01/31/2018 | AD0YM This year’s straight key night was my first successful contact in over forty years. Boy Scouts plus opportunities in my high school electronics lab were my first tastes of ham radio. I achieved Novice in the mid 1970's and did what I could with what I now realize probably were not the best antennas. Life happened including successful careers in education and conservation. In May 2017, I made the decision to reengage and went through initial licensing and then upgraded. Book smart, but lacking in practical application. I hooked up with the local club (Mid MO Amateur Radio Club) and have been attending a code class most Saturdays this past six months. Much of what I seem to be doing is unlearning bad habits - memory tables and counting characters. Sure am glad to have the computer tools for between classes. I am slowly gaining speed in my copy, but continue to work in that regard. I was on the sidelines listening during Field Day in June. The same for Skeeter Hunt. I set up a station on a field on a nearby greenspace for Flight of the Bumblebee. Engagement should have been possible, but was not meant to be. Boy, I have learned from some very basic/silly mistakes. I manage to frustrate my two code instructors because I continue to have these little adventures/miscues. At least, as of Straight Key Night, I am now past a scene/line from the movie Top Gun ... “Maverick engage”. It was exciting to hear Tom, W1PDI call CQ on 7.054.99 at 10:04 UTC. I fired off a call back. So began my first abbreviated QSO in over 40 years. Nerves caught up with me. My logbook has the following copy … “F CALL BT UR RST 9 IS OMT M S COPY?” Obviously, I missed most of it. I did follow with a call exchange and proceeded to send text including a statement about how nervous I was and that he was my first contact in forty years. Unfortunately, poor propagation foiled the day. However, we were able to complete the QSO via other means (e-mail). Tom, you were my first attempt at a QSO in over forty years. Shaking like a leaf on my end. Sorry I muffed it. Your RST was 5NN. Should have come back with that immediately after your "CPY?" Anyway sorry. Not sure why but, after a bit I stopped and did not hear you again. Mike, AD0YM Mike, I did catch that you said you were very nervous but I certainly couldn't tell. I just returned to the hobby 3 days ago after going QRT for 2-2/12 years. And the straight key I was using last night and today was my novice key from 1966/67 and it probably hasn't been used in almost 50 years. In fact after our abbreviated QSO I made another contact but my key contacts were so dirty they weren't making contact so I had to take the key apart and clean the contacts. Key image attached here. Sorry we could not complete our QSO. I just couldn't read you any longer. We'll have to schedule a conclusion to our QSO sometime soon. I just bought a brand new TS 990S on Friday so I have been doing a lot of playing with it. It replaces my TS 520SE. Thanks for taking the time to drop me an email. I had planned to do the same. I thought you might be interested in the attached article that first appeared in QST in 2004. 73, Tom W1PDI Tom, thank you so much for taking the time to get back with me via e-mail. Really enjoyed the attached article. Great to be able to share an interest with your dad! So once again, I have found that those engaged in ham radio are some of the most interesting and best folks around. I have enjoyed the return journey back to ham radio. It has not been easy, but it sure has been fun. I will be looking forward to next year’s Straight Key Night. 73, Mike Smith, AD0YM -- AD0YM