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In my early days in amateur radio, I was privileged to have three top-flight Elmers. Each shared with me new interests and enthusiasm for different parts of the hobby. The first, Col. Frank, WB4JMG was special because we shared the same birthday and he taught me most of what I learned in those early days about electronic theory. The second Everest, W4DYW was special because not only because our families were so close – he was my principle mentor for on-the-air operations, especially CW traffic nets.
Unless your Elmer was one of your parents, you probably can’t say what my third Elmer could say about our relationship. Dr. Mac, WA4VNV (later N4IX) would honestly say he knew me my entire life. Not only was he a dedicated amateur operator – he was my mother’s OBGYN and was the man who literally “delivered me” to the world, and helped me find the world of amateur radio in later years..
I had been attending club meetings with the old Asheville Radio Club (which merged with the Buncombe County VHF Society to later form the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society) for months before I was first licensed. And being the precocious teenager that I was, I jumped in with both feet. In mid-1971 I agreed to take over as editor of the ARC’s monthly newsletter, known as Smoketest from Dr. Mac. He agreed to help me as a regular contributor, but slyly with one caveat: he would only provide news stories for me for the newsletter if I would copy them over the air using CW, since I was only a novice and had no phone privileges during those years. I accepted his offer, and began two years of almost daily QSOs on 3725 KHz– because that was one of the few crystals I had for the Heathkit HW-16, which Col. Frank had been commissioned by my parents to build for my Christmas present in 1970. It was a unique experience, but one which served to continue building what became my passion for Morse code. In later years I would follow in Dr. Mac’s footsteps once again when I became the ARES EC and RACES Radio Office for the county (but that’s a topic for another article.
Between the efforts of my three Elmers, my CW speed quickly increased from the nervous 5 WPM necessary to earn my license to being able to conduct a coherent rag chew in the 25-30 WPM range. And the mantra of all three was simple – If you want to be competent in CW, you have to use it.
So each year from 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC PM January 1st I have the chance to pay a small bit of homage back to the Elmers when I have the opportunity to participate in the annual ARRL Straight Key Night. This 24-hour event is not a contest; rather it is a day dedicated to celebrating our CW heritage. Participants are encouraged to get on-the-air and simply make enjoyable, conversational QSOs. There are no points scored and all who participate are winners.
It has been a decade since I wrote my first SKN announcement for QST, I have seen marvelous metamorphosis occur. The number of entries has grown almost ever year, even with the elimination of CW as a licensing requirement in the US. Participants have also used this popular annual event for more than just demonstrating their prowess pounding a brass key. Numerous participants use SKN to test out and “show off” their vintage equipment. Some will plug in their old CW “bugs” and join in. The common bond for all of them is to have fun in a more relaxed setting. You will even find CW enthusiasts who get on to enjoy the rag chewing And that’s the purpose of this popular operating event, so don’t key hung up about the equipment.
When participating in SKN 2009, instead of sending RST before sending the signal report send the letters SKN, to indicate your participation, and to clue in passers-by who may be listening that SKN is going strong. After SKN, send the Contest Branch a list of stations worked, plus your vote for the best fist you heard (it doesn’t have to be one you worked). Also, include your vote for the most interesting QSO you had or monitored.’
Don’t forget to post your comments and interesting photographs from your SKN adventure to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox at www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox Entries should be emailed to the Contest Branch at StraightKey@arrl.org or may be sent via regular mail to SKN, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. The Soapbox becomes an on-line album of stores and photographs to share with others.
Entries for SKN 2009 must be received by January 31, 2009. Votes for ‘Best Fist’ and “Most Interesting QSO” will be tabulated and included in the April 2009 issue of QST. If you have questions about SKN, please visit the Contest Branch Web Page at http://www.arrl.org/contests or contact contests@arrl.org
-- Dan Henderson, N1ND
N1ND@arrl.org
