RSGB Prefix Guide -- The complete guide to prefix identification and information. DXCC listings by prefix, award details, and more. 8th edition.
RSGB IOTA Directory -- Everything you need to know to enjoy collecting islands for the popular worldwide IOTA (Islands on the Air) award.
2010 ARRL Amateur Radio Calendar -- Now Shipping!
-- Deluxe 13 month calendar, featuring a selection of QSL cards from the W1AW collection. Includes important ham radio dates: contests, operating events and more!
39 Soapbox entries available Prev · Next Page:1234
AD6FR -- Dec 6, 2004 11:43 ET
I really don't chew the rag on CW very often (like never) but I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with some great fists during SKN, there are so many FB CW Op's out there and it's wonderful to hear all the straight keys on the air.-- AD6FR
AD4E -- Feb 20, 2004 14:27 ET
Drake 2-C/2-NT Novice Station
SKN is probably my favorite special event of the year. its always a pleasure to turn on the old Drake 2-C/2-NT station that i used as a novice back in Pittsburgh, PA when i was 12 years old. now, my three-year old son gets a real kick out of seeing the gear turned on too & hopefully he'll get his ham license someday. c ya next year. "SKN 599"-- AD4E
WB0TRA -- Jan 16, 2004 15:59 ET
I couldn't find my straight key, so I got on using my Bencher paddles. Hopefully I can find the key for next year...
I managed a single QSO with a new friend, KA0WWV, and we chatted for about 1/2 hour. Nice to hear the CW bands active on New Years Eve.-- WB0TRA
KB8GOY -- Jan 6, 2004 18:26 ET
Hello all, Wow what a gas, had a great time, I run a straight key most of the time so it did not bother me, worked 12 this year, starting with K4SFC at 0329Z, then kb3cvo, k0jvn, n5zg, n8moj, kf4pd, w0rtk, k6ena, kg4wil, wb4cxc, k9lck & kb0llz. By far for me the best qso was with K9LCK , Jim in Wausau, Wi at 1806z, longest of the event for me, best FIST I've heard during contest. Thanks Jim for all ur help.My key was an ex Russian military key and rig was Alinco DX70TH running 100 Watts into Alpha Delta DXCC at 35 feet. 73 all and thanks for the fun during the event.Most qso's were at 10-13 wpm.
see ya in 2004.
KB8GOY-- KB8GOY
K6LQ/6 -- Jan 6, 2004 10:19 ET
This was perhaps my best SKN ever - I wasn't at home, so I couldn't
do honey-dos! I was up in Redding, CA at my brother's QTH helping cut
downed tree limbs from a big snow storm. I threw up a 40 meter dipole
fed with 450 ohm open wire, an IC-735 an MFJ 941C and was off to
the SKN races. My key was a 1955 French G. Jardillier spy key made for the
S. African military. I had 7 wonderful QSO's on three different bands
tieing an all time personal SKN record from 4 years ago. Plus a bonus - everyone got to hear WWV on 10.000
MHz to usher in an accurate new year!-- K6LQ
K4KHV -- Jan 3, 2004 13:45 ET
This was a very enjoyable night. QSO's were plentiful. I operated about 5 hours the first night and talked to only 5 different stations. This means that rag-chew was the theme. I talked to some old buddies that were present from last year and some new contacts that I had not worked before. I used a ventage station consisting of a Johnson valiant transmitter and a National HRO-7 receiver.
The key was one that my daddy bought me in 1955 for the price of 2.95 new.This is the key I made my first contact on in 1956. I talked to one ham (K4CZI) that had a similar story. His dad bought him his first key in the same year (55).
Other stations that I worked were WB4CDR, W5RE, K4WAL,and WO4J.
I am looking forward to next year !!-- K4KHV
W1RO/7 -- Jan 1, 2004 23:08 ET
Reflection of SKN.....
Left work at 1800 headed to SKN. Passed under a Helicopter Gunship preparing to patrol a party of 300,000 to start later. Passed Highway Patrol blocking off streets for added security. Woofed down dinner and headed to the Navy Flameproof Key. Switched the temporary Zepp antenna to the rig. It replaced the Inverted Vee that broke due to the first snow in Las Vegas in 20 years to stick to the ground and everything else. 40 meters was so crowded with SKN sounds you couldn't get a dit in sideways. No luck getting in. QSY to 20 meters. this band is so quiet you can hear modulationless electrons bounce off the antenna. Spin the dial and work the only station heard on the band. Maritime station KPH operating as K6KPH blew my headphones off. Great contact. Back to 40 meters to work another California station and one JA before going to bed. Despite heavy security one contact on SKN makes you forget all about what is not going good in the world. Thank you to all the participants of SKN, you are making the world and happier place to live. 73 Jim-- W1RO/7
AD6FR -- Jan 1, 2004 17:08 ET
I really don't chew the rag on CW very often (like never) but I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with some great fists during SKN, there are so many FB CW Op's out there and it's wonderful to hear all the straight keys on the air. All the QSO's I had were real laid back at about 10 WPM, very relaxing.-- AD6FR
NY2V -- Jan 3, 2004 11:20 ET
Partial view of NY2V hamshack
This was my first real SKN but I was very limited in the time I could spend. No matter. Two contacts. The first initially amused me because the ham was not operating in SKN, nor was he a FISTS member, so no points there. However, had the SSB QRM he was bothered by allowed us to continue, there was much I wanted to talk about -- he is 83 - call is K4FLA - and he's a widower. I shall keep my ears open for him in the future. He is a General Class ham and has a GREAT straight key fist. The other was an old buddy who just knew that we had talked before - it was Al Brogdon, W1AB. You will see his call in QST's staff listing. He gave me such a great report, and I gave him such a poor one! The band was getting pretty flaky from my vantage point. At some point his signal took a leap elsewhere - I'll guess he bumped the VFO knob - and I could not relocate his signal. Did send him a message though, via email, explaining that I lost him and didn't just quit :-). I thought my straight key fist was awful, but both said I sounded fine - I'd give the credit to the ancient key - a version of the Bunnell Triumph - has great snappy action for a key probably 80-85 years old. I do hope I can spend more time in SKN 2004. It is fun and I think those in it should use a standard "pump", a real straight key - otherwise the event should be renamed, and to even have to do it would be a shame. I used a bug from the very beginning in 1948, but this one annual event can take one back to the good old days, and the nice thing is, I know the elderly ham who owned that key I used this year for the first time, and I will treasure it far more than my other ham shack equipment just for that reason.-- NY2V
W6HV -- Jan 2, 2004 13:09 ET
Only worked three stations, but had fun. Used one of my J-38 keys and the Omni VI+ on 80 meters. My first attempt to call was a bust. The J-38 had a bad connection at the post (I usually use a Vibroplex Blue Racer) so it meant troubleshooting and a cleaning job. Next year I'll check everything before the activities start!
73,
Troy-- W6HV
Responsibility for content of all posted material rests exclusively with
the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, and accuracy of items
appearing on this page. All questions and comments should be directed to the item author.
