Click here to read about my newest project.  It can provide both 6.3 and 12.6 VAC for filaments and B+ between 275 – 300 VDC.  And it’s very inexpensive, even with all new parts.  Click pictures to view.

REMINDER:  The next regular meeting will be held on Saturday, February 5, at the East Fishkill Community Library.  Social time begins at 10:00 a.m. and the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.  Pete, N2YJZ will present ARRL field operations.  There will be hot coffee and tea.  In the event of inclement weather, our policy is as follows:  if the library is open the we meet; if the library is closed, the meeting is cancelled. 

The Microlite Penguins DXpedition team will be activating the South Orkney Islands (DXCC VP8/O, IOTA AN-008) from January 27 to February 8, 2011. Safe and reliable Antarctic transportation has been secured by the experienced RV Braveheart, and activity will be on all HF bands 160m-10m using SSB, CW and RTTY. http://www.vp8o.com
 
Operators will be K9ZO, ND2T, 9V1YC, K0IR, N1DG, N0AX, W3WL, N6MZ, I8NHJ, N4GRN, WB9Z, W7EW and VE3EJ. This will be the team’s fourth time activating an entity in the Antarctic region and fifth DXpedition overall. You may recognize most of the callsigns from the group’s past operations, but we’ve also added several new members to the team, all of whom have been on DXpeditions to some of the world’s rarest entities.
 
Those who have enjoyed our operations over the last 8 years may recall that our methods and philosophy are somewhat different from other DXpeditions. Though our overall goal is still to provide a new DXCC entity on as many bands and modes as possible, we also strive to increase the fun factor by focusing on operational simplicity and radio skill.

The two-hour Straight Key Sprint (SKS) occurs monthly on the fourth Wednesday starting at 0000 UTC. You need to adjust for standard or daylight savings time and your time zone offset to determine your local time for this event.

The goal of SKS is to work as many stations as possible during the sprint period using a mechanical key approved by the rules of the Straight Key Century Club. These include straight keys, sideswipers (Cooties) and bugs. Exceptions are granted to those with physical disabilities that prevent the use of such keys. Please be reminded that although it is a contest, the SKS is rather informal, and has as its main objective to bring together operators with different skill levels. Operating speed should be adjusted accordingly.

Please send SKS comments/suggestions to sks-manager at skccgroup dot com.

This Month’s Sprint  

The January Straight Key Sprint falls on the 26th (UTC) running from 0000 – 0200Z. K3Y anniversary stations will serve as bonus stations for this sprint. Participating stations may make contact with any K3Y station, however, only one K3Y contact may be counted as a bonus contact on a given contest band. As always, spotting assistance is not permitted for the SKS. See the complete SKS rules below.

Looking forward to hearing you on the Straight Key Sprint!

Call for Bonus Station Operators

Operators interested in working the SKS as a bonus station at some point during the year, please drop me a note at the above comments/suggestions email address. There is no obligation involved in indicating your interest. I’ll contact one or more operators a week or so before a sprint to firm up arrangements.

Bonus stations may operate under their own callsign or may use the club call (US stations only), K9SKC, for the sprint. Please let me know if you have a preference of when during the year you might be available and if you would put the club call on the air or prefer to use your own.

Thanks!