicalDebate I’ve been sending on a straight key with my left hand while driving. Now here in VK, we drive on the left, so the key is on the centre console. It’s a bit rickety when the road is rough, but it’s clean enough to get RBN spots at around 12-13WPM. Not nearly as distracting as I expected, not any more distracting than talking to your passenger, and good for practicing head copy. I have a a Vibroplex side swiper / dual contact cootie that you can use with or without a keyer I was going to try next SKCC night. Can’t be any worse than my left hand I have yet to hear someone say _U SND QLF ?_ on the air. Q code for sending with your left foot....or so I was told
I am curious if you know why the gentleman that designed the Bencher BY-1 paddle used a single long spring? I asked Vibroplex (current owner of Bencher) and they do not know. Thank you for another good video.
@@sammiller6631 I kind of made it tongue in cheek spammy, so UA-cam may have punted I’ve had it happen on hot topics too. Net neutrality was one. I would point out lines in the legislation and sure enough the whole thread would be memoryholed Kind of why I use a key on the radio. Sometimes it’s best I don’t have a microphone ;-)
@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan Or you triggered one of your commenters since any comment gets removed instantly if you click Report. Maybe it's still sitting in a review queue somewhere?
Summer is here again with lots of activities to be enjoyed . Well , I'm taking a voyage into investing because I lost so much during this pandemic . Multi creation of wealth is the best strategy to ensure financial sustainability.
Nice content mate! So happy to announce that I have gained financial freedom by investing in digital currency . Now I know that multi creation of various streams of income is the ideal Principle for financial sustainability. ...
Sorry to be so contrarian, but respectfully, this gentleman wastes a huge amount of time, meandering around and never getting to the point, dropping things, forgetting what he was talking about, filling up the video with empty filler in between the facts. He has a lot of knowledge and seems to be a kindly and nice man, but he has a hard time presenting things. He would benefit if he would his self-edit, shorten his allotted time and then force himself to fit factual items into the shortened videos. It takes discipline to make a good video and not waste people's time. Throw away the intro and the greeting, and watching him write on the whiteboard, and the musical finale and the long goodbye. So much wasted time.
Hint: On an IC-7300 (as in your reference station), if you set mode to 'CW' and 'Break in' to 'Off' you can hear your key's side-tone without transmitting. Useful for practice! No need to turn the Tx power down. Please see page 4-14 in the basic manual.
Same deal on IC-7610
73 de M0PTB
PeteS
Yes it is a fun use of the radio. But recently had this happen.
I had been doing this same thing. Then I switched to USB-Data to work FT8. I forgot to turn the power back up. DX called !! I answered and actually made the contact at -21 with ZERO POWER !!
I was like ??????
So it obviously transmitted some ridiculously small power. How much ??? Probably milliwatts. It kind of freaked me out as I have been practicing this way for years. Lol.
@@user-ss6zt2mo1l USB-Data doesn't prevent Tx when Break-in is off. CW does.
@@NoiseWithRules I was incorrect. The manual shows the power available on the radio as 0-100 watts but the manual states the radio is controllable from 2-100 watts so even in USB or CW, Zero watts on the selector switch is 2 watts. Actually somebody tested it with a wattmeter and it showed 0.7 watts output.
I did understand what you were saying. Yes, this is the way I practice cw sending. Breakin/semi breakin off...and it's not going to transmit. What I meant to say, is that, after practicing i switched into USB DATA but forgot the Power was at ZERO.. (this is a habit I do)..
Your point is correct about not having to turn down the power and selecting break-in/semi- breakin off. I have always set my power to zero if my radio is on but I’m not in front of the radio in case somebody bumps the keyer or transmits by mistake. But now that I know Zero watts on the dual is 2 watts in reality I will turn off my radio. Sometimes I leave it on-to pick up the WSPR signals.
So I was amazed and still am that I made a contact on FT8 between the Midwest USA and Bulgaria with 0.7 watts and got a -21db. I laughed and thought it was amusing because it was not the usual -26 I get when I am running higher power and with bad conditions trying to reach Europe.
It's also been a while since I read the manual. :)
IC-718 too! Thanks for bringing this up! (but alas not the Alinco DX-SR8 or SR9...........)
Side swiper is a straight key on its side that makes contact in both directions. You alternate dits and dahs going back and forth with your fingers l-r-l-r...... you have to hold dahs longer than dits. It looks similar to a single paddle but does not work with an electronic keyer.
Dear Mr.Casler.Great TEACHER.Thank you for everything you do.More health and power to you.God Bless you and Best Wishes.E.
I always heard it called a Side _Swiper,_ or "cootie". A sidewinder is an infrared targeting air-to-air missile. And a venomous snake.
My favorite paddle is a single lever Torsion Bar Cootie-Paddle by Steve, W1SFR. It can function as a sideswiper (or cootie), or as a paddle, depending how the cable is shorted. It has a stereo plug to use it as a paddle, and with a mono adapter it works as a cootie. It can't do true Iambic "squeeze keying" mode, but it will generate dits in one direction, dahs in the other. There are no springs, only as solid Torsion Bar that is twisted as you push the lever each way. The natural tendency of the metal to relieve the tension returns it to center. Steve makes several models, and they're all great. Of all my paddles, it's my favorite. But it's single lever. The only thing it can't do is squeeze keying. And for a handmade paddle, it's not terribly expensive.
Interesting explanation of a single key.. never seen one in action.. but I'm sure its neat.. being only a typist that could not get past 80 wpm.. I can understand your dilemma with a double paddle but with the simple blue box there is less movement if the hand if keying and the dahs.... stay in and the dit can pass into the other paddle already in motion or rather pulsing.. you actually leave it pushed in..
I think he is referring to iambic like something going back and forth with a rhythm like a metronome... where a spring loaded or tensile loaded keep is pressured out and released.. so in that sense a different type of rhythm..
I knew about the cootie or sideswiper key. It has other names. I understood what Dave was talking about. Regional dialect or senior moment, I do not know.
Thank you for your comment.
I learned Morse code as a Scout to get First Class rank. With learning disabilities, that was a challenge. Two medical doctors diagnosed me as dyslexic when I was in graduate school.
I finished my Ph.D. anyway.
I will check on W1SFR. Is his key still available?
Again thank you.
N0QFT
@@glenmartin2437 Yes, the W1SFR cootie is still available. Just google W1SFR and you will find it. I really like my cootie key and use it almost exclusively. No glass arm with a cootie.
Dave I wrote my license 2 weeks ago and got my Basic With Honours, which in Canada allows me access to all the amateur bands. I followed your advice and didn’t buy any gear until I got my license so am now putting my station together based on the reference station. The main difference will be a DX Commander for the antenna. Once I get on the air, my next step is to learn Morse through the Long Island CW Club and will also look into the SKCC. Thanks for your videos and inspiration to persevere. At 62 it’s been a challenge but fun. I look forward to more videos and maybe a contact sometime in the future. Cheers from Moose Jaw.
Tim VE5THF
Good on you.
Last year, I got back on the air after 25 years QRT. I had never done CW outside the requirement for getting my license and one disastrous QSO when I started off.
I managed to teach myself the characters through The Morse Whisperer videos which is 5WPM sent at 10WPM spacing. Picked up the pace with the Lockdown Morse videos which is 10WPM sent at 20WPM spacing. And I am now pushing myself along with Morse Ninja who has me copying stuff at 22WPM.....not very well, but I am picking up more each day. All online resources, available for free to get you started.
I got on the air once I knew enough to be able to copy at around 10WPM at around 80%. Most of my initial contacts have been using the SKCC sked page, where you can schedule a simple detail exchange QSO (RST, Name, QTH, SKCC Number) and talk through stuff you may have missed online. I have been at it for around 16 months now and can copy a lot at 15WPM, and confident enough to pull the RST, Name and QTH out of a 20+WPM QSO if it is repeated twice.
When operating at home, I use FLDigi as a crutch, not a wheelchair, to decode the CW, while I practice _Head Copy_
My latest stunt is to operate CW whilst driving. In VK we drive on the left, so I am sending left hand with a mini straight key at around 12-13WPM and have had half a dozen simple QSOs. Surprisingly, it is no more distracting than talking to a passenger.
I get more QSOs calling CQ on 702KHz during the day, a defacto rag chew daytime CW call channel here, than putting out a call on the local 2m or 70cm repeaters
I would always send _NEW TO CW SO PSE GO EZ HI HI_ and everyone would slow down and / or repeat twice. Never had an issue, only courtesy.
Go sign up to SKCC. Best thing you can do.
Good luck. I'll be listening out for you
THANK YOU ! Dave - your channel is indispensable!
3rd video in one day?! What a nice bonus!
Why does no on use straight keys any longer. That is what I learned on in the 70s and I am still comfortable with it.
I still use a straight key. I’ve got several types/manufactures and can still run a conversational QSO around 20 - 22 WPM. Over 22 I get sloppy and can’t keep my spacing and ratios correct.
Check out the SKCC group.
I love straight keys.
Congratulations Dave on your new QST column. They made an excellent choice.
Thank for the tip about not using the wrist. N0QFT
my fav paddle is the "URI" paddle made in sweden. No springs, it uses magnetic repelling instead. Super nice piece
Iambic keys can give you keystroke advantages for C. F, K, L, Q, R, and Y. There is another list to memorize while you are learning code, and more sequences of finger operations. You did not see any single paddles, because they are often used by faster operators. I am not a faster operator, but I find them much easier to use than iambic. Much less chance of an accidental dit or dah by a beginning operator. You can only find them being made by Vibroplex, by Bencher, by Begali, and some other makers. If you do not look for them, you won't see them. If you buy a CW Morse key, I suggest you buy two. They are pretty delicate, as Dave demonstrated here.
I keyed once, the day I received my Advance ticket in the mail in 81, late 81 my job transferred me out of state. I was off the air until 2019
My best key is a BEGALI. My most USED key I 3D printed. Love it.
Been using a McElroy tear drop straight key for 41 years. No Carpul tunnel yet. "Crossed fingers". The only Mic. I own is on my vhf radio.
My Elmer on the 80’s had a dual paddle strapped to his leg whilst driving, he was better while driving than I could ever be
AF6L makes an amazing key.
That Vibroplex Racer is not in production anymore. According to Vibroplex there's no demand. As such, their parts supply is dwindling and running out. FYI. They're very nice keyers but buy with caution and try not to drop them. (Ask me how I know.🤦♂️)
Thank you Dave. This is very helpful information. AC0AE
Nice video. Honestly though, i haven't heard any code from 7050 KHz to 7060 KHz of 7110 KHz. That's a universe long ago and far away. I have built crystal and vxo rigs around 7040 KHz and even there it's rare to here CW signals there so I bought a few crystals for 7030 KHz in the HC-49U container and I've heard far more CW signals there than the traditional CW frequencies. It's kind of sad because I operated reliably around 7123, an old World War 2 era cyrstal, or one centered on 7125 I lucked out finding in a ham radio store when we had them. This was back in the mid 1970s for time frame.
I've been using my index finger for Dit, and middle finger for Dah while pushing down on a straight key.
Gregg AG7MW
I’ve seen a lot of ways to hold/send with a straight key in my 50 plus years using Morse (including several years in the US Army). I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that method. Just out of curiosity, how did you come about doing it that way? I don’t think, I’m coordinated enough to send with a straight key that way. 73 Mitch W9HZ
@@Mitch62918 Just thought of it. My index finger just wanted to be fast and the middle seems slower.
@@Mitch62918 For me it's best with the right hand but there's the fast music vs. slow logic thing to think about.
@@ProperLogicalDebate I’ve been sending on a straight key with my left hand while driving. Now here in VK, we drive on the left, so the key is on the centre console.
It’s a bit rickety when the road is rough, but it’s clean enough to get RBN spots at around 12-13WPM.
Not nearly as distracting as I expected, not any more distracting than talking to your passenger, and good for practicing head copy.
I have a a Vibroplex side swiper / dual contact cootie that you can use with or without a keyer I was going to try next SKCC night. Can’t be any worse than my left hand
I have yet to hear someone say _U SND QLF ?_ on the air.
Q code for sending with your left foot....or so I was told
O G wiz David.... where would someone start.... to do CW and learn it
Do you delete comments that you disagree with?
Most Hams these days know dit about Morse Code
I know, I’ve done my dash.....
:-/
Or they know - - - - - about Morse.
@@kelvin0mql They all talk about Morse. I want to know what’s behind the Vail ??
@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan Secrets… well kept secrets, dude.
@@kelvin0mql yes. What happens on the railroad stays on the railroad
I am curious if you know why the gentleman that designed the Bencher BY-1 paddle used a single long spring? I asked Vibroplex (current owner of Bencher) and they do not know.
Thank you for another good video.
@Daviid Casler
A what ?????
J-38 here!
will a 10m dipole work dx at 6 feet?
you need to elevate that dipole to 15feet in order to succesfully work DX
Dave. Was it UA-cam, or yourself that took down the link to SKCC I posted in the comments ??
Or maybe your reply didn't send properly?
@@sammiller6631 I kind of made it tongue in cheek spammy, so UA-cam may have punted
I’ve had it happen on hot topics too. Net neutrality was one. I would point out lines in the legislation and sure enough the whole thread would be memoryholed
Kind of why I use a key on the radio. Sometimes it’s best I don’t have a microphone ;-)
@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan Or you triggered one of your commenters since any comment gets removed instantly if you click Report. Maybe it's still sitting in a review queue somewhere?
Why isn't UA-cam doing anything about this scammer using your name?
I've reported at least 75 comments and UA-cam does nothing!!
👍👏👏
Why do you have a MANUAL, not even electric, Smith-Corona typewriter???
Same reason he has a straight key: they are simple, hard to break, easy to repair. Batteries not included ;)
I love your videos. You make great content, but your handwriting makes my brain hurt! HAHA!
The economic hardship , recession , unemployment and the loss of job caused by covid pandemic is enough to push people into financial ventures .
Summer is here again with lots of activities to be enjoyed . Well , I'm taking a voyage into investing because I lost so much during this pandemic . Multi creation of wealth is the best strategy to ensure financial sustainability.
Nice content mate! So happy to announce that I have gained financial freedom by investing in digital currency . Now I know that multi creation of various streams of income is the ideal Principle for financial sustainability.
...
Sounds like a load of faff ! To much fiddling about. No wonder it’s gone out of favour !
Sorry to be so contrarian, but respectfully, this gentleman wastes a huge amount of time, meandering around and never getting to the point, dropping things, forgetting what he was talking about, filling up the video with empty filler in between the facts. He has a lot of knowledge and seems to be a kindly and nice man, but he has a hard time presenting things. He would benefit if he would his self-edit, shorten his allotted time and then force himself to fit factual items into the shortened videos. It takes discipline to make a good video and not waste people's time. Throw away the intro and the greeting, and watching him write on the whiteboard, and the musical finale and the long goodbye. So much wasted time.
Thanks for this great overview.
Well presented!
Lot's of good contacts in the future.
Best,
Matthias 👋
DL1NDG