Each year’s SKN gathering seems to have its own character. This year I again used my vintage replica W1TS transmitter (QST, 1968), which puts out between 4 and 5 watts on 40 meters. I used the final of a vintage Heath DX-60 as an outboard amplifier, resulting in about 35 watts output. That proved to be enough to hold a frequency – a serious concern when you have just a handful of crystals! Could not get started until about 1300 on Sunday morning and was able to operate until about 2230. Daytime propagation was not outstanding but did manage 24 contacts in 12 states. Propagation was a bit strange as I never worked a single station in neighboring Wisconsin and, although I was able to work two stations in New Hampshire, I didn’t have a single QSO with anyone else in New England!

My most interesting QSO was with N3GJ in Pennsylvania, running a single-tube (6AG7) exciter into an external amp for 12 watts out. George’s transmitter sounded great by virtue of keeping the output of the 6AG7 down to just a few watts! Ran into only a few vintage transmitters this year, all of which sounded first-rate.  A transmitter, a receiver, a key, and a logbook – a fine, low stress way to spend the first day of the New Year!