[ARC5] skn - Working Mark K3MSB

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 1 Jan 2014 at 6:38, Ronnie Hull wrote:

> I had a wonderful time last night on skn. It runs through today, so I
> will most likely get out there and try to make a few more.

I'll probably be doing the same, Ronnie, and I had a blast! The feeling was 
very much like making contacts as a Novice or new Conditional.

The absolute HIGHLIGHT of the evening was having my CQ on 80 meters 
answered by Mark K3MSB. I was astounded and felt like a little kid in a 
candy shop.

I listened a bit on 40, but there seemed to be another contest going on, and 
I lost interest pretty fast, so I switched to 80 and I was glad I did.

The band was really hopping and signals were coming in from all over the 
U.S. and Canada.

I worked Utah, Tennessee, Pennsylvania (thanks again, Mark), Oregon (a 
YL) and several from California, for a total of 7 in about 2.5 hours.

Rig here is one of my HW-16s coupled with my modified for grid-block 
keying, Heathkit VF-1 VFOs.

50 watts output and my vertical acted like a KW and a beam. :-)

I was using one of two bugs, 1) my usual 1936 MacElroy "MacKey", and 2) a 
"gifted" Vibroplex Blue Racer. Using a "hand-pump" really gets to my 
arthritic wrists.

> I was not on long, being crystal controlled with a knight T60 and
> every frequency I had for 40 meters was crowded. I did make 9 contacts
> and it was GREAT FUN.

I sure would have enjoyed working you, Ronnie. Maybe we can catch each 
other later today. Your T-60 will work just fine on 20. ;-)
 
> I had recently moved my complete scr274n across the shack and had not
> had time to properly ground it, and as brave dave stinson has pointed
> out, without that, your not gonna operate well.

Ha! Without a GOOD ground, that ain't gonna work at all! 

> Maybe I will try to
> attend to that this morning so I can make a few contacts with it this
> evening.

Pick a frequency up around 7050 somewhere, and let us know when you're 
on. I'll work you, if I can get away from domestic duties long enough.

> Sounds like everyone had a ball!

Boy! I sure did! :-)

Ken W7EKB