Straight Key Night 2018 Fun

I set up a few stations to demonstrate some manual key action with vintage equipment on Straight Key Night (SKN) 2018. A couple of very rare stations were worked.

[@sporter3789]

oh man! great stuff Michael! thank you for sharing! love your videos!

[@danielsteele7544]

Thankyou ,you are a great mentor to us new hams.I want to be ready for straight key night next new years eve.Love all your videos,you are like the senior statesmen of hams.Best regards.What a proud tradition u teach us.Im so proud to know you.

[@pinballwizard4085]

Incredibly good work! Your choreography was superb leading up to the widowmaker, which was a surprise treat. A perfect SKN that will be iconic forever on youtube.

[@SkyWire88]

Great contacts---chirps and all!

[@QRPMonkey]

Great Video. I'm a No-Code Amateur extra ham and proud of it. Got my license in 2011. I operated SKN for the first time. had a blast. Ran a Drake TR-4c and my home brewed 6L6 Transmitter. I enjoy your videos after finding your channel. Thanks!

[@wadepatton2433]

You're not really a "no-code Extra" when you're working CW you know. You've coded yourself. Congrats.

[@michaelsmith2412]

I'm not sure why anyone would be "proud" of lacking a skill ? CW still cuts through when nothing else will.

[@QRPMonkey]

@@michaelsmith2412 who said anything about proud of lacking a skill?

[@michaelsmith2412]

@@QRPMonkey Reread your second sentence above posted two years ago, and consider how someone might make an inference that you didn't intend.

[@miken08003]

Mike, thanks for putting this together. All the different setups were very enjoyable to watch. I hope to hear you on the air sometime - KD5ET

[@robertsumption1243]

I was on with 40 m ... ARC-5 TX , BC348 and BC453 as Q5er and a homebrew one tube crystal controlled converter to convert the 915 KHZ IF out of the BC348 down to 560 KHZ to the BC453 . My key was a WW2 Japanese Navy key, antenna was a dipole made a lot of contacts SKN night is fun 73 BOB .

[@robertsumption1243]

Mike I just remembered I made a youtube video with my SDR receiver back in 2013 during the start of the World wide CW contest I was amazed at how many CW guys were on the air. To see this amazing CW display go to the internet and Copy and paste this web address in your browser search box it is very interesting here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ_dc2WpnpWbjNU 73 Bob

[@jeromewysocki8809]

Thanks for the inspiration! I got lots of old boatanchor gear. Most of it is ready to be put on the air. 2019 WILL be the year I make it happen. 73s, Jerry, KC9JXE

[@adzbasslines268]

How did I miss this video!! Very nice... and I love the Paraset! I didn't know you built one of those! I've made a few mods to mine. I'd love to discuss it with you some day! Such a fun little rig.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

That Paraset took a while. Just to collect all the parts! I bandspreaded the RX. That helps a lot!

[@garycowger9579]

I thank You for this video I just retired back in 2021 and now have time for Ham Radio I just ordered a G1M QRP rig to get back on the air I use to run CW all the time I put up a end feed long wire 65 ft long and I will be using the MFJ-9219 tuner I hope to make some really good contacts

[@MIKROWAVE1]

It must feel great to get back into ham radio after such a period of time. CW still thrills us!

[@ardenmccartney5406]

Thank you for the great video. You made straight key night look like alot of fun. I will have to plan on participating on 2019. Keep posting i always learn something from your channel

[@DisabilityFraudKJW]

Great video. Thanks for uploading it.

[@cw4karlschulte661]

Just found ur videos OM. Very nice. Am ham since 1958. N Jersey coast at Atlantic Highlands, was K2USA club mbr at Ft Monmouth too. Had 6v6 1 tube to AR3, then Arc 5, and a Navy rak5? Beautiful 160 to abt 1200 kc in 4 bands set. Used like q5 er and to ljsten to marine cw. Really enjoy ur videoes, especially the xtl sets. Have made several and my Dad, W5EWF (sk) made super multi tuned set with an s meter(!). Still have all the above, operate Adventurer with various rcvrs for fun, but ts440 or Ke for serious work. Also had SP600 which i stupidly sold when moving to Chicago to join Motorola. I sighed to see the bc612 and 390. Tried to get one but had to watch USAF cut them up instead. Sp600 was my consolation. Keep up great work! Hope to work u o e day. 73 Karl, wa2kbz/w5ewf/TA2KS/TA0/wa2kbz.

[@mikesimpson7748]

That is so cool. I am just getting started on learning CW. You have some very cool gear. Great video !

[@khalidtarawneh2289]

my god that paraset looks like it was just dropped infield. I also loved the simplicity of the widowmaker's construction; all parts flouting high up.

[@pipesmokercowboychris]

Need to get back into ham radio and back to learning CW better. Going through a divorce that was final July 19th day after my birthday of last year. Been rough and having problems getting back into the swing of things. This has definitely sparked my interest again. Loves those vintage rigs. Keep up the videos. 73 DE KA9WLU

[@cooker4409]

hang in there bud.....you will recover....ham radio.....good medium-size female dog (best woman I ever had? A Damn dog....no BS)….a fire place.....and an adult beverage....it helps a bunch....de ab5za/7...dit dit….

[@pipesmokercowboychris]

@@cooker4409 Hey thanks man. I just subbed you and watched a video. Going to watch another one.

[@BruceNitroxpro]

Great seeing a straight key used again! I have my old S38-D here next to my Bencher paddle... LOL de KQ2E

[@atarikid282]

Just found your channel about a week ago, I love it. Just getting into radio and wanting to build a crystal set soon. This is very impressive though, looks like it would take lots of practice. Very cool stuff

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Oh you have to build a Crystal Set. But be careful. You could get hooked.

[@riottaba]

I do love the tube radio sound!

[@hp7093]

Awesom video. I have a few old pieces and enjoy getting on the air with them. flustrating at time due to the amount of effort to work a station compared to the new rig. Just slept through sk night.

[@YV5EN]

Excellent job Mike! I like your QRP rigs and straight keys. I hope to see you in the bands. HNY, 72 es 73, Edwin (YV5EN)

[@MD0MDI]

I’ve done this a few times now with my pair of restored KW Vanguards, always fun...

[@pjvolkma]

Very nice. SKN for me this year was a Hammarlund HQ-170 receiver with a Johnson Viking II xmtr. Made some contacts and had a lot of fun. W9JI

[@voytekfid7734]

Nice presentation, nice ”black boxes”, and nice CW :)

[@MrShotlighter]

Now why did I part with my BC-348!!?? Brilliant content & wonderfully presented as always. Nigel G8NYZ

[@axandio]

My sincere wish is that when people do CW videos they actually have a scroll of the text from the code. Many do this and as someone who is learning, it's nice. As someone who wasn't learning before, it was nice to generate interest. It also shows us how a real CQ QSO flows. I do enjoy your videos nevertheless.

[@retro.jonnes]

Awesome! Congratulations!

[@SA2CLC]

Nice to see and hear. Unfortunately, I missed SKN.

[@superhet7281]

Excellent! Happy New Year, Mike! I thought SKN was Silent Key Night.....sorry, somebody had to make that joke.

[@cooker4409]

love your vids, dude.....might try to look thru my junk box in storage when it warms up from a Montana winter....throw a regen together maybe...got some peanut tubes....but that widowmaker transmitter looks wicked!!!! Fond memories of my HW-8 and DX-40 and an s-53a....for a high school kid who needed premium fuel for his Dads' '70 Dodge Charger RT S/E 440-6 pack car on the weekends (early 80's) I scrounged what I could and had older elmers give me, or sell cheap, older gear...like the tx-86 (?) Ameco….had some of their stuff back in the day too....love tubes.....TUBES AND MULLETS FOREVER!!! de AB5ZA/7....dit dit.

[@smstiao-tecnologia]

Hi Mike! 73 PY2SNN fron Brazil.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Great to hear from a viewer in Brazil! 73's Sabastiao.

[@MoTown44240]

I would like to find a paraset in good working order. I saw a suitcase transceiver on VK3YE channel from last years Melbourne QRP on the Bay gathering that looks real sweet with some nice miniature needle gauges. Thanks for bringing back the tube rigs on SK night. Nice typewriter. I learned to touch type on an Underwood. KB8AMZ

[@gabriel_ciandrini]

In Brazil you need to learn MORSE, to achieve the highest amateur radio license

[@wadepatton2433]

In the US they removed CW from the lowest class license in 1991, but yet required CW/Morse for all higher licenses. NOW (for some years) there's no requirement at ALL, yet we still have a 3-tier license structure (used to be 5). It's so weird to hear slow code now in the top tier (US- Extra) class band segments. I'm happy for the guys who can slow down and work the new CW ops. Very difficult for me to do.

[@gabrymir-radio]

Wonderful !!

[@joeblow8593]

Nice video. You should put your replica Paraset in an old suitcase along with the power supply and accessories.

[@kamalkouerd5040]

Please, how do you protect a radio from outside noise?

[@vacuumfireradio253]

Brilliant! Well done de M0IDF

[@RicktheRecorder]

Strange sending style. Perhaps it's those low-slung army keys. Most professional sparks get a grip on the knob and flex the wrist and arm.

[@hobbyrob313]

nice to see! CW I wish I could, but stay sober this is not something you just learn just like that. can send it with an Arduino, but receiving with an Arduino becomes a problem if it is being sent out of the hand. friendly greetings from The Netherlands! Rob.

[@labrat311]

I think they need to bring back 13 wpm to get extra. It's big part of history. And if you want it bad enough you will get it.

[@wadepatton2433]

Extra was 20 if you recall. Sure it'd be great. 13 is a great functional speed. Anyone I help learn, I stress very much for them to start at 8 or 9 and NEVER 5. I think 5wpm code is the worst thing a ham can do to him/herself, but once you get to 8 or 9 things start sounding a little more functional. One can always catch signals 12-25 on the air. You just can't cram code, one has to work it regularly.

WOW!!!!!!!

[@helioshaul3924]

Great Stuff 73s

[@user-dh1kq3eh8q]

Браво 73 милан.бест дх

[@jigneshdesai2910]

Loved watching ! de AD6TF

[@clydebennish2106]

Need some advice.. I want to get back to basics and operate split transmitter and receiver. I had some boat anchors years ago (national and halicrafters)but they just got too bulky and heavy... Im 62 now... Id like to find a pair of DC radios that will do the job but I really dont know what to look for... Im considering a nice old short wave receiver and then building some transmitters for fun but I really dont know which road to take... I have an FT897 but Im getting tired of it - it does everything but the laundry.. I bet I dont use but 10 percent of it's features. I wish I could just find some heathkits to play with but I dont think Id trust any other builder... Unbuilt kits would be impossible to find... Do you have any idea where Im going with this post... ?? Dont you ever just want to get back to the old days and have some radio fun without some nitwit telling you you're 200 cycles off freq, or having to rely on phase lock loops, eproms, or ICs that look like a 80 legged spider with bodies as long as a Laguardia runway. ??? I want radios I can work on without straining my eye sockets on smts. My first ham radio was an HW-8 that worked perfect from the first day. Ok, granted it was a transceiver, but the radio I had before that was a hallicrafters s-38. Qrp is great fun and Ive owned a few radios like the MFJs and such, but those little things just dont give me the nostalgia fix Im looking for..... You see how utterly lost I am.... Technology thrills me very little... in fact it underwhelms me. Im not really a contester, although Ive been in a few. Give me some tube finals to warm my shack, a drifting vfo to nimble my fingers, and a real old fashioned howdy doody QSO and Im in ham heaven. Help, Please... Radio suggestions and or donations would be welcomed and appreciated.

[@mauryginsberg7720]

clyde bennish www.qrp-labs.com/ www.hfsignals.com/

[@clydebennish2106]

@@mauryginsberg7720 Thanks but this is exactly what Im not looking for...

[@PeopleAlreadyDidThis]

If you have troubleshooting skills and interest, find a clean Heathkit SB-301/401 pair and restore them. It’s not unlike building the original kits, but does take more skill I think. Drake R-4/T-4 twins are a lot smaller and lighter than the big boat anchors if you’d rather avoid Heath build quality concerns.

[@jbloodwo]

Where would you say these QSO were at speed wise.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

15 WPM and as slow as 10 WPM later. 10 WPM is considered Slow CW.

[@jbloodwo]

I think 15 might be about as fast as I could process then. 😢

[@KB4QAA]

@@jbloodwo Nothing wrong with 15 or even 10 wpm. CW is not a contest. Everyone has their own speed.

[@mgraemem]

I see a Collins R390(A).

[@chadcastagana9181]

1:08 Nostalgia is based on sentimentality, not utility! Or, it is so old, it is now new, novel, nouveau

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Mike U got tooooo many toys kg6mn

[@rogeronslow1498]

That rig has a lot of chirp.

[@wadepatton2433]

Could you help us understand how to avoid (or minimize) a chirpy/squawking CW signal? As an old ham getting back to his roots I'm only listening to CW now to rebuild my head-copy skills. But what I cannot listen to very long are the horrible sqawkers. Sure, it's better than chasing a signal up or down the band, and I can listen to a slightly distorted signal, but seems there's more and more "not so good" signals these days. I get that old and home-brew/simple gear TEND to sound less than spectacular, and I don't need perfect tones, but what I'm asking here is how to I/we build/rebuild our homebrew or vintage transmitters such that we get "decent" signals out of them. Sorry if this sound elitist or perfectionist, that's not it. I can't stand machine-perfect code either (fists always preferred) but that surely it's not terribly difficult to create a CW signal that doesn't vary so much as I'm hearing--of course especially in the QRP areas. Sure it's very easy to spin the dial past signals I don't care for, but also- I have some QRP gear/kits to play with. I don't want my signals to sound like that if I don't have to. Does all old gear or simple gear have to sound distorted? Thanks. 73 de W1ADE

[@wadepatton2433]

I do know enough to understand that voltage regulation as well as frequency stability are the major factors here. What I don't understand is how or why it sounds so difficult (by the signals heard on air) to accomplish. Hoping any one of my digital Elmers can shed some light onto this for me. Or maybe it's the "homebrew badge of honor" to have a squawky signal? anybody? Thanks.

[@usernamemykel]

Very much enjoyed the vid. I'd like to get into CW, so please suggest a key (make,model, new/old) and where to go online to learn CW. Many thnaks. 73 de N4ANO