ANOTHER great SKN!  I tried to make it an all Heathkit night, but got flummoxed by some nasty local noise that required the DSP noise reduciton on my K3.  For most of the event I was on a highly modified HW-16 built by my Elmer, W5NYT.  I also used a pair of Heathkit CW Twins for a good part of the contest.  I can't believe Heathkit got QSK so right so long ago.  The CW Twins and HW-16 break in is as good as my K3.

For keys I used mostly a Vibroplex Champion, 1958, with Vari-Eze, A Vibroplex FISTS edition straight key, and a Soviet copy of a German WWII era key that is built like a tank.   

I tried for some time to make a single contact with my little HW-8, but even with an outboard audio filter the old girl just seemed overwhelmed.  Finally at the last minute I worked Jim, K5BZH in Texas.  He gave me a 339 report, and it was a tough slog.  But it turns out Jim himself owns an HW-8, and he shared with me some very fond memories of using it.  This was my most memorable QSO among the 15 I had that night (and day) but all were great!  I look forward to next year, perhaps even getting my Eico 720 on the air.  73 and TU to all.  Eric