01/08/2007 | W1EJ I was determined to work Straight Key Night this year. Got my station all set up; redid my G5RV which had been broken;got the keys adjusted and ready to go. An hour before the start the XYL informs me we are going to my son's house in San Francisco for New Years and we are spending the night. Dug out the QRP plus and the St. Louis Vertical.
On arrival at my son's house I scrambled to set up and tune the antenna. Forgot the QRP tuner; and the QRP plus shuts down quickly if SWR is bad, but finally got it tuned on forty. Sent out a few CQs and tried to answer a few but nothing. Finally I heard a CQ very loud from AE6GC and he heard me! A short QSO and he had to go. I tried then to work K6KPH at the old commercial radio site in Marin but he had somewhat of a pileup going. Then the strange QRM from inside the house; get in here dinner is on the table! That ended SKN for me because after dinner and party even a designated key operator would not have helped. Now I have to exercise my SKCC membership and do SKN every night. Happy New Year
Final note AE6GC is only about five blocks from my son's house on 40th Ave; his qth IS ON 35TH! -- W1EJ