01/31/2009 | JR0EFE/1 This was the first time to participate in SKN. In recent years CW QSOs via satellites are becoming popular in JA and neighboring Asian countries. Thanks to AMSAT, they opened their satellite, AO-51, for CW operations by switching to CW/FM mode for SKN. Usually, electrical keyers are used for effective QSOs to make as many QSOs as possible in the limited time while satellites flies over, but not for the day! We, JA satellite users (satelliters!) enjoyed QSOs with their straight keys on the first day of the year. Hopefully this event becomes more populer and spreads out world wide to play with their straight keys!

I worked 9 stations via FO-29 from my car with a mobile whip antenna for 144/430MHz!

Yuichiro Kushiro "Yu" -- JR0EFE