[RTTY] [GreenKeys] RE: "Straight key night" for RTTY

[Phil Sussman]

If the primary focus is to promote QSOs on RTTY then I believe that the 
solution is simplicity itself.

Get on the air, just to say howdy, or rag-chew, or QSO with whatever pleases 
you. If it's 850z shift -or- older mechanical machines -or- that old Commodore 
VIC-20 with a Hamsoft cartridge -or- whatever. Forget formality or format. Yep, 
remember those old RTTY pioneers and experience your own 'pioneering'.

If you've wanted to play with RTTY for the first time or the thousandth time, 
here is an opportunity to have fun and gain some enjoyment. No pressure to 
compete -- no logging programs, robots, or multipliers. Those have their own 
time and place. 

Competing with "Straight key night" is competing ... While there may be 'room' 
there will also be conflict -- let's avoid that if possible. Feb. 20 is 
significant, but Feb. 20, 2009 is a Friday. Perhaps some time on New Year's Day.

Comments -- pro and con -- welcome.

Thanks,

73 de Phil - N8PS

--------------

Quoting Jim Haynes <jhhaynes at earthlink.net>:

> When we were doing this [Green Key Night] some years back we were doing it 
> on Feb 20, the anniversary of legalizing FSK on the HF bands in the U.S.
> There were no rules, just get on the air and have fun and remember the
> RTTY pioneers, but participants were urged to use mechanical teleprinters
> if possible, vacuum tube gear if possible, and 850 Hz shift if possible.
> 
> The event never turned out to be very popular, probably because Feb 20
> falls on a week night most years.  And the original grant of FSK
> privileges started at midnight local time, so the prime time for operating
> was the following night, still  Feb. 20 but ending at midnight.
> 
> The original date for FSK operation was Feb 20, 1953, so next year will
> be the 56th anniversary.
> 
> Another thought would be a QSO party or contest where use of mechanical
> TTY gear is required, or gets extra points.  Would you want to require
> vacuum tube gear?  850 Hz shift?
> 
> On Sun, 7 Dec 2008, Roy Morgan wrote:
> 
> >
> > On Dec 7, 2008, at 12:55 PM, wa3frp at aol.com wrote:
> >
> >> Yes - this is a great idea and I am very interested in participating.
> >
> > How about having a side event to the normal Straight Key Night?  Run it the
> 
> > same times as the SK night.  RTTY signals in their normal spots on the band
> 
> > or bands would hopefully not offend the cw guys a lot.  We'd be unlikely to
> 
> > ovewhelm the bands so as to cause trouble.
> >
> > Roy
> >
> > Roy Morgan
> > k1lky at earthlink.net
> > 529 Cobb St.
> > Groton NY, 13073
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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