2021 Straight Key Night Results

摘要

ARRL Contest Program Manager Amateurs from around the world look forward to Straight Key Night (SKN) with much anticipation, whether they participate every year or for the first time. As we said farewell to 2020, 214 participants logged over 1,600 contacts during the event. For some lucky participants, SKN 2021 was extra special, as several ARRL staff activated W1 AW for the event. ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, operated on 40 meters, while ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, operated the 20-meter station. Additionally, ARRL Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, operated on 80 meters using the W1 AW call from the ARRL Headquarters club station, W1HQ. Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, W1AW Station Manager, said the Headquarters staff used some special keys during the event. Minster used Hiram Percy Maxim's straight key from Hiram's rotary spark-gap transmitter "Old Betsy," Inderbitzen used the Begali key replica of one of Hiram's straight keys, and Hare used W1 AW's J-38 key. In all, W1 AW completed 173 contacts on the three bands. Carcia added that due to the pandemic, access to the facilities were limited and no more than one operator was present at any given time.