01/07/2010 | W1OH I had 2 great QSOs for SKN 2010. The first QSO with K4AMG was very interesting. K4AMG is a memorial radio club, and the operator was Rich, W4BUE. He was using an old Navy key given to him by Earl, W4LPF(sk). It seems Earl was a Pearl Harbor survivor and Chief Radio Man for the fleet onboard the USS Maryland after the attack. Wow, some history there!

My second QSO, with John, NQ4Q, was a good long ragchew (just shy of an hour). John was using an old Western Union legless key. We chatted long about rigs and antenna systems, starting out & old times, QRP rigs of then and now, homebrewing, and just enjoyed a great CW QSO!

For both QSOs, I used a 70's vintage HamKey HK-3 hand key, though I had my original J-38 (from pre-novice days in the early 60's) in reserve! Rig was IC-735 for the first QSO, then switched to my FT-897 for the second QSO. Antenna was 40M doublet at about 35ft.

SKN is great fun! I never seem to have enough time available - maybe next year! See you in SKN 2011!

geoff -- W1OH