‰  NOW 40 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM DECEMBER 2008 QST  PAGES 61 AND 75  ‰

YOU CAN SEND FOR LONG PERIODS WITHOUT GETTING TIRED OR CRAMPED.  IF YOU
HAVE THE CAPABILITY, RECORD YOUR CODE AND LISTEN TO IT WITH A CRITICAL EAR.
YOU MAY WANT TO ASK AN EXPERIENCED CW OPERATOR FOR HER OPINION AS WELL.
WHEN YOURE SATISFIED, HOOK UP THE ANTENN
‰  FROM PAGE 75  ‰
Club W0BXO 71 2 20 342 SD Northeast Missouri ARC W0CBL 111 2 3 222 MO

DOWN TO ESSENTIALS THE TYPICAL TELEGRAPHERS STRAIGHT KEY AS OPPOSED TO A
MECHANICAL SEMIAUTOMATIC OR ELECTRONIC KEY CONSISTS OF A LEVER SUPPORTED BY
BEARINGS WITH AN ATTACHED KNOB, CONTACTS, RETURN SPRING AND A TRAVEL STOP
ALL MOUNTED ON A BASE.  FIGURE 1 SHOWS A WWII VINTAGE MILITARY J 38 KEY,
TYPICAL OF MOST STRAIGHT KEY DESIGNS.  FIGURE 2 SHOWS THE J 38
DISASSEMBLED.  I HAVE REMOVED THE CIRCUIT CLOSING SWITCH, SINCE IT WILL NOT
BE FOUND ON ALL KEYS AND IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE DISCUSSION.  YOU WILL
ENCOUNTER SOME VARIATIONS IN BEARING OR SUSPENSION DETAILS ON SOME KEYS,
AND NOT ALL WILL PROVIDE FOR ALL ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THE DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE
OBVIOUS FROM A QUICK INSPECTION.  SETTING IT UP THE FIRST STEP IS TO
INSPECT THE KEY AND, UNLESS ITS DESIGN PROHIBITS IT, DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN
THE PIECES.  IF IT IS OLD AND OF BRASS OR NICKEL, SOME METAL POLISH CAN
TURN IT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.  CHECK THE CONTACTS FOR SMOOTHNESS AND
LACK OF OXIDATION.  MOST ARE SILVER, SO BE VERY GENTLE.  OFTEN A MATCHBOOK
‰  FROM PAGE 75  ‰
K5M 341 2 8 1,282 WTX High Point ARC W4UA 262 2 18 1,246 NC K8HRC 272 2 15
1,188 MI Tobacco Valley ARC K7EUR 381 2 12 1,152 MT Southeast Louisiana ARC

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

‰  END OF 40 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ