01/28/2007 | N1AW I operate casually in many contests and events without submitting a log, but this seemed like a good year to be sure I was counted as one who appreciates c.w. During SKN 2007 I got on the air for a total of about 1.5 hours and chatted with four stations. The best QSO was with AB1BW. We had a 30+ minute chat. He has a nice fist and used good procedure. I have to give credit for the best op I encountered to KO4OP. Our QSO was short, only about 10 minutes, but he was able to copy my 329 signal solidly despite difficult conditions. QRP requires skill on both ends of a QSO.

All my contacts were on 80 meters with a QRP transceiver (direct conversion rx, 1 W tx). I first put this rig on the air 30 years ago, but like many homebrew projects it has been continually modified. The key in the picture is one of my favorites. I have had it for years and can't remember where it came from. Its body is a hunk of chrome plated steel and it stays still on any flat surface.

Al, N1AW, Amherst, MA

postscript 3/1: subsequent to my first post here, I learned that the key in the picture is probably a McElroy key. -- N1AW