So ive been a tech for a couple years and just upgraded to general last month, and ive been wanting to learn CW for a while now. Got myself a used Bencher BY-1 paddle off ebay and a little MFJ keyer, and i think i have it hooked up right but im not totally sure im setting the weight and ratio correctly. Like when i try to send my callsign it sounds kind of uneven, the dits feel too short or something. Also my iambic mode — im using mode B i think? — sometimes adds an extra element at the end when i release the paddles and i cant figure out if thats supposed to happen or if its a setting issue.

I've been using the G4FON trainer on my laptop to practice receiving and im up to maybe 7-8 wpm copying random letters but i drop a lot of characters when there's numbers mixed in. Numbers just dont stick in my brain the same way. Is that normal at this stage or am i missing something with how i should be practicing.

Anyway any tips from people who actually use CW on the air regularly would be really appreciated. I dont want to be that guy who calls CQ and sends garbage lol

The mode B thing you're describing is totally normal and actually correct behavior — mode B remembers the last paddle you squeezed and sends one more element after you let go. Some people love it, some find it annoying, you can switch to mode A if it bothers you. Mode A just stops when you release. Honestly i used mode B for years and then switched to A and never looked back, just preference.

For the weight/ratio stuff, most keyers default to something reasonable and i'd leave it alone until you're more comfortable sending. Just get the speed and sidetone sounding good to your ear first. If your dits sound short try bumping the weight up just a touch, but don't overthink it early on.

Numbers are hard for everyone at first. The trick that helped me was learning them as patterns, not as individual elements. Like 7 is two dits and three dahs, and once that pattern feels familiar it clicks. Keep grinding the G4FON trainer, maybe set it to numbers-only for a session or two and just beat them into your brain. It works, just takes time.

welcome to the CW rabbit hole, you're not getting out now haha. im in a similar spot actually, been at it about six months and the numbers thing bugged me forever. what finally helped me was just making a tiny cheat sheet and taping it next to my radio until they were in my head. felt like cheating but i dont think it matters when youre copying.

also the Bencher BY-1 is a solid paddle to learn on, good choice. just make sure the contact gap is set right, theres some adjustment screws on the sides and if the gap is too wide you'll have to push too hard which messes up your timing. someone on here told me that a while back and it made a big difference for me.