01/02/2008 | N5LUL This was the 1st Straight-Key Night I had actually prepared in advance to operate using an older rig... a HeathKit HW-16. (Well, 35 years.... it's not "too" old yet). Had spent the previous week trying and succeeding to get the "chirp" out of it. I didn't use the VFO, found some crystals and let'er rip, in rememberance of my past Novice days. Made 4 contacts. My most enjoyable contact ends in a draw.... between W9BRE, who I talked with for about an hour... and NJ7M, who was also running a HW-16 and wanted to know what I had done to make the rig sound so well. (He later called me on the phone after the contest to get the details). I'll be here again next year! -- N5LUL