Straight Key Night!
from
Pi, K1RV
on
December 31, 2003
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First let me start off by saying that this is not meant to be an opportunity to open up one of those ridiculous discussions about Code vs No-Code! This is being posted because there are still quite a few people who really enjoy using Morse Code and SKN is an opportunity for everyone to put away their fancy paddles and keyers and dust off their old straight keys. SKN is just a lot of fun and after all; didn't we get into Ham Radio to have some fun?
I wanted to remind folks about the
ARRL Straight Key Night or SKN as it is commonly referred to which begins on New Year's Eve.
Have any of you ever participated in SKN? Do you still have your old J-38 key from your early days in Ham Radio?
I've always loved CW, so I plan to continue "poundin the brass" until I become a Silent Key, but there are many folks who have gotten away from operating any CW. Many would classify themselves as being quite rusty and would be afraid to get back on the CW bands. SKN is a perfect time to dust off that old key and just jump right in!
Most of the regular CW operators (myself included) usually rely on our
built-in keyers and Bencher paddles to make ourselves sound good. When
you take away our paddles (or bugs!) and put a straight key in our hands
then that beautiful Fist gets transformed into something that sounds more
like we're sending CW while wearing mittens!
The point that I'm trying to make is that everyone sounds pretty much
the same and it's really kinda tough to send very fast so that even the
"rusty" folks fit right in! As the hours go by, the Fists start to improve!
So what do you think? I usually get on the air for a couple hours
during the 24 hour period and have a great time ragchewing just like I was back in my Novice days. I usually make up a special QSL card and send it out to
all my SKN contacts because it's really a unique experience.
I plan to use my old J-38 key from my Novice days and also a Marconi 1895
replica key. Will I hear you on SKN? Tell your friends to get on the air, too!
We will have quite a few members of the Marconi Radio Club, USS Salem Radio Club, Seehund Radio Club and of course the FISTS Club operating starting at
0000 UTC tonight.
Many of us can be found near the FISTS frequencies - 3558, 7058 and 14058.
I've heard from one member who will participate in SKN on AO-40! We're
hoping that some of folks without HF gear will try to get on the local
two meter repeaters using MCW.
73,
Pi - K1RV
P.S. Be sure to check the FISTS web page, too!
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Straight Key Night!
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by W2RJJ on December 31, 2003
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Good post. This year I'll start SKN with a standard military issue J-38, then switch to a British Air Ministry "73" key. This is one of the most fun events for me. C u all on the bands! --73 from Ray
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by W0FM on December 31, 2003
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Hi!
I'll be there with my newly-refurbished J-38 and, eventually, my huge "Titanic" replica key. My fist was a lot better in 1962, but that doesn't stop me. Always a great time. See ya there!
73,
Terry, WØFM
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Straight Key Night!
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by N8YAD on December 31, 2003
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While I'm not an OM that will dust off my straight key, I'm a fair newbie to CW (got my general in April 2003). I ALWAYS use a straight key, no bugs/paddles or what-have-yous for me. Every night is straight key night for me and I'll CU tonight for the official one!! 73!
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by W5HTW on December 31, 2003
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Every year I plan to participate and every year something comes up. This time the key is already hooked up and adjusted and the rig and antenna are ready. Hope to be on 40 and 80 meters at various times this evening. Might try the Novice bands, too.
Ed
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Straight Key Night!
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by WS4Y on December 31, 2003
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Yes SKN is great fun. I'll sure be in there. The
only thing left of my novice station from 1967 is
my J-38 that is still mounted here on my operating
desk. I also have two other J-38 keys here and a
J-5 flameproof and plan to have a qso with each of
them. Hope to work you.
73, Bill WS4Y
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by N8CPA on December 31, 2003
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I'll be on at some as yet undetermined time, using an LTA CVRO on 40M.
AHHHHH brass!
Steve
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Straight Key Night!
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by KD7PLU on December 31, 2003
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I just hooked up my key. Not a vernerable J-38. however it should do the job. Only problem is I only have a 20 meter antenna up at this time. Hold strong little MFJ tuner . . . heh . . .
Brent, KD7PLU/AG
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by K0EWS on December 31, 2003
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And remember kids, STRAIGHT KEYS AND ALCHOHOL DO NOT MIX!!! Hi Hi For all of you wishing to indulge, please have a designated sender from your QTH. Now, let's all have fun and HNY to all!!! ;)
Eric
k0ews
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by W0UCE on December 31, 2003
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Make SKN something special. Remember an elmer or your first CW QSO and enjoy the experience once again. I will be there this evening in honor of my best friend Tom W0CF and will be using the most beautiful hand key you can imagine. Tom left it to me when he became a silent key, it is the original hand key from the Ocean Liner Queen Mary.
Hope to see you on SKN - here is wishing all a tremendous and peaceful 2004.
73
Jack W0UCE
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by K7CSM on December 31, 2003
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Jack - W0UCE,
You are one lucky dude. I'd love to just see a picture of that key. I'm still trying to learn code. Being dyslexic and hard of hearing makes it difficult. But I'll get there. Hope you all have a blast. Just moved and haven't finished unpacking so I can't even listen. Not to worry. Next year I'll do more than just listen.
Tom Detchemendy
K7CSM - The Lead Sled Dog
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Straight Key Night!
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by W1QWT on December 31, 2003
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I am on with my old J38 key, a Heathkit DX60 runing about 60 watts out, a National NC300 receiver, and a 75
meter dipole fed with open wire line. All that isn't
helping my cw ability though.
Happy New Year
Q
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Straight Key Night!
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by KF4HEY on December 31, 2003
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I will be there with my old Ambassador Key, not as venerable as a J-38 but it is pushing 40 years old. It is all that remains of my first Novice station.
73,
Mike KF4HEY
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Straight Key Night!
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by G3VGR on December 31, 2003
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Although I use a keyer for day to day qsos, it's nice to go back to the straight key on the special occasions like SKN. A bit like riding a bicycle really, you never forget how to do it, although you may wobble about a bit for the first 5 minutes. I have a vintage Marconi 365A Ship's key, huge lump of precision machined brass, given to me many years ago by a real Marconi man, so I feel committed to use it from time to time.
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Straight Key Night!
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by K8AG on December 31, 2003
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I decided to do SKN as QRP this year. I figure what the heck. Remember folks that a weak signal is not the same as an open frequency. Seem to be lots of people ignoring mine and other QRP stations. They plop down in the middle of a QSO underway and start calling CQ SKN. Please try to listen and if there is a station "in the background" they are on the frequency and move on.
I know that some people's noise floors are higher than others and so may not hear QRP stations. But when the interfering station is plus 20 or higher, I am pretty sure they can hear me.
If you still have a straight key, jump in. I don't work contests as a rule, but SKN is the non-contester's contest. Lots of fun.
73
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by KE4MOB on January 1, 2004
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I just spent about an hour listening to 80 Meters. There's some really good fists on tonight...seems like the sweet spot is around 15 WPM.
As for me, I'm sidelined with a head cold...hard to concentrate when you're sneezing, hacking, and ears are ringing....
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Straight Key Night! Get your call in QST!
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by N3AWS on January 1, 2004
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Since the demise of Section News and contest line scores in QST, there are only two reliable ways for the average ham to see their call in print in QST: operate Field Day under your callsign or participate in SKN.
So operate, send in a report, and look for your call in QST!
73, Jim N3AWS
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RE: Straight Key Night! Get your call in QST!
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by W5HTW on January 1, 2004
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It was fun, but a lot of work! Been 1975 since I used a straight key. Too spoiled by keyers. Hard to remember the years when all I had was a J38.
Had three good contacts, though, nice ragchews all of them. I think I'll leave the key accessible in the future and try it more often.
Happy New Year
73
Ed
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Straight Key Night!
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by N8YV on January 1, 2004
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Yes!
SKN, the "great equalizer". My annual chance to compete with those "20-wpm" ops who are brought back down to their REAL proficiency levels (or, at least, the ones brave enough to actually show up and trip over their fingers with the rest of us slow-pokes!)
HI!
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by K1RV on January 1, 2004
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I certainly have to agree with Danny's comments abour SKN being a great "Equalizer"! I've always enjoyed CW and like ragchewing, Contesting, etc but I really had forgotten just how challenging it can be really "pound the brass"!
I like to send QSL cards to every SKN contact because those contacts are rather special. This year I have been using the 1895 Replica Marconi key and will be sending special photo QSL's showing the key for each QSO.
So far, I've had 15 SKN QSO's on 80, 40 and 20 mtrs.Mostly US contacts with DX of DL, G, GI, I, IT9, CT + F. I have to go ice down my "glass arm" before sitting back down for some more of those special SKN contacts!
Hope to work some of you on the bands since SKN runs until 2359 UTC today!
73, Pi - K1RV
FISTS # 7012
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RE: Straight Key Night!
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by AG4RQ on January 1, 2004
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It is good to hear all the straight-key CW on the bands on New Years Day. I think it is very appropriate that on the first day of 2004, that a contest is going on using the most basic form of radio (CW) along with the most basic type of keyer (the straight key). It shows how off base the war cry of the no-coders is -- that CW is obsolete and archaic. Straight-key CW is alive and well this first day of 2004! May it be alive and well on the first day of 3004!
73 and Happy New Year to all de AG4RQ
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Straight Key Night!
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by N3AWS on January 1, 2004
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Worked only two stations--KD5QHV, Bernard in El Paso, TX and KB8AXB, Jim in Mio, MI on 21.1 MHz. I lost both of them in the QSB/QRM before completing the QSOs but had a great time. Used an old Radio Shack straight key that my dad bought my brother and I for Cub Scouts, oh, probably 37 years ago.
Rig was my Icom 706 MKIIG at 5 watts with a makeshift indoor dipole. Hope to be back next year!
73, Jim N3AWS
Jacksonville, FL
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