Another Straight Key Night in the history books, my 20th something SKN. This year was different, gone is the 30 year collection of Vintage Ham & WW-2 gear. In thier place a modern Icom 7200 transceiver, USB enabled, QSO's computer logged, alas at least a straight key to fire it up into a vintage ham antenna, 66 feet of # 12 copper wire end fed, up about 20 feet, I'm on a hill 100' ASL.

Made about 10 SKN QSO's this year as time allowed. Some great sounding CW on the 80-40m bands this SKN. A couple of "chirpy" stations heard but not as many as in the past SKN's. Do I miss using gear from the 1950's and earlier, nah, really the fun for ME is pounding brass. I chose my Begali Spark model, sans the 3, J-38 Keys I own, one the quite rare model stamped "Lionel". As old as me and like me still working !  Me thinks the activity was down this year or maybe the propagtion into Long Island was not good. Either way it was still a good SKN, looking forward to next years !

Happy New Year all,

73/de K2JX