01/02/2005 | KB6NU This was my first SKN in many years, and as all the others have mentioned, it was a lot of fun. That there were so many stations working SKN was encouraging, too.

I used a variety of straight keys, including a little QRP key in a little plastic box from White Rook and a Ham-Key (I think Ham-Key is out of business, unfortunately).

My favorite, however, is the WWII-vintage, J-45. According to K6IX (http://k6ix.net/J37Keys.html), the J-45, "is the well known 'leg clamp' key consisting of a J-37 mounted on a metal plate hinged to a spring metal, inverted 'U' shaped clamp made to fit snugly around the thigh of a seated user." I purchased this last year on our club's bus trip to Dayton for $10.

The J-37 is similar to the J-38, but uses a piece of spring metal instead of a coiled spring. I like the action of this spring much better than the coiled spring. An added benefit is that this mounting afforded a bit of shock absorption, making the brass pounding a little less harsh on the wrist.

One thing I didn't like is how tightly the clamp fits on my leg. I know my legs are larger than average, but even so, I couldn't wear this key for more than about a half hour. I even tried bending the clamp, but this was only minimally effective.

Good thing SKN is only one night a year! -- KB6NU