2009 “Straight Key Night” begins at 7:00 p.m. EST December 31, 2008 and runs for 24 hours through 7:00 p.m. EST January 1, 2009 (0000 – 2400 UTC January 1, 2009).
SKN is more of an operating event and not a contest and you don’t need to operate during the entire event. To participate, simply send “CQ SKN” or listen for CQs that have SKN in them. The object of this friendly event is to enjoy some good old-fashioned QSO fun, using straight keys and not keyers or computers. The emphasis is on rag-chewing rather than fast contest-style exchanges.
Take pleasure in sending and receiving CW sent without a computer or keyer, listen for the best fist you encounter, and be sure to tell the ARRL all about your activities. Even better, connect that straight key to some vintage gear you haven’t used in a while. Many interesting QSOs take place during SKN as it will give hams who’ve never operated with a key the chance to see what it’s all about.
Speed is not necessary in this event. It’s more about having a good time. Who knows…. it may get you hooked on CW!
I’ll be dusting off my old “J-38” World War Two surplus brass key and will be operating on 40 and 80 meters in the CW “sub-bands”. You’ll find that almost all ops during this event will be very patient with those who’ve never operated using a hand key. You may even wish to build a simple handkey for this event!
Mistakes are okay. Speed of sending is not of serious concern. When you give your signal report – RST exchange (such as RST 599), send “SKN 599” instead to alert others that you are part of this event. Just try it and have a good time! This might also encourage you to operate CW more often, and be a CW op during the next Field Day. If you have no HF equipment, you may wish to use your 2 meter radio and get on the air using a code practice oscillator to send modulated FM CW on a simplex frequency with your friends.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 emails to the Contest Branch at StraightKey@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 stories and photographs to share with others.Entries for SKN must be received no later than January 31, 2009. Votes for “Best Fist” and “Most Interesting QSO” will be tabulated and included in the April 2009 issue of QST. If you have questions about SKN, please visit the Contest Branch Web Page at http://www.arrl.org/contests or send email to contests@arrl.org.
Hope to work you on SKN,
Bob W2IK
