I'm not sure what to suggest for a straight key, but I use an iambic setup and adjust the keyer's speed to a bit slower than I can copy. I suppose it's a forced restriction. It ends up serving two purposes: Some ops return my CQ at a speed faster than I sent which ends up being a blessing as it pushes me to copy faster (and I don't feel bad if I can't copy all as the other gent took it upon him/herself to sent faster initially) and it's a confident booster if they return at the speed I sent because it is really easy to copy.

  Just enjoy no matter how it works out for you.

73 - Paui - N9GXA

When I returned to CW a few years ago, I went with the hand I don't write with thinking I would be able to note something that just couldn't wait. Although I'm not noting much these days, I do find I can make small adjustments on the radio and I feel better using my writing hand for that. I also find that I feel more prepared to have my left hand on the paddles while scanning for DX with my right.

YMMV - Paul - N9GXA

  Working split helps. If You are working simplex and I want to work You, I may wait for the "rush" of calls to die down and then throw out my call. At the same time, You may have already picked out another op and called back to him/her but they couldn't hear You because I delayed my call. It can get confusing.

  If You are working split, my delayed call wouldn't matter in the above scenario because we are all listening on Your frequency. And if I were You, I would just call "UP" without specifying an amount every time. If You say "UP 2" many will go up two and You are going to hear the same thing. If You don't specify the amount every time, You may want to scan a few hertz on either side of "up" looking for a call a bit in the clear. If I hear the rush of calls at 2 up, I may go 2.2 up in an attempt for easier detection.

HTH - 73 - Paul - N9GXA

I use contact cleaner on a newer, crisp dollar bill. An elmer mentioned this to me years ago - The fiber-type paper does a good job.

HTH - Paul - N9GXA

Hi Kassy,

  I don't have a direct answer for you, but I have asked about the FISTS membership fee before, but never really received an answer. It's a good group, but I still wonder. What seems to work without trying is that just operating CW is kind of an organization itself. Contests are fun, but the most fun I have is the state QSO parties.

73 - Paul - N9GXA

  Yep - Thanks guys. Yes, it is rated at 40amps at 250VAC with control voltage 4-32VDC. I was assuming the relay would close the load contacts no matter if it was loaded or not. I placed an incandescent bulb across the load and hooked up a 9VDC battery to the input and there was light. It was good.

  Thanks again guys. I appreciate your help. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know!

73 - Paul - N9GXA

Hello,

  I have a solid state relay I would like to use on a project and would like to test it first. I thought if I hooked up the input with the 4-32VDC, I could check the output for continuity. That isn't working. Or the new relay isn't any good. The input has an indicator the lights up when voltage is applied. Should I be able to check it like this?

  Thanks!

73 - Paul - n9gxa

  I don't know anything about the Wade DMX tower, but when I installed my Rohn BX, I placed a section of construction scaffolding around the base and first section and ran 2x6's on edge through the tower which was then supported by the scaffold section. Then leveled with blocking.

  Hope that makes some sense.
73 - Paul - N9GXA

  Accept it. Although the keyer is providing the correct element timing, that's not everything. You have to provide enough spacing in between each character and word. You could still run everything together and make it harder to copy.

73 - Paul - N9GXA

> What radio is it that has an internal keyer that's set to Iambic (B) mode only and cannot be changed?

> That's a new one on me. My rigs that have internal keyers all have the iambic mode settable via a menu option.
 
  I believe the Yaesu FT-920, FT-857, and FT-950 cannot be changed to iambic mode "A". A quick look at the manuals for the FT-2000, FT-DX5000, and FT-9000 appears that they cannot be setup for iambic mode "A", either.

  I don't know why I learned mode "B", but it seems that which ever method one learns, the other mode is not easy to use. Generally speaking, at least. If the Yaesu radios cannot utilize mode "A", I would assume mode "B" to be more popular. Or maybe Yaesu believes that.

73 - Paul - N9GXA

Ever wake up in a cold sweat because of a nightmare where the FCC dis-allowed morse code? Yeah - I hate that!

;-)
73 - Paul - N9GXA

Thanks for asking this question. I, too, wondered. Just because I can narrow the passband down to 200Hz (or tighter) doesn't mean everyone can. I try and give 1KHz.

  It is nice to have the flexibility to adjust so narrow, though. The other night while in a QSO, someone came in under us about 125Hz away. I had to really narrow down plus shift a bit. Nice!

73 - Paul - N9GXA

Look for an Off Center Fed dipole. If you can get a 4:1 balun, it would take no more materials than a standard dipole. Many bands without a tuner.

http://www.w8ji.com/windom_off_center_fed.htm
http://hamcall.net/7bandocf.html
http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/ocf_dipole.htm

HTH
73 - Paul - N9GXA

I returned to ham radio a few years back and had the opportunity to re-learn CW. Not that I knew it all that well before. I went for the "other" hand. I am right handed but now key the paddles with my left. My reasoning was to have my writing hand available to quickly scribble some notes down if needed or make rig adjustments since I am right handed and my radio is off to the right. I am glad I went that route, but maybe I am just saying that because it was my decision to make.

HTH
73 - Paul - N9GXA

If you didn't pay at renewal, do you loose your license or do you revert back to your previous, systematic, call? Or maybe the next systematic callsign from the appropriate group??

73 - Paul - N9GXA