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Straight Key Night was so very meaningful as I celebrate 50 years as a Amateur Radio Operator. It brought back the memories of my first cw contact on my Heathkit DX-20 transmitter, and Hallicrafters S20R receiver. Many thanks to KJ7Z, Phil, for being an outstanding operator and avid ragchewer. His QSO made my SKN special.
73,
Stan K5OPB
Had loads of fun as usual. SKN is must event for me. Where else do you get a license to chirp? Ran the T-22/ARC-5 again this year on 40M along with either the big brass Kent or the Navy flame proof key from my novice days. Monday afternoon was the Knight T50's turn on 20M. Receiving was handled by a recently restored Drake R-4B. The unique tone of the ARC-5 attracted quite a few return calls and I thoroughly enjoyed each QSO. Thanks to all who called me. Most impressive of all was the sheer population of the bands. All kinds of fists and tones filled the CW segments. It was like being in a 1950's or 1960's time warp!
Straight key night was a blast for me, I am a fairly new Ham here in Flagler,FL and I have an obsession with CW. I spend as much time on the radio as will be allowed and love making distant contacts. I am trying for the WAS award, but would enjoy a QSO with annyone that can hear me!
73, DE KI4LXM
Did not get to operate a lot, but fired up the old HW101 and straight key for 4 nice contacts. Hope to have my old DX-60/Drake 2B ready for next year.
73, Dave KA0P
WB6VRN operating K6TY/0 using a Martin "Flash" bug, with a Lionel J-38 standing by. |
We leisurely worked nine stations during SKN, five on the J-38 and four on the Flash bug, taking ample time off for family and New Year’s revelry. Our Best Fist and Most Interesting QSO nominations both go to Al, W6LX, back in our hometown of Arcadia, California. Al reported on his very stormy weather and relayed important news regarding our dear and mutual friend, John, W6GL.
Cheryl and I confirmed Schaefer’s Law of Field Day (first postulated by Mark Schaefer, WB6CIA: “Winds will reach their maximum velocity as you attempt to erect or lower the biggest antenna”) when we had to take down the Loop-de-Loop antenna, at night, in 4 C temperatures and 25 knot winds, with only hours to spare before our return flight to California. Reflecting on SKN, I am all the more favorably persuaded by the proposal from Courtney Duncan, N5BF, to add one more “Basis and Purpose” for the Amateur Service: “To celebrate the art and history of radio.” SKN does that, indeed. 73
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For more information about the Straight Key Century Club visit: http://www.skccgroup.com/phpBB2/index.php
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skcc/
CW and Straight Keys forever
73, KI4DGH
Chuck Gehring
VE3WMB SKN Station - Elecraft K1 and Swedish Army Key |
Once again, I enjoyed Straight Key Night for the New Year - 2006. I made 30 enjoyable QSO's, all on 40 meters. I worked as far north as VE1DY, Nova Scotia, VE9CQ, New Brunswick, as far south as KP2HC, U.S. Virgin Islands and several western states. I had a nice chat with AA5JJ, Wayne in Muskogee, OK. He was using a vintage Heath DX-60 and a Speed-X key, same set-up as I started out with as a novice in 1960. I also worked N5DY, Jack in Stillwater, OK. He was originally from Long Island, NY not far from where I lived and started out in radio as a youngster. I could have easily made more than 30 QSO's but could not stay awake like when I was younger. I used a Nye Viking "Master Key" Model # 114-330-001 which I picked up, like new in the original box for $5.00 at a hamfest in Long Island. I used my Kenwood TS-570SG running 100 watts to a 40 meter double extended zepp, 178 feet long, center fed with 450 ohm ladder line via an MFJ-962D antenna tuner. The insulators were salvaged from the old historic RCA "Radio Central" radio station in Long Island. The antenna is at 40 feet, oriented North-South at an elevation of 1,600 ft. in the mountains of North East Pennsylvania. Most of the keys being used this year were the old J-38, J-37 and Speed-X. Also some old Navy keys, an old Edison key, etc. VE3RER, Dave, in Toronto was using a key made from a single button Apple mouse. Great idea! N2ED, Ed, was using a Mini-Key from Morse Express and running 5 watts QRP. Until next SKN, 73...........Bob, K3PX
This was my first Straight Key Night. I had been preparing for it for several months, brushing up on my Morse code sending and copying abilities. I had also been pushing this in our local club, in hopes I'd get a few other members to participate (I actually got two other members to participate).
As luck (or bad luck, as it were) would have it, I came down with the mother of all colds the Tuesday before New Year's eve. By New Year's eve, I was running a fever, coughing my head off, and had a nasty headache (probably from all the coughing!). I could not participate New Year's eve. I was finally able to get on the air around 1:15 PM local time on New Year's day. I worked only two contacts, and when I was done with them, I was shaking like a leaf.
I still enjoyed SKN, and plan on being there for SKN 2007. This year I used my Wm. Nye Master key. Next year I plan on using my newly aquired Kent straight key. I only hope I am 100% well, so I can enjoy it a bit more!
73, Howard
I just wanted to say that each year that go's by SK night gets better and better, I heard alot of great fists out their. I only worked two people (KA3YNV, Dave for about 1/2 Hr. and W1EOF, Mark for about 1Hr) Both contacks where FB and I'm looking forward to next year. Sorry Mark for having to hit the hay, the old bod battery (ie coffee) kind of conked out at about 3am. It was a pleasure working you both, hope to hear you on next year, till then 73.
Al
NS1O
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