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 Previous: Earthquake, Tsunamis Hit Southern Asia; VU4 DXpedition in Emergency Mode |  Next: Radio Amateurs, DXpedition Team Handle Emergency Traffic in Disaster's Wake |
 A brass straight key manufactured by AT&T. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 27, 2004--Dust off that straight key that's been sitting on the ham shack closet shelf and get ready for Straight Key Night 2005 (SKN). The ARRL-sponsored 24-hour operating event takes place every New Year's Day (UTC), which means it begins New Year's Eve in US time zones. It's an opportunity to operate at a slower pace, maybe using vintage equipment, and recall the way many of today's master CW operators got their start. It's also a chance for CW newcomers to venture out on a more level playing field.
In this era of digital communication, keyboards, FM and electronic keys, once a year many top operators take advantage of SKN to bring the past to the present. It's not a contest. The object of this friendly event is simply to enjoy some good, old-fashioned QSO fun using straight keys. The emphasis is on ragchewing rather than rapid-fire contest-style exchanges. Last year, 227 entries were submitted for SKN--the most ever!
In some circles SKN provides an excuse to fire up that older equipment also gathering dust in the shack, as well as hook up any of the wide variety of hand keys developed over the years and do things "the old fashioned way." SKN participants are encouraged to send "SKN" instead of "RST" before sending signal reports. This not only indicates that you're taking part in SKN but tips off passers-by that SKN is under way.
 A "flameproof" military key. |
Vintage Call Signs on SKN
Maxim Memorial Station W1AW is expected to participate in SKN, so keep an ear open. ARRL staff member Mark Spencer, WA8SME, will be the primary operator.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society has announced that
K6KPH will again be on the air for Straight Key Night, and former commercial
station KPH will be on the air with transmissions from dusk to dawn (Pacific
Time) on MF. "We are particularly interested in reception reports of the MF
transmissions," says Dick "RD" Dillman, W6AWO, a former KPH operator.
 The sideswiper still enjoys some popularity among hand key users. |
K6KPH will begin operation at 0000 UTC and expects to operate until around 0600 UTC. Frequencies will be 3545, 7050, 14,050 and 21,050 kHz, as conditions permit. There's some possibility of operation on 18,097.5 kHz.
Multiple operators will be on duty at the operating positions, some of them former KPH operators. K6KPH will be using only the original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas. The transmitters for 80, 40 and 20 meters 1950s-vintage RCA sets. The transmitters for 17 and 15 meters will be Henry commercial sets. Transmitting antennas will be double-extended Zepps on the lower bands and "H over 2s" for the higher bands.
In addition to the amateur operation, KPH will be on the air with continuous transmissions on MF beginning at 0100 UTC. Announcements will be made on 500 kHz. Press, weather and other information will be sent on 426 kHz. The 500 kHz frequency will be monitored for calls from ships at sea, and the silent period on 500 kHz will be observed. The KPH transmitter will be a Henry commercial set running about 1.5 kW. The transmitting antenna is a Marconi T.
Send signal reports and QSLs to Denice Stoops, PO Box 381,
Bolinas, CA 94924-0381. There's more information about KPH/K6KPH and the
Maritime Radio Historical Society--including photos of the transmitters and the
operating positions--on the Maritime
Radio Historical Society Web site.
 Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. |
Submitting ARRL SKN Entries
Following SKN, send the ARRL Contest Branch a list of the
stations you worked and list your choice for the operator with the best "fist"
among the stations you worked or heard. Also, include your vote for the most
interesting QSO you had or heard. Don't forget to post your comments and
interesting photographs from your SKN adventure to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox.
 Dick "RD" Dillman, W6AWO, at KPH. Club station K6KPH will be on the air for SKN. |
E-mail entries to the Contest Branch at StraightKey@arrl.org or via US Postal Service mail to SKN, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Entries for SKN 2005 must be received by January 31, 2005. Votes for "Best Fist" and "Most Interesting QSO" will be tabulated and included in the April 2005 issue of QST.
For more information on ARRL SKN, see the official announcement on the
ARRL Web site or in December 2004 QST
(page 105), or e-mail contests@arrl.org.
SKN for the Satellite Set
AMSAT-NA sponsors a
Straight Key Night of its own on satellites. This year, the only satellites
that can be used are AO-7 and FO-29, although the moon--also known as OSCAR
Zero--also can be used. There are no rules or scoring, other than you need to
use a straight key. As with the ARRL event, AMSAT-NA SKN participants also may
cast a vote for best fist. Send a list of "best fist" nominations to Ray Soifer, W2RS.
| Previous: Earthquake, Tsunamis Hit Southern Asia; VU4 DXpedition in Emergency Mode | Next: Radio Amateurs, DXpedition Team Handle Emergency Traffic in Disaster's Wake |
