Difference between Iambic A and Iambic B

A quick video that really stemmed off of a conversation on the CW Operators live stream on the AA0Z KZbin channel. K9ARK - Adam - put together a nice slide deck to help illustrate some of the philosophy behind Iambic A and B on that live stream (with some real time and post-production edits), but thought it would be neat to share with you some demos of the realities of using A versus B - especially some of how A versus B works even without squeezing. (A common mis-conception is "just dont squeeze" and it wont matter)
So dial your keyer way down and follow along.
If you wanted to catch Kyle's Live Stream where we discussed some of this, you can check it out here:
• Iambic A vs Iambic B W...

[@mainetomass99]

When you squeeze and hold both paddles simultaneously, the keyer produces an alternating series of dits and dahs. This is why it’s called “iambic” - the alternating dits and dahs sound a bit like iambic meter in poetry, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. Most iambic keyers can be switched between two modes, called “mode A” and “mode B”. What’s the difference, and why should anyone care? The difference involves what happens when you have been squeezing the paddles, and you then release both paddles simultaneously. If the keyer is in mode A, it will finish sending the current element (dit or dah), and then stop. If the keyer is in mode B, it will finish sending the current element, then send another element, and stop. To illustrate, consider sending the letter “C”, which is “_._.” When sending in iambic mode A, you would release the paddles during the final dit, and the keyer would stop. When sending in iambic mode B, you would release the paddles during the final dah, and the keyer would finish that dah, send a final dit, and stop. If you follow this strategy, your brain and fingers will get used to whichever mode you use, and you’ll naturally develop the timing to release paddles at the proper time to make the letters you want to make. And then, if you change to a keyer in a different mode, things won’t be right and you’ll make mistakes. But there’s another way. Since the difference between the two modes only concerns what happens when you release both paddles simultaneously, it follows that if you never release both paddles simultaneously, you won’t notice the difference, and you’ll learn habits that will let you switch between modes with ease. The secret is this: When you squeeze the paddles, release each paddle as it finishes its final element. That is, for a “C”, “_._.”, release the dah paddle during the final dah, and release the dit paddle during the final dit. For a period “._._._”, release the dit paddle during the final dit, and then release the dah paddle during the final dah. This will produce the correct sound regardless of whether the keyer is in iambic mode A or B.

[@paulgoulet7982]

Great example - of the difference between A and B. Never knew that before Thank you - KC5CYY

[@darrinpearce9780]

Keeping this one in the favourites, can never remember which way around it is. Thanks for posting 73.

[@davidleonard1540]

That explains some of the wierd keying when I get anxious during a QSO. Finally, I can blame my sloppy keying on the radio! 😂

[@AA0Z]

Very good demo of what we talked about on the CW Roundtable. I have yet to try this myself, so i'm excited to see what mode I choose.

[@w1rcp]

Ten bucks says I need to relearn how to use a paddle. I slap the heck out of my paddles in mode A. Rob -W1RCP

[@DPTrainor1]

Thank You.

[@harveypiper3268]

thank you for the video!!

[@miketaylor6700]

OMG.. is 4wpm even a thing? I think people should learn the letters Faster (18-20wpm) but use farnsworth spacing if needed!!! 40wpm + is crazy fast since I use Straight Key!

[@db3mi]

i thought there was a difference when you squeeze and release both sides at the same time. I'll have to try that at low speed. I even thought that my paddle is worn out ... 73

[@JayN4GO]

Life’s too short for A😂

[@thuff3207]

Interesting for a new cw operator.

[@mainetomass99]

Don’t even bother with Iambic modes! An even better solution? Single levers!! Haha!

[@jonathanjenkins8630]

Nice clear description, though I’m not sure of the point of iambic at all!

[@miketaylor6700]

I use a Straight Key typically so it doesn’t matter daily … but when I do use Iambic keys.. I like B also.. I like that it remembers the last paddle press and I don’t have to wait for the timing. :) ‘Slapper’ mentality I guess.

[@k9kj]

I am definitely a "slapper" too

[@wild-radio7373]

🥰👍

[@alexeizhiltsov6797]

Great explanation, thanks a lot! Will shift to B! The question that I cannot answer is - why people differently assign levers on the key for dits and dashes? Yours seem to be the classic approach, dots on the left, yet many do it in reverse. Is there an advantage in any of the approaches? 73 de R2ARM!

[@k9kj]

I do not know why people change the dots and dashes. It is a big mystery to me. Thank you for watching the videos! Спасибо!

[@JxH]

If you consider your inputs to be commands, then 'A' is fussy and will ignore your commands. Is that a feature, or a bug (i.e. a historical artifact of an early bad design) ? The latter I think.

[@PatrickWaugh-kk3ze]

Neither. Ultimatic.

[@alexsmit1829]

Thank you! 73!