so ive been putting off learning morse code for like two years now and i finally decided to just commit to it. passed my extra last spring and CW isnt required anymore obviously but something about it just keeps pulling me in. started doing the koch method stuff with LCWO and im up to about 12 wpm copying which feels slow but whatever, progress is progress.

anyway my main question is about keyers and paddles. right now im just using the software keyer built into my radio (IC-7300) with a cheapo single lever paddle i grabbed off ebay for like 25 bucks. it works i guess but something feels off about the timing or the feel, i cant quite describe it. like sometimes it sends an extra dit or something when i release the paddle. does that sound like a keyer issue or is it the paddle itself or am i just doing it wrong

ive been watching videos of guys using iambic paddles and the squeezing technique looks really cool but also confusing. is that something worth learning early on or should i just get comfortable with basic sending first. i dont want to build bad habits but i also dont want to over-complicate things starting out

the extra dit thing you're describing is almost certainly the paddle contacts bouncing or maybe you have the gap set too tight on a cheap paddle. its super common with the no-name ebay stuff. try adjusting the contact gap a little wider and see if that helps. also check if your 7300 has a setting for iambic mode A vs mode B - mode B adds an extra element at the end of a squeeze and that can feel weird if you're not expecting it. switching to mode A usually feels more predictable when you're learning.

as for iambic vs single lever, honestly i'd say get your basic accuracy up first before diving into squeeze keying. iambic is great once it clicks but it adds another layer of muscle memory on top of what you're already building. plenty of very fast operators just use a single lever their whole life and do just fine. dont let anyone tell you there's only one right way to do it.

im kind of in the same boat as you, been at it for a few months now and just hit 15 wpm on receiving which feels like a big deal lol. one thing that really helped me was getting off the computer practice and just jumping into QSOs even when i felt totally not ready. like just go on 40m during the evening and find someone sending slow and try to copy it. real signals with real QRM is so different from clean audio in headphones and the sooner you get used to that the better i think.

also for what its worth i upgraded from a junk paddle to a used Bencher BY-1 i found at a hamfest for 30 bucks and the difference in feel was pretty significant. not saying you need to spend a lot but a paddle with solid adjustable contacts makes a real difference when you're trying to figure out if your sending is the problem or the gear is