CVARC Winter Field Day is January 27th

January 8, 2024January 27, 2024

CVARC Winter Field Day is January 27th

Save the date – Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club will hold its Winter Field Day event at Dos Vientos Park, 4801 Borchard Road, Newbury Park, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on the air, outdoor fun during winter for American, Canadian, and international radio amateurs. Don’t let those winter doldrums keep you locked up in the house. Get out and play some radio!

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024

Hand Keys in January 2024

By Norm Campbell – AB6ET

It’s that time of year when hand keys, Morse Code, and the way it was on CW is on the air again.

Every year on New Year’s Day it’s SKN, Straight Key Night sponsored by the ARRL. Everyone is encouraged to get on the air for the special event, not a contest, simply to talk with others using hand keys of some type.

Straight keys are considered to be regular hand keys, cootie keys, bugs, and even makeshift keys such as wires, beer can tops, and paper clips. I know paper clips are used because I talked with John-WI6O who was using just such an arrangement.