[GreenKeys] Hal ST-6 using it in modern times

[Richard Knoppow]

    I don't remember the details but it seems to me that in the 
early days of spark keying was done by detuning the arc thus 
shifting its frequency. So, what was on the air was a sort of 
FSK. Nothing is new.

On 3/22/2020 12:17 PM, Ralph Irish wrote:
> I still have the outboard FSK unit sitting on a shelf.  I made 
> it to use with my DX35, I think it was.
> I used it on the east coast 3637.5 Autostart Circuit for a 
> number of years.  At some point, the majority
> of the group went on 40M to some 'standard' frequency for the 
> summer months, claiming to have
> better propagation for the majority of the group.
>
> I was using a TMS Military Receiver that had 'plug in drawers' 
> for various freq. ranges.  I had only
> the one that covered 80M, so I sat out in the summer.  The 
> receiver was crystal controlled, and one
> could slightly 'rubber' the freq a bit if needed.  The BFO 
> could also be crystal locked to make it
> even more steady/stable for environmental temp shifts which 
> always happened in 'winter-summer'
> transitions.  The BFO also had a slight adjustment, so there 
> was no reason for me not go have near-
> perfect copy as long as the signal strength was OK.
>
> One local guy, who was a 'CW Only' guy, wanted to work me for 
> some certficate.  I got on the RTTY
> channel and used the key to make a short QSO with him so we 
> could exchange QSL cards and make
> him eligible for the certificate.  I did warn him that it would 
> be 'strange CW' since he was not
> expecting narrow FSK!
>
> Sure as heck, several of the participants made comments about 
> the 'disturbnce' they noted, and were
> able to read both of our calls.  I simply did not have a 
> crystal to plug in or I would have used it.  If I
> had thought of it I would have cranked the power down as much 
> as possible since the guy was under
> a mile from me.
>
> Ah, the 'good old days!!'
>
> Ralph - W8ROI
>
>

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL