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1-6 of 6 messages
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Spacing between letters
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by WA8JNM on October 12, 2008
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Can someone describe (or point me to a link) regarding the semantics and practice concerning proper spacing related to the length of a character as compared to the spacing between letters, and how it relates to wpm speed? Is this perhaps the "weight", or some other variable? I ask this because I think that perhaps my sending unduly adds a slightly greater "pause" between letters than is normal, as compared to the length of my dits and dahs. To my ear, this exaggerated spacing between letters makes the text much easier to read, by separating letters more distinctly. Another way of saying this: my dits and dahs are shorter than my expected spaces between letters. To my ear, my keyer sends a "shorter" dit or dah than the spacing that I create between letters in order to send clearly (to my ear). Let me say that in reverse: I think, to my ear, the dits and dahs are too short, relative to my desired spacing between letters. An example: occasionally I use the memory in my Flex 5000 to send a CW CQ. I have typed in the letters in memory on the screen, with normal typed character spacing, and set the speed at 23 wpm. But, to my ear the resulting separation between letters is too short for comfort. So, I guess what I am asking is: is this a question of "weight"? What is "normal" spacing between letters? Is a bit more space between letters unacceptable? Is a bit more spacing between letters desirable, or instead inappropriate? Do you folks find this to be an issue? Should I worry about the economy, instead?
Dave
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RE: Spacing between letters
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by LB3KB on October 12, 2008
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The dit is 1 unit
The dah is 3 units
The gap between each dit and dah of a character is 1 unit
The gap between letters is 3 units
The gap between words is 7 units
This is *standard* timing, and that's what you should normally use or at least aim for.
Adding space between characters may help a slower op on the other end, the de-facto standard for this is called "Farnsworth timing". This may also be useful for practicing sending at a faster character rate than you can cope with using standard timing. Still, it's non-standard and should only be used as a learning aid.
And, you should probably worry about the economy, instead.
73
LB3KB Sigurd
http://justlearnmorsecode.com
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RE: Spacing between letters
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by WA8JNM on October 12, 2008
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Sigrud,
Thanks for the response.
So, is this what the term "weight" refers to? What are the parameters of CW adjustments in a keyer, other than wpm?
(But, I have more control over my keying, than the economy....I think.)
Appreciate your info.
Dave
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RE: Spacing between letters
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by LB3KB on October 12, 2008
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On my radio (FT-2000D) the weight is the number of units for the dahs.
That is, the length of the dit and the gap between dits and dahs are both one unit, while the dah length is adjustable.
The default weight is 3, hence the default setting conforms to standard timing. This value may be set to something between 2.5-4.5, i.e. the dah's length may be adjusted to anything from slightly shorter to up to 50% longer than standard timing.
I think you should use the default settings that give you standard timing, and instead of modifying this use Farnsworth timing *if* you need to slow it down without adjusting the speed.
73
LB3KB Sigurd
http://justlearnmorsecode.com
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RE: Spacing between letters
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by VE3XDB on October 13, 2008
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As you become more proficient and faster at CW, here is a consideration with respect to spacing. As I got got more proficient, I tended to shorten the spacing between words. I have found myself sending:
K3ABCdeVE3XDBthxferrptesnicetomeetuFrank-urrst5nn5nnintoBrampton,ONBrampton,ON -
A simple technique that I have adopted to help with this is to deliberately take my fingers off both paddles between the words. Then, the spacing is much closer to the standard.
Have fun with CW.
Best regards,
Doug VE3XDB
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RE: Spacing between letters
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by KN1W on October 14, 2008
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My bad crutch is to use the delay in semi-breaking operation as the separation between words, I let the tx drop between words to make sure I am leaving the appropriate spacing. This takes a bit to configure but I like the fact that I am listening to the band between words.
The above tip makes harder to switch to full breakin in the future.
de KN1W
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