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This weekend I “participated” in the NC QSO party. I’m normally not a contester, but since it’s a local thing for me (being in NC) I decided to work a few QSO party stations. Just to make it a little more interesting, I decided to use a straight key for the event.
I have keyers and use them. But, I like to use a straight key sometimes. My straight key is not your grandfather’s straight key. I toss the 45 year old Bencher paddle over on its side, clamp a big ole iron Bessey wood clamp onto the base, switch the wires around on the bottom of it – and – voila – a straight key is made.
Now, a straight key does not make for a high score. Neither does taking most of the afternoon off to go to a park for a stroll with the XYL in the unusually warm weather. I managed 107 slowish QP contacts, and a few of the rarer counties, but it’s good only to submit as a check log of course. But, I had some fun of the CW kind – the best there is!
WB8LZR 