Monday, July 18, 2016 — With the Kenwood TS-690SAT off the operating position (I had to repair the XYL’s favorite bedside table lamp), I decided last night to use the Nye Master Key with my “regular” rig, the Yaesu FT-2000. When I tried the Master Key with the Kenwood, I had the key sitting on top of the transceiver, which made for a less-than-ideal operating position — which may have played a part in my horrid sending (a wise man once told me, “A good excuse is better than none at all”). This time, however, I had the key placed on the desktop.
My sending was … well, “better” but still uneven. I think my anxiety about the key led me to the timing issues I had (see “wise man” above, hi!). The keying was more solid and operating the key was more comfortable. But I still felt a graceful as a pig on ice.
I decided for tonight’s net to break out an old favorite, my Brown Brothers ST straight key. I have an CTL iambic/straight key combination, but the ST was close and ready to rock and roll. I tested both keys for their feel and compared them prior to the Georgia net. I checked in with the Master Key, and it operated well … no click, no hard landing, just the closing of the contact. My next transmission was with the Brown Bros. straight key, and in my eyes, my sending improved. Something about the fact that my fist needed (or appreciated) the feel and sound of the key closing seemed to give me confidence in my fist. The ST felt very natural and I didn’t have to worry so much about my keying.
OBSERVATION. The Navy knob both keys sport really is the cat’s meow for hand sending. If I was the folks at Nye, I would make the Navy knob standard equipment on the new straight keys it sells. Bencher and Vibroplex are both wise to offer them as original equipment on their keys. The base of the ST sits higher than the base of the Master Key, but the keying lever on the ST places the knob slightly lower than the Master Key. There’s no tendency for either key to tilt forward under use. Both bases stayed put.
CONCLUSION? I think with additional practice, my sending with the Master Key can improve. But old habits die hard, and my straight key sending for 30 years has depended on the feel of the key landing on the lower contact as part of its operation. I’ll modify my view on the Master Key; I’m not going to send a 35 wpm run by hand, so the differences between the keys isn’t going to stop me. I’m still partial to the feel and sound of the contact closing when using a straight key. I’m confident my fist will improve with additional use.
That’s it for this entry … 73 es CUL de KY4Z SK …. dit dit …