[CQ-Contest] Humour, straight keys - and bands you aren't set up for...

[Tree]

I always enjoy tying two threads together, but I think I can do better
this time.  I had stopped reading the cq-contest threads, but I tuned
into a conversation on 75 meters and someone mentioned there were still
some good posts being made.

I think Mal's idea of using straight keys is a great one.  It reminds me
of something a few of us did back about 10 years ago - operating the 
CW Sprint with bugs or handkeys - no computers or even memory keyers.
Although - some were not amused - but I have strayed from my point...

So - in order to provide everyone some practice before the great handkey
shootout on New Year's Eve, I offer you the Stew Perry Topband Distance 
Challenge (a.k.a, The Topband Distance Stew Perry Challenge).

Don't have a 160 meter antenna?  No problem!! Here are some easy to folllow
instructions on how to make one:

http://lists.contesting.com/_topband/2006-12/msg00161.html

And - to help encourage activity at the more sane CW Speeds - we will once
again be sponsoring a plaque for the highest score that maintains a code
speed not greater than 18 WPM for the duration of the contest.  This 
plaque was won last year by that very humourless person N5OT himself!!

How's that for bringing the thread back to its source?

You can find out more about this great warm-up for SKN by tuning your
web browser to http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/stew.html.  It takes place
just two days before big the SKN event.  After the Stew, you can chop up 
the 160 meter antenna and make a neato phased array for your sked on 
10.103 MHz.

73 Tree N6TR/7
Boring, OR
tree at kkn.net

PS: As a reward of reading this whole post - here is a secret photo of
the guy who made that 160 meter wire antenna as he is about to solder
the wires to the ground side of the SO-239.

http://www.kkn.net/~tree/misc_pictures/hampics/k3lr_irons.jpg