01/07/2005 | K2WI Hi, I had a really fun time with this event, the first I have participated in for over 20 years. Not only did I enjoy hearing all the old keys, but a lot of nice old rigs, too. It was hard to decide who had the best fist among the many with very good ones that I worked. Since those heard but not worked were also eligible, I did a little tuning around, just listening for good fists. W1DV/2 caught my attention because not only was his fist very readable and accurate, but it had just enough personality.

It was also very hard to decide which contact was the most interesting because I had a bunch that were really good. I had nice contacts with a 17-year-old ham doing a nice job, an employee at the Green Bank radio observatory where I spent a couple of summers, a former Coast Guard Radioman, and a big surprise to hear W3BLN, with whom I have been corresponding via e-mail but who had never worked on the air.

I ran my Navy TCK transmitter at 500W output on 80 and 40, of course with a Navy key. The key I used was a Navy Flameproof Key CTE-26003A, which I really love sending with. My receivers were RBB on 80 and RBC on 40.

You can see some of my gear at www.home.earthlink.net/~navyradio

73, Rob -- K2WI