[GreenKeys] Reawaking (again) from inactivity

[heathkit at juno.com]

Hi folks,
  I'm recently retired (age: 56) but will be rejoining the workforce again in a part-time endeavor shortly.  It remains to be seen if this  current spark (no pun intended) of re-interest in amateur radio (and RTTY) will survive the distractions of this next job.  (Well, I didn't get it yet, but the interview sure went well!)

  Anyhow, I would imagine that new inductees to your ranks are extended a warm welcome as the traditions and numbers of "greenkey" enthusiasts are in short(er) supply.  In 25 years, who is going to be knowledgable & conversant concerning mechanical TTY topics.  I believe this group to be an endangered species.  (As an accordion enthusiast, I know that feeling, hi hi).

  I frankly don't know how much I can contribute to this community because of my age and relative inactivity.  My credentials for showing interest here are:

1. Model 28ASR (with a complete set of manuals, I believe).  This unit was in fine operation the last time I used it...20 years ago.  Once again, there are probably some of you out there that could predict whether such an ignored/idle collections of gears/pulleys/settings/adjustments would still render accurate copy if I were to fire it up again.  It HAS remained next to my station all these years only as a remembrance of past service and enjoyment.

2. Despite my email address, I only built one thing from "total scratch" in my whole Amateur career .. and that was my 1st RTU .. from a QST article in the early 80s (when RTTY seem to be enjoying a general resurgence).  It used the EXAR chip as I recall.  I actually had damp eyes when I finally got good copy rolling off the 28 for the first time. (The 28 came w/100 WPM gears and finding a station to copy was an added challenge!) My current RTU is, of course, Heathkit HD-3030.

3. Not that this is so noteworthy,  I live 1/2 mile from what used to the the main (only?) East Coast distribution warehouse of Western Union here in Allentown, PA.  Local hams had the fortune of being able to back-up their pick-up truck against the loading dock and be on the receiving end of the equipment that was being scrapped at that time.  What a TTY'er's dream!!   I was even so resourceful as to get clearance  from WU to take the unit at the Blue Cross plan (where I worked here in Allentown) directly from work to my house when that unit became slated for eventual removal.  I even have a spare typing basket for it, but my recollection is - that IT became the spare after misbehaving itself!  WHERE TO GO TO FIX/REALIGN such equipment.  Obviously, there used to be a pool of technicians living locally that could fix these things in their sleep, but where are they now?  I'm sure some have even passed away.  This aspect of mechanical RTTY depresses me.

4. I am a occasional RTTY contester - but I don't use the 28 for such endeavors.  DOES ANYONE use mechanical stuff for contests??  I'd be curious to know.  As for computer RTTY (probably not a welcome topic here) I'd also be curious to know what software they might use when doing so.  (I still use WF1B's Pascal program...what a hoot!)

I have 1 1/2 cartons of canary paper and a few boxes of punch tape yet.  Can't see ever using the paper tape.  (Even have two printed innocent "nudies" yet that are starting to fade. [Emphasis on INNOCENT].  

OK, that's it.  If nothing else, I look forward to copying the mail and seeing what you guys/gals are up to.

73, Danny  W3ZF    heathkit at juno.com    http://www.qsl.net/w3zf/

P.S. My 28 is visible in one of the pictures on my website, however my station is no longer configured that way.

P.P.S.  If you access my website, it takes a while to LOAD, so the sound track is choppy.  HIT RELOAD(refresh) after about 2 minutes and the sound portion comes across as intended ... I hope.