Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy

Working on my FIST and learning about Telegraphy

I received a Kent Hand Key from an auction.  It is a European or English style of key which means it's knob is taller than I'm accustomed and requires that you set it at the end of your desk and use your entire arm suspended from the shoulder to work it rather than rest your elbow/forearm on the desk and work it with your wrist alone.  This style is quite new to me.  

I'm incorrect in the video... new Kent Hand Keys DO have a continuity strap,
but it's on the bottom of the lever.

Right after hooking it up I practiced for a minute or two and then made 3 contacts up in the SKCC region (7.055MHz) and I recognized that I was sending poorly... or more poorly than is my custom.  To a large degree I just didn't know how to operate this style of key.  

I'll review the Kent Key after I've had some time to work with it.   In the meantime I did some web searches for how to properly operate an English style key and one recommendation pointed to the following website/book...


Written by N0HFF William G. Pierpont is available as a PDF download.

Here is a quote that is emblematic of the content...
"The telegraph code is simply a means of communication, and communication is transferring ideas from one person to another in the form of words and sentences."
If you are learning Morse Code or wishing to improve your "intelligibility" in both copying and sending I'd recommend this thoughtfully written resource:

Here is a link to the PDF: 

The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy




So lower your power and raise your expectations

73
Richard
N4PBQ

1 comment:

  1. Awesome. Tnx for sharing Richard. At least, every Ham radio Op. should learn and practice the Morse code.....Emergency situations, Major disaster, Solar conditions and bad radio waves propagation....and more.!
    Greetings from Venezuela de YV4MT Miguel.

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