[NvHam] Straight Key Night

[Dave Hough, W7GK]

Will be on with the old HT-32 and HQ-180 pounding away. Always get a =
kick out of it, will make a point of sending a report this year.

Later,

Dave, W7GK




----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Matthew Parker" <n7tod@renoskywarn.org>
To: "Nevada Ham Reflector" <nvham@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 28 December, 2003 20 48
Subject: [NvHam] Straight Key Night


> 164 entries last year?  With 71 sections, that equates to less than =
two
> entries per section.  We could easily put the Nevada Section on the =
map
> by just getting on the air, even for a little while, and enjoying the
> art of pounding brass.  Hope you will all join me and follow up by
> submitting your reports to ARRL HQ.  Remember, this is not a speed
> contest, so there is no reason to by shy - operators of all skill =
levels
> are welcome.  Hope to see you on!
>=20
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>=20
> 2004 ARRL Straight Key Night Announcement
> =20
> Many people helped make us the operators we are today. And we all =
recall
> those special moments with our "Elmers" -- the people who really =
taught
> us the ropes of operating. Most of us are fortunate to have had =
several
> along the way. When I first was getting started in the hobby, I was
> fortunate enough to have two that helped pave the way for me to "join
> the club."=20
>=20
> By chance, they happened to be great friends and neighbors to each
> other. In fact, Everest W4DYW was also an Elmer to the other Col. =
Frank
> WB4JMG. Between the two of them they kept my interest sparked... And
> they taught me "the code." During all of the weeks I was studying the
> theory for my novice test, you would usually find me either at =
Everest's
> or Frank's -- rummaging through junk boxes or learning to solder. And
> most importantly (at least to me) - participating in amateur radio by
> "operating" their stations -- tapping out CQs and making QSOs on the
> straight keys at their rigs.=20
>=20
> They believed that the best way to learn the code was to use the code.
> By the time my own license arrived after several months of expert
> tutelage, I was ready to fly solo without a guiding hand to walk me
> through my the first contact -- with Col. Frank. By the time WN4YMV =
was
> QRV, they had already gotten me into the habit of checking into novice
> training nets and handling traffic -- all through the magic of =
"pounding
> brass."=20
>=20
> 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 on fast
> contest-type exchanges. SKN 2004 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, 2004).=20
>=20
> When participating in SKN 2004, 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.
> Afterwards, 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.=20
>=20
> Please post your comments and interesting photographs from your SKN
> adventure to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox </contests/soapbox> . You
> may also send in items for the Feedback section of the SKN 2004
> write-up. Entries should be emailed to the Contest Branch=20
> or may be sent via regular mail to SKN, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, =
CT
> 06111.
> =20
> Entries for SKN 2004 must be received by January 31, 2004. Votes for
> "Best Fist" and "Most Interesting QSO" will be tabulated and included =
in
> the April 2004 issue of QST. If you have questions about SKN, please
> visit the Contest Branch Web Page </contests>  or contact
> contests@arrl.org=20
>=20
> Last year we had 164 entries submitted for SKN -- the most in many
> years. Why not dust off the key, clean the contacts and light up the
> ether with the beautiful melody of hand-created CW? If your Elmers =
were
> like mine, they will smile knowing that the true art of CW is not
> lost...
>=20
>=20
>=20
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