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VK6BE > CW 09.07.05 07:41l 27 Lines 1341 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 120231VK6BE
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: straight key/speed?
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<VK6HGR<VK6BBS<VK6BBR<
VK6ZRT<VK6JY
Sent: 050709/0057Z @:VK6JY.#ALY.#WA.AUS.OC #:63310 [Albany] wFBB7 $:120231VK6B
From: VK6BE@VK6JY.#ALY.#WA.AUS.OC
To : CW@WW
I was a wireless operator during the war in the AIF. I could send and
receive around 27 wpm in plain language, but we had other operators who
could send and receive over 30 wpm with no difficulty. These were the
professionals from the Post Office and commerical ranks who commonly
worked at high speed.For speeds over 30 wpm you really needed to use a
type writer.We used straight keys all the time. I tried to buy a bug key
but the Yanks had bought them all up when they came to OZ. Later when I
got my ham licence in 1955 I took to a bug. My present rig has an
electronic keyer of course.
Most of our operating during the war was in cipher - 5 letter groups of
letters or figures. Plain language was rarely used for reasons of
security. Using code like that the speed was limited to about 20 wpm as
this was the best most of us could do printing in block capitals.
I don't use morse much these days except on long haul VHF and UHF DX where
it is usually essential but I can still manage 20 wpm if I need to.
Bob VK6BE.
> I have heard/read about old time ops who could send up to 30 wpm using
> a straight key.. is this factual or fiction? The best I have been able
> to do with a straight key is a little over 20 wpm, and then I could not
> keep that up for long.
> (&) Andrew J. Bowlby
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