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Straight Key Century Club |
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Written by John P. King, KB3WK
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 Want a new way to have some QRP fun? Think about introducing yourself to the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC). There is even an SKCC QRP award! SKCC is a rapidly growing organization that promotes the use of CW sent with a straight key. The group promotes the spirit of Straight Key Night year round. As of 24 November 2007, SKCC has 3,679 members. In addition to having just plain fun in members working other like-minded hams with old fashioned J-38's, Vibroplex bugs, and other manual implements of CW generation, the Club sponsors achievement awards and operating events and contests . . .
Contacting 100 SKCC members earns the SKCC Centurion award. There are endorsements such as single band and 5-band. There is also an SKCC WAS award. QSO’s must be made using a straight key or a bug (Side swipers are a cross between a bug and a straight key so are also accepted). SKCC-credit contacts may be made between members holding a membership number anytime, but the club formally celebrates Straight Key Night monthly, in addition to the annual one. Lots of activity on the 1st of the month! Any amount of legal power is allowed, though there is a QRP class. Basically, the QRP Award is earned on a points system: there are 1XQRP and 2XQRP Awards, and there is a points distribution based on band, to encourage use of certain bands and recognize the relative difficulty. Tribune status is achieved when a Centurion makes contact and exchanges SKCC Numbers and Name with 50 different SKCC Centurions and Tribunes. SKCC holds frequent contests, as well. Basically, the regular contests are the following:
- SKCC Sprints (SKS)
monthly, weekday, two-hour event
- SKCC Weekend Sprint-a-thon
24 hours of Straight Key Fun
For the Sprint-a-thon, here is no slot window anymore unless the theme requires one; i.e. work as much of the 24 hours as you can.
Like any ham radio contest, in addition to the opportunity to excel in competition, there is the chance to earn credit toward the operating awards.
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