01/02/2008 | N8QE This year I pulled out my old no name cast iron base cw key that my Elmer, K8QAT, gave me back in 1966 when I first got my Novice license as WN3FNT in Western PA when I was 15 years old. Boy did that bring back the Novice memories of my old Eico 720 transmitter and Hallicrafters SX-99 receiver with a manual knife switch to alternate between them that was attached to an 128 foot long wire antenna. I even pulled out a cigar box of my old 1966 - 1967 Novice QSL cards and looked them over to add to my Novice memories.

This time, however, I attached it to my new state of the art Yaesu FT-2000. I ran 25 watts to an end fed dipole on 40 meters Tuesday morning. The 40 meter band was jumping with SKN activity and I logged plenty of contacts. Thanks to all who contacted me and my rusty straight key fist.....Bob -- N8QE