4.2 Keyer speed
12
This is the default power-up speed of the Keyer function in Words Per Minute (wpm). The current
Speed during ordinary operation is not stored in this parameter unless you “Save settings” as
described previously.
Keyer speed can be altered easily from the ordinary main operating mode, with a single press of
the “Select” button, as described previously.
Keyer speed is also used for stored message sending, and for the beacon function when in CW
mode.
The keyer speed is also used to configure the CW decoder during transmit or during menu item
editing. When transmit or editing are commenced, the speed is copied into the CW decoder and
initialises it. Thereafter if you transmit (or enter data during editing) at a different speed, the CW
decoder will adapt to your speed. However, if the speed difference is large, the adaption can take
several characters to correctly “sense” your keying speed, which can result in incorrectly decoded
characters or missed characters.
4.3 Keyer swap
OFF
This is a BOOLEAN parameter which lets you swap the “dit” and “dah” connections in software, if
you find that your paddle is reversed.
4.4 Keyer Weight
500
Ordinarily Morse dit and dah durations have a 1:3 ratio. The space between symbols is equivalent
to 1 dit, between characters 3 dit lengths, and between words 7 dit lengths. This is standard Morse
timing. However, some people may wish to alter this, for various reasons.
The Keyer Weight parameter allows variation of the ratios. The value has three digits. The default
value of 500 corresponds to 50.0%. This means the “duty cycle” of a stream of dits is exactly 50%.
The key-down dit length is therefore the same as the key-up inter-symbol pause.
If the weight is increased from the default 50.0%, then the key-down “dit” is made longer. A “dah”
is lengthened by the SAME amount. The corresponding inter-symbol (or character, or word) gap is
shortened by the same amount. The additional time spent on the key-down is therefore taken from
the key-up period. The keyer speed is unchanged by altering the weight parameter.
As an example: suppose you want to make your Morse sound “harder” by shortening the dits and
dahs. You could set the parameter to 450, which means 45.0%.
QCX operating manual, firmware 1.07, manual edit 0.03
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