[InHam] INARRL BULLETIN 005-2006

[Brian Murrey]

INARRL BULLETIN 005-2006
03:00PM EST 12/24/2006 de KB9BVN

2007 ARRL Straight Key Night

Regardless of your position, the important fact for CW enthusiasts is that
the NPRM doesn't mean you won't be able to use the code if you choose. Radio
communications have evolved a long way from the early spark-gap transmitters
and their hand-created Morse code communications. Once in my life I would
love to hear the electrical hissing of this unique ancestor of our current
modern modes. It would be nice to see if you could really "smell" the signal
in the air as "Old Betsy" (Hiram Percy Maxim's name for his spark-gap radio,
which is on display at W1AW) or its cousins literally lit up the ether. But
alas, as this particular mode is no long permitted, it will have to remain a
perception challenge for the imagination

At the beginning of each year many operators around the US, and world-wide,
declare a respite from the technological evolution. They turn back the pages
of modern operation and look towards our roots in this hobby - ARRL Straight
Key Night. Some consider CW antiquated while others view it an outdated
technology. But for many - old-timer and newcomer alike - it is a reliable
friend. (And if you think it is a technology that has been replaced by
Blackberry and text-messaging technology, did you see the "Old Timers" -
Chip Margelli, K7JA and Ken Miller, K6CTW - smoke the world champion fastest
text messenger on the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno back on May 13th 2005?)

In this era of digital communication, keyboarding, FM and electronic keys,
once a year many excellent operators bring the past to the present and
participate in the annual ARRL Straight Key Night. The object of this
friendly event is to enjoy some good, old fashioned QSO fun, using straight
keys. The emphasis is on rag-chewing rather than fast contest-type
exchanges. SKN 2007 begins at 7:00 p.m. EST December 31 and runs for 24
hours through 7:00 p.m. EST January 1 (0000 -2400 UTC January 1, 2007).

In many circles SKN has been expanded to encompass vintage radio equipment
as well. Reminiscing about their early days in our hobby, many operators use
SKN as the "excuse" to refurbish their old Viking, Heathkit, or Scout. You
will hear as many vintage radios on the air during SKN as you will variety
of keys. And you will hear signals generated using old-fashioned bugs, a
variation of the straight key. SKN is the time amateur radio recalls the
past, transporting it to the present.

When participating in SKN 2007, instead of sending RST before sending the
signal report send the letters SKN, to indicate your participation, and to
clue in passers-by who may be listening that SKN is going strong. After SKN,
send the Contest Branch a list of stations worked, plus your vote for the
best fist you heard (it doesn't have to be one you worked). Also, include
your vote for the most interesting QSO you had or monitored.

Don't forget to post your comments and interesting photographs from your SKN
adventure to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox at
www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox Entries should be emailed to the Contest
Branch at StraightKey at arrl.org or may be sent via regular mail to SKN, ARRL,
225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. The Soapbox becomes an on-line album of
stores and photographs to share with others.

Entries for SKN 2007 must be received by January 31, 2007. Votes for `Best
Fist' and "Most Interesting QSO" will be tabulated and included in the April
2007 issue of QST. If you have questions about SKN, please visit the Contest
Branch Web Page at http://www.arrl.org/contests or contact contests at arrl.org

The popularity and growth of last year's SKN continued. A record 349 entries
were received for this annual New Year's Day operating event. To put this
into perspective, we received only 80 entries SKN 1985 and 90 for SKN 2000.
Why not dust off the key, clean the contacts and light up the ether with the
beautiful melody of hand-created CW? Sweeter music is hard to find.

========================================
Brian Murrey - KB9BVN
KB9BVN at arrl.net
Indiana Section Bulletin Manager
(317)535-9887