01/10/2009 | NI9Y SKN 2009 Was very enjoyable during one of the worst ice and snow storms of the year. My station was a Hallicrafters S40B with Heath Q-Multiplier, and HT-18 running 5 watts. The Q-Multiplier worked just like it did when new. My key was a McElroy with chrome top parts from my collection of two dozen bugs and keys. The antenna was a CF double extended zepp with tuned feeders and stub for 3.552 KHz.

I forget how many SKN's I've participated over the years. IN my 53 years as an active ham operator SKN is my favorite event. My first SKN 2009 contact was with W8UMH Don, then KB8AZS Mike, Followed by N0NB Nate, KD0CA Jerry, and N3IJR Karl, K9KEU John and NG9D Lynn.

You can find me early mornings and late evenings all year long on 80 meters CW. Your invited to join in the Sunday Morning Group (SMG) on 3.552 KHz and during the day you will hear WA9WJB Duke and myself in a ragchew. There are several others who regularly check in and sometimes we have as many as eight or nine in a CW roundtable.

During the summer weekends I operate portable CW from my RV on 3.552 KHz. Hope to hear your signal soon. My normal speed is between 30 to 35 WPM but we can slow down to 5 WPM anytime day or night. I also used a straight key when I was a Navy Radioman in 1958 on board the USS Shenandoah AD-26. My callsign was NWBW

73's Dan, Ni9Y, Mishawaka, IN. EN61wq -- NI9Y