2009 Straight Key Night

KC0EEP -- Mar 26, 2009 02:10 ET

The St. Louis Ham-Key that I used for the qso

In my tenth year as a Ham, I finally got the hang of CW - the SKN night was my first event. I had no "novice station" to drag out of the closet, but instead, was hunting for an op that I had copied 2 months prior to the event - I hoped that now that I was on the air, that I could have a "for real" QSO with him. Turns out, my only qso of the evening was with N4XE, the very same 82 year old ham that I had copied doing a qso with someone else 2 months prior! Wow!!! I found him on the same frequency, using the very same clothespin key with homebrew dipole that he had spoken of in the prior qso. I treasure that, and sure do hope to participate in many more events like this one. -- KC0EEP

JR0EFE/1 -- Jan 31, 2009 10:48 ET

mobile satellite operation with a key put on my leg

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

K6TY/0 -- Jan 31, 2009 20:07 ET

Braving breezy, 16 degree Fahrenheit weather, I managed to erect a simple end-fed wire over the second story deck at my mother-in-law's Saint Louis home well after dark on New Year's Eve. I used the Icom 730 of my wife, KB0QJJ, her Lionel J-38 straight key, and an MFJ balanced-line tuner. Judging from the wicked RF burns I was getting, I seemed to be loading up my mother-in-law's house wiring against a ground plane formed by the antenna!

I had the good fortune to work Paul, K0JPL, in nearby Chesterfield, Missouri, on 80 m, having been attracted by his noteworthy callsign suffix that matches the abbreviation for the NASA facility at which I work. Now, whether the propagation between us was provided by skywave, NVIS, or the powerlines of AmerenUE will forever remain a mystery of SKN 2009. -- WB6VRN

NI6B / P -- Jan 30, 2009 12:50 ET

Packed my Junkers key, FT817, and the HFp portable antenna and hiked up to the East Peak of Mt. Tam (a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge) for some portable QRP SKN operating fun. Had a great time! The bay area was socked in fog but at 2571 feet it was sunny and clear. As a bonus the noise level away from civilization was non-existent and all I could hear was CW signals. QRP (1.5 watts) was a bit challenging in the crowded bands so appreciate the efforts of those that made the QSOs happen at the other end. Thank you to AE6PX (0.5 Watts!), KF0QS, WC7S, and K9YKL.

Will do it again next year but bring a bigger battery and bump the power up to 5W!

73',

Jan -- NI6B

The station. FT817 and Junkers key	The antenna (HFp) and a the East Peak fire lookout in the background
Radio tower on Twin Peaks in San Francisco poking through the fog	On the map: CM87rw

AA4LR -- Jan 29, 2009 23:17 ET

Finally completed my homebrew station with a 40m five-integrated circuit receiver. I had started it last year, but didn't finish in time for SKN. Used the same two-tube transmitter from the last couple of years. I added a T/R relay so that it was easier to switch from transmit to receive -- and it also eliminated the risk of pumping RF into my K2/100.

Only had a limited time to operate on New Years Day. Made six contacts using five different crystal frequencies. It was fun pumping the old key and making contacts. Each QSO was unique and interesting.

The receiver added a lot to the experience. Had to make two mods to the receiver while operating. First, the BFO frequency was off, making the CW pitch too high. Second, the AGC time constant was far too long, making the recovery time after switching back to receive. 40m CW band sounded really alive during SKN.

I've put the details for my setup on my blog. Read about the receiver here: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com/2009/01/little-receiver-that-could.html

And the transmitter here: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com/2009/01/novice-40m-transmitter.html

Great fun! Can't wait to break out this pair again next year. -- AA4LR

Homebrew 40m Receiver inspired from the NorCal Sierra. Dial tuned 150 kHz in four full turns of the knob.	Peek at the insides of the receiver. Very simple layout with three-crystal ladder filter for good selectivity.
The "Odd Couple" homebrew receiver and transmitter, waiting for the next SKN.

W0RTK -- Jan 26, 2009 19:04 ET

Only time for one contact, and that was with K0SX. I always have good intentions of spending a lot of air time on SKN. but it doesn't work out. My aim is to have some vintage gear on the air in 2009, the station I had in 1959. My calendar is marked for SKN ! Many nice signal were heard back in North Dakota, and look for W0RTK on the bands this winter Oh yes, K0SX had a very good fist and a joy to copy!!!! Clarence -- W0RTK

K5HK -- Jan 22, 2009 12:19 ET

K5HK Reno Nevada QRP SKN Station

I participated again this year from Reno Nevada using my Elecraft KX1t at 3W into a 40M vertically polarized Delta Loop and an old homebrew straight key. I had limited time available alas and only worked 9 stations but also listened in on several other QSOs. One notable QSO was with KA9UDA/Roger who used a Knight Kit T-50 and a German Yunker Key. I was struck by how busy the 40m band was here with SKN stations and the many good fists and classic rigs worked and heard! I've been a ham over 45 years now and SKN 2009 signals brought back many happy memmories of my early days in ham radio with 50khz of solid QSOs on the band with great sounding fists and rigs! This had to have been one of the most active SKN events in years and just makes me look forward even more to next year. I haven't put my straight key back on the shelf here since and see that many others are still using straight keys on the air. A nice indication that we could make this a positive trend. 73/72 de K5HK Carl in Reno, Nevada. -- K5HK

KB8M -- Jan 21, 2009 14:05 ET

It was a good time listening to all the QSO's going on. I only made 1 contact, and realized how rusty I actually was! But I enjoy it and intend to get the straight key out more often. I use a Logikeyer CMOS III for CW contests. It was nice to use the straight key again and I'm definitely going to participate in next year's SKN. -- KB8M

W0NTA -- Jan 18, 2009 10:11 ET

A great time. I worked only five other hams during SKN, but they were quality QSOs. I used an old Kenwood TS-520 without a CW filter and a SpeedX hand key. I have been thinking about using a straight key more often during this year, but we will see. One gets addicted to the modern electronic keyers. 73, Dick -- W0NTA

AC7JW -- Jan 14, 2009 00:55 ET

Corsair II and Key

Key of unknown make/year

This was a great SKN. Worked a couple of Hours on New Years Eve, and a couple of more on New Years Day. Had 13 nice rag chews using an old straight key of unknown make and vintage, along with my Corsair II. I especially enjoyed the 4 QSOs on 15 meters, which opened up for a while on Jan 1st. It was fun to have QSOs on 80, 40, 30, 20, and 15. Can't wait until next year. -- AC7JW

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