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TIME TO TUNE UP THAT STRAIGHT KEY.  BEFORE THE ADVENT OF AMATEUR EXAMS
WITHOUT A CODE REQUIREMENT, ALL HAMS BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE USE OF A
STRAIGHT KEY.  NOW MANY NEW HAMS ARE DISCOVERING THE JOY OF SENDING AND
RECEIVING MORSE CODE ON THE AIR.  ARRL STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT, EACH NEW YEARS
EVE, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO RETURN TO OUR COMMON ROOTS BY
MASTERING AND ENJOYING THE SKILL OF USING A TELEGRAPH KEY.  A KEYS A KEY SO
WHATS TO LEARN?  WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MORE COMPLICATED ONES, MOST
TELEGRAPH KEYS ARE PRETTY SIMPLE ELECTRICALLY.  IN ESSENCE THEY ARE A
SINGLE POLE, SINGLE THROW, MOMENTARY CONTACT SWITCH EQUIVALENT TO A
DOORBELL PUSH BUTTON.  SOME ALSO ADD A CIRCUIT CLOSING SWITCH THAT CAN KEEP
THE CONTACTS CLOSED, BUT THAT DOESNT CHANGE MUCH.  WHAT MAKES A GOOD KEY A
THING OF BEAUTY IS THE PRECISION WITH WHICH ITS CONSTRUCTED AND THE BALANCE
AND FEEL OF ITS OPERATION.  ALL OF THIS CAN MAKE A KEY THAT IS A PLEASURE
TO USE FOR HOURS ON END BUT ONLY IF IT IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND USED.  WE
WILL COVER THE BASICS HERE, BUT JUST LIKE GETTING TO CARNEGIE HALL, IT
TAKES PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH ONE.  GETTING
‰  FROM PAGE 75  ‰
Country ARC N5HR KA5ONN 648 2 60 2,078 STX Gratiot Co. ARA W8AWE 656 2 9
1,960 MI Spartanburg ARC K4II 547 2 31 1,728 SC Bluff Country DX Assn W9IDX
507 2 4 1,582 MN Georgian Bay ARC VE3OSR 544 2 20 1,314 ON K5M Consortium
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