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Author Topic: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW  (Read 1084 times)

K2NS

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TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« on: March 19, 2022, 09:52:36 PM »

Hi all,

     Recently, I have been having trouble sending good CW. I either hold my paddle too long and get extra dits or dahs, or I don't hold the paddle long enough and I am missing dits or dahs.

     I am 75 years old, right handed, and about 15 years ago, I got dehydrated and my wife dragged me to the local hospital, and they laid me down on a gurney and the nurse put an IV into my right arm---not at the top of my hand or inside of the elbow, but at the top of my arm, midway between the hand and elbow.  I stayed there for about 6 hours and they released me.  On the trip home, I noticed that I had some mild numbness in my right thumb, index finger and middle finger.  I called the hospital when I got home, and their answer was to go see a neurologist.

     I didn't have any problems sending CW until about 9 months ago.  The numbness is no worse than it was 15 years ago, but this problem has arisen recently.  I am using a Bencher BY-2 iambic paddle and I'm no speed demon--I keep the keyer in the radio set to about 20 WPM.  I bought and tried a Bencher ST-2 single lever paddle recently figuring that my mobility problem was in the fingers.  I figured i would keep my fingers steadily on the paddles and move my wrist left & right, but I get the same results.

     Are my CW days over?  Have any of you guys experienced the same problem?  I don't mind operating phone, but I have much better luck with DX using CW---I am located in a hole surrounded by high hills and DX SSB is a real challenge---DX CW  is much easier.


Thanks for reading my story.

RON....K2NS
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Got my EXTRA the HARD way---With 20 WPM code at the FCC office in NYC back in 1984

G4AON

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2022, 12:04:40 AM »

I’m sorry to hear of your difficulties Ron. As a lifelong CW op myself (ham ticket with Morse in 1971, commercial marine ops ticket in 1972), I feel your frustration.

While I prefer hand sent Morse, using a computer keyboard to send could be a viable option. It takes some getting used to, but the outgoing code will be “perfect”. Many (most) CW contest ops use computer generated Morse, with paddles as a reserve to repeat at a slower speed if necessary.

I have an old RS232 K1EL Winkeyer, it is only used for occasional contest use with the N1MM+ logging program. There are other options to using a Winkeyer to send Morse from a computer, including some stand alone ones.

https://www.k1elsystems.com/keyers.html

73 Dave
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W4FID

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2022, 05:06:41 AM »

Ron. I am sorry to hear how bad your problem is. I too have the same issue to a lessor degree but still an issue to me enjoying CW. I find a single lever keyer is better than an iambic one. Also I find there is a pretty narrow speed range where I can send cleanly. So from time to time or if I get a new paddle or a new rig I put a dummy load on it, set it to 1 or 2 watts, and send the alphabet, numbers, punctuation 5 or 6 times each and go thru the whole set. I also find most rigs and most keyers allow changing the dot/dash ratio. I stay with the conventional plain vanilla 3:1. For me if the speed is set at 11 or 12 WPM and I "practice" every so often (who doesn't benefit from practice in about everything in life) I do pretty well. I usually hang out around the QRP frequencies as there are ops there who are used to copying weak or poorer signals and many are the more experienced old timers. The Flying Pigs group does 4 slow speed casual events every month with a limit of 13 WPM so they are fun. 2 nights on 40 and 2 nights on 20 for an hour each. Also most rigs have macros -- "canned" outgoing text. Using them can assist the flow of the QSO and reduce your finger fatigue. Or an interface to a computer like FL Digi, DM78, etc will have you on CW enjoying a real (vs canned) QSO and even my tired old fingers can hunt and peck the keyboard about 10 or 15 WPM. And I can copy in my head if I want to -- don't have to have the computer decode it -- so I am still "half way" to old fashioned CW.
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W1RKW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2022, 05:53:03 AM »

sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome.
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ZL1BBW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2022, 10:51:23 AM »

Nerve conduction tests will prove or disprove any nerve issues.

I was told the shock travels up the nerve to the brain and back again and the transmission delay is 20m/second.

Also a Ultrasound will identify any tissue related injuries or knobs and gnarls on the bits n pieces in the arm.

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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

K8AXW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2022, 11:01:29 AM »

Ron, I too feel your pain.  As a former CW intercept operator and long time CW operator (60+ years) I am now unable to use CW.

I developed Parkinson's and lost the dexterity in my right hand/arm.  Although the arm shaking has been diminished a great deal with meds, I'm still unable to control a paddle or even a straight key.

A keyboard keyer has been just more frustration because my typing ability has gone from about 80wpm down to about 13wpm.  Going from a conversational head-copy at 20-25wpm down to a struggling 13wpm is more than I can stand.  I'm now strictly SSB.  The paddles and QRP gear setting there unused is driving me crazy.

With all of that said, if I was you I would do two things.  I would see a competent neurologist and get tested for carpel tunnel syndrome as another suggested, and I would then have my doctor refer me to a good sports physical therapist for hand/finger exercises. 

Good luck OM. 
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KL7CW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2022, 11:15:11 PM »

Ron, 
  I am not an expert in medical manners, however one thing which would be worth a serious try is to send with your left hand.  I am 80 years old and very right handed.  Perhaps 7 years ago I had a serious injury to my right wrist/hand which required sugery and about 3 months of physical therapy and recovery.  I was very surprised to find out that I could accomplish many, or even most chores around my shop and house with my left hand.  It was mentally exhausting, but the human body adapted to this challenge.  Since I hoped for recovery, I never worked on left handed CW, but am sure that I could have mastered it with some serious effort.  It was common in the old days for contest operators to learn to write, or usually send CW with their other hand so they could write with the other hand.  One friend always sent cw with a hand key with one hand and with a bug on the other.  Even though I am now completely recovered, I now am just as likely to pick up a coffee cup or coffee pot with my left hand. 
     One other thing you could try is to set up, or get a key with wide spaced contacts and perhaps stiff springs.  I operated many years with hand keys, bugs, and heavy clunky paddles which I needed to really bang hard.  Recently I finally bought a quality (expensive) key which required a light touch.  It took this old guy some real effort to learn to control it compared to my old Kent and some hand built keys. Possibly something like this would be easier to control.
     So just keep experimenting, something may help you.  Some folks claim that some rigs or keyers require more exact operation to send good CW.  Personally, I find all of my rigs and keyers OK, but I seem to still just adapt to whatever is required, but I would try different keyers or rigs with internal keyers.  I think the idea of a single lever paddle should be in theory, easier to control. Iambic squeeze keying is probably the most difficult to learn or control.  Many decades ago I built my own discrete component keyer which was similar to what is now called Ultamatic.  It was very easy for me to master, and I was soon cruising at well over 40 WPM, which I never mastered with all of my fancy "modern" keys and keyers.  Some keyers still offer Ultimatic as an option.  Will not solve your problem, but may help just a bit if you want to stay with dual lever paddles.     Good Luck    Rick  KL7CW 
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KD8IIC

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2022, 12:28:05 PM »

My RADIO; It sends perfect CW....   Myself; I send Morse Code, not CW...
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K8AXW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2022, 10:18:49 AM »

Ron:  There's your problem!  You're trying to send CW!  Perhaps sending CW lefthanded might help although you will need to be aware of dyslexia.

Or you could try sending with your left foot. (QLF) There sure are a lot of hams doing that very thing these days.
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RENTON481

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2022, 10:01:48 PM »

Would using a straight key make a difference?
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NU1O

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2022, 11:06:19 AM »

My RADIO; It sends perfect CW....   Myself; I send Morse Code, not CW...

Is this a bad joke?
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NU1O

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2022, 11:10:09 AM »

I've unfortunately have had my share of IVs.  I've never had a nurse insert the IV half-way up the arm.  It's usually inserted slightly above the wrist.  How long ago did it happen?  You may have a malpractice case.

Sorry, I read your post again and see the incident happened 15 years ago.  3 years is the limit for malpractice.  Time may vary in other states (I am in MA) but I really doubt you'll find a state that goes back 15 years.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2022, 11:27:20 AM by NU1O »
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N3ZP

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2022, 10:43:50 AM »

I'm also 75 and a CW operator. I find that I don't send as well with an Iambic paddle anymore either. I use a Winkeyer which has a lot of mode options in the firmware like Ultimatic, which works a bit better for me. I may also try a single-lever paddle. Part of my problem is that I have neuropathy, which has weakened my hand significantly since nerve conduction through my arm is reduced. My neurologist told me I have some compression in the ulnar nerve also which runs over the elbow. There is a surgical procedure for that but the surgeon felt I have progressed to far for the surgery to offer much improvement. You should see a neurologist, who may offer some solutions through surgery or physical therapy that will improve use of your hand. I will be starting some hand therapy which I hope will improve use of my hands and strengthen my fingers.

Phil N3ZP
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KL7CW

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2022, 03:21:22 PM »

I think N3ZP suggestions are good.  I also have a Winkeyer which I like, although I find my other rigs and keyers acceptable.  If you still want iambic keying for some reason, Ultimatic would possibly be slightly easier.  A decade ago I took my new QRP CW rig on a vacation.  I sent awful CW during that trip. I blamed it on the portable key, or my ancient brain cells.  After I got home I read the rig manual, and found I had optioned the rig for type A Iambic, not the type B I had been using for decades.  Oh well we are hams and tend to think it is not necessary to read the instruction books.  As N3ZP stated Ultimatic MIGHT help, but just a little, no guarantee of a miracle.  As a PS, the WINKEYER interfaces with a USB connection to my computer with contest software, which also enables me to send CW with the computer keyboard.  The Winkeyer  can also send CW directly to your transceiver if you do want the computer in the circuit.                    Rick  KL7CW
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NU1O

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Re: TROUBLE SENDING GOOD CW
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2022, 12:04:01 PM »

As a PS, the WINKEYER interfaces with a USB connection to my computer with contest software, which also enables me to send CW with the computer keyboard.  The Winkeyer  can also send CW directly to your transceiver if you do want the computer in the circuit.                    Rick  KL7CW

Good to know.  When I run the amp on 10m my PC freezes.  I've tried torroids galore but nothing works except cutting the power way down.
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