[K3PZN-List] RE: Comments on SKN

[Curt Milton]

Here is a brief wrap-up of my participation in SKN. 
Activity was not dense but folk were on the air both
evening and morning.  I took the time to make 4 QSOs
using this old means of making CW characters.  As I
was using my K2 with its small jack, and my straight
key has a quarter inch plug - well i found an old
adaptor saving me a trip to bench.  Three QSOs were
relatively quick, including W1AW whose operator was
using an old railroad key.  The final QSO turned out
to be a ragchew of around a half hour.  By this time
my speed was probably peaking over 10 wpm and
reasonable accurate - maybe as good and bad as my
sending back in the 70's.  Straight key sending even
without errors is generally easy to recognize by its
irregularities, often accents which add some charm to
the experience.  We had a very enjoyable two way
exchange of "real information and experiences" which
may amaze folk who have never operated CW. 
Interestingly we both were modulating our rigs the old
fashioned way, and both rigs were modern as he was
using an FT-1000MP.  

I suspect my next CW QSO will be with paddle and
keying device!  Those on the other side will
appreciate it more than me!  One quick comment on
keyers - my first was made from NOR gates based on QST
article, was replaced with a single IC TICK keyer now
used to key some of my rigs, of course the K2 has a
built in keyer.  

I hope everyone continues to thrive and expand their
ham radio horizons in 2005.  

curt



		
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