ARRL - Straight Key Night
I began participating in the ARRL annual SKN event. The yearly event gives me the opportunity to test and repair my vintage equipment. For the 2018 SKN event I purchased a Heathkit DX-60A at the 2016 HamCom. I was told it was in working condition but it was not. Given my experience with the Heathkit DX-60A purchase, I now plan to homebrew equipment for this annual event or use another boat anchor on my shelf. The pictures below show what I have operated over several years.
For the 2024 SKN I am using a WRL Globe Scout Model 680 transmitter and a Yaesu FRG-7 reciever. The FRG-7 powered up with no issues :) I replaced the electolytic capacitors in the Globe Scout prior to the contest. For the two 700v capacitors I used two 47uf 450v capacitors in series, and 47k 2w balancing resistors. The only 80M crystal I could find in my junk box was a Signal Corps FT-171B, so it was jumper cabled to an FT-243 to HC-6 adapter. I was able to tune up the Globe Scout to around 30 watts to an Opek HVT-600 mobile antenna with a ground spike and two 33 ft radials.
2023 was a busy year working
as a cyber security consultant. For the 2023 SKN I am using a TenTech
Century 21. I purchased it at the
Cowtown Ham fest several years back. The Century 21 will be driving my
homebrew Bravo-7KR @ 30 watts on 20 and 40 meters.
For the 2022 SKN I am using a Heathkit HW-99 I took off my shelf. The HW-99 is attached to an Autek Research QF-1 audio filter, and the Autek is driving a homebrew CW tuned speaker. The HW-99 is attached to the Drake W-4 watt meter and the antenna is a Novice 90. I put up the new Novice 90 antenna because if fits on my post stamp HOA lot.
Prior to the contest I tested the Heathkit HW-99. After my HW-99 warms up for about 30 minutes, I do not experience VHO drift as mentioned on other websites. However I began encountering another issue. The RF output started to decrease during QSOs. I reached out to Robert Suption a retired Heathkit technician who recommended I use a fan to cool the back of the heat sink. I tried this out to no avail until I moved the fan to the top right of the HW-99 as depicted in the picture. Robert Suption has a YouTube video on the power output issue, and I let him know how I solved mine.
For the 2021 SKN I am using a Drake 2-B receiver and a Knight T-60 transmitter. The Drake 2-B is attached to an Autek Research QF-1 audio filter, and the Autek is driving a homebrew CW tuned speaker. The crystal socket on the Knight T-60 is attached to a WA1FFL VFO to eliminate crystals. The antenna connections from the Drake 2-B and Knight T-60 are attached to a Johnson T/R Switch model 250-39, and the antenna connector on the Johnson T/R switch connects to the Drake W-4 watt meter. I purchased the Autek and Johnson T/R switch from an estate sale and repaired them prior to SKN. I replaced the Autek power cord with a polarized cord, cleaned the two potentiometers, and replaced the mica safety capacitors with Class-Y caps. I also replaced the power cord on the Johnson T/R switch with a polarized cord, replaced the electrolytic capacitors, and added Class-Y safety capacitors. Due to winter storm conditions, I am using a Outbacker Perth antenna mounted to the XYL's metal outdoor table :).
For the 2020 SKN I used a homebrew single tube transmitter I put together during 2019. The transmitter is based on W7QQQ Jack Meadow's TGTP design using a 6GB6GA beam powered pentode. This transmitter puts out 15 Watts. I used a cake pan for the chassis and power it with a Drake AC-4 power supply. The majority of the parts came from my junk box including the 6GB6GA. I used a 7.117Mhz crystal during the SKN contest and found this to be challenging, because you are rock bound to a single frequency. Still with a single crystal, I was able to snag 3 contacts the afternoon prior to SKN, 2 the evening of 12-31 CST, and 1 contact the morning of 1-1 CST before spending the day with the lovely XYL. Due to VFO challenges with a TGTP transmitter, the plan for SKN 2021 is to front end the 6GB6GA with master oscillator using a 6V6 or 6AG6 so I can use the WA1FFL VFO.
The picture above is my 2019 SKN setup. I built the 6T9 CW transmitter during 2018. It is powered by the Heathkit IP-32 regulated power supply @ 285V. The receiver is a Drake 2C and the speaker is a Drake 2-CQ with a Q-multiplier. The box above the Drake 2C is a homebrew TR switch based on AD5X's design, and the wattmeter is a Drake W4. I plan to purchase a Oak Hills Research WM-2 in the near future to get more accurate power readings when operating QRP.
I only made a single contact on the 6T9 CW transmitter after many CQs. I replaced it with the Drake 2NT and used it for the remainder of the SKN contest. The plan is to use the 6T9 transmitter during NAQCC sprints, other QRP events, or when Solar Cycle 25 begins to peak. For additional details on the 6T9 CW transmitter click on the 6T9 XMTR button above.
The picture above is my 2018 SKN setup. The Heathkit DX-60A is the transmitter I purchased at the 2016 HamCom event after repairs. The DX-60A is attached to my Novice Heathkit HG-10B. The receiver is a Drake 2-A and the speaker is a Drake 2-CQ. The box on top of the Drake 2-CQ is a homebrew QSK TR switch based on AD5X's design.
My 2017 ARRL SKN setup is depicted above. It is a Drake TR-4, MS-4 Speaker, W-4 Watt Meter, AC-4 Power supply. I was operated during the 2017 SKN event with only two 6JB6 final vacuum tubes, because prior to the contest tuning up the transmitter was erratic. I had a few minutes to troubleshoot and discovered one of the three 6JB6 vacuum tubes was not within the .1 to .2 volt range (pin 3). I removed the vacuum tube, but had to compensate by slamming the LOAD control to maximum capacitance to tune up. The TR-4 did load up and I operated that evening. I have since repaired the final section with a new matching 6JB6 vacuum tube.
The picture above is my 2016 ARRL SKN setup. It is the Drake 2-NT transmitter, Drake 2-C receiver, Drake 2-CQ speaker, Drake W-4 and WA1FFL VFO. I purchased the WA1FFL VFO from James Hagerty at the 2014 Dayton Hamvention and built it the same year. The WA1FFL VFO Kit is sitting on top of the Drake 2-NT. The RF output from the WA1FFL is attached to one of the crystal sockets on the front of the Drake 2-NT. The crystal plug was a dead 27MHZ crystal, so I repurposed the crystal as a HC-6 plug by gutted it and attached the pins to a coaxial cable. This novice setup is a real pleasure to operate and it has never required repairs.
For the 2014 SKN, I used my first amateur radio I built and operated as a Novice. It is the Heathkit HW-16, HG-10B, and a J38 straight key. I purchased the Drake MS-4 and W-4 after I passed my General Class License many years ago. I used this setup during the 2014 and 2015 ARRL SKN. The only repairs I have made to the Heathkit HW-16 over several decades is replacing the electrolytic capacitors, a new 6GE5 vacuum tube, and an open 1mH RF choke.