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The Straight Key Century Club (SKCC) is the fastest growing group of mechanical-key CW operators in the world. First organized in January 2006, our club has grown rapidly to include thousands of members from all corners of the globe.

Here's how it works:

• Membership is free.
• SKCC is open to any interested licensed radio amateur.
• SKCC numbers are issued for life. Once you get it, it's yours.
• Exchange SKCC numbers using a straight key, bug, or side swiper

To receive an SKCC number, click on the Request SKCC Number link at left. If you are helping someone who wants to join but doesn't use email, download a snail-mail application here.

What's New...

Updates to W5ZR's two SKCC logging programs!

W5ZR's free SKCC Tracker Program v 5.02 represents a big-fix upgrade. In addition Bert has updated his SKCC Sprinter program to v. 1.50. This upgrade improves the program's ability to read frequencies off of some radios and now allows it to read frequencies off of additional rigs.

Bert highly recommends replacing pre-5.00 versions of the Tracker with v. 5.02. If you have v. 5.00 installed, you only have to download one file, not the full package. Upgrades to both programs are available in the Files and Download section of the SKCC web site. See the navigation column at left, under Member Services, for a link to the page.

From the Sked Page of K3UK comes Elmers on the Air

If you're seeking help with your code skills, try out a new section of K3UK's sked page dedicated to SKCC Elmers and their "padawans." What's an Elmer, you ask? Click here for a summary.

SKCC's heading to Dayton Hamvention? Volunteers needed!

Ron, AC2C, has been having discussions with the Dayton Hamvention Inside Exhibits Chairman and has made arrangements to get a one-time (no guarantee for next year) booth provided to us in the North Hall.

The booth would provide us a place to meet, hand out an information brochure, and provide information about SKCC to the attendees as they pass by.

One catch, though: By contract with Hara Arena, the booth MUST be staffed during normal business hours:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Sunday

That's a total of 20 hours that we need to provide coverage of the booth and Ron needs to be able to commit to having the booth staffed before he can complete the agreement.

Sign-ups have been going well, but more volunteers are still needed.

So...if you are planning to attend the Dayton Hamvention, May 18th-20th, 2012, and you would be willing to provide at least an hour of sitting the booth, please send Ron an email or use the sign-up sheet he's posted on in the Files section of the SKCC's Yahoo group.

Ethan Foley, KB1WMR, volunteers as an SKCC Elmer

Ethan was first licensed in January but has recently ugraded to General class. His code speed is variable (up to 13 wpm) and his key is willing to help others new to the ways of Morse code. For more on Ethan's background and to contact him for an Elmer sked, use the Morse Elmers link in the navigation column at left, under Member Services.

Get 'em while they're hot -- new SKCC t-shirts!

Summer's coming (except for those of us winter forgot), and Astrid's Embroidery has unveiled SKCC t-shirts. They come in black or white, either with the logo discretely printed over the place a pocket would be if the shirt had a pocket, or displayed across the front of the shirt as a bold statement. A link to Astrid's SKCC hats and shirts appears below in the SKCC Shopping Mall section, but to save you a trip to the bottom of the page, here's a link to the SKCC merchandise. Just in time for Dayton???

Straight Key Sprint-Europe: Thursday, June 7, 2012, from 1900-2100 UTC

The next SKS-E starts in: 2012-6-7 19:00:00 GMT+00:00

You can find the current results here.

Weekend Sprintathon: Sunday, June 10, 2012, from 0000-2359 UTC

You can find a recap of the May WES scoring rules here.

The next WES starts in: 2012-6-10 00:00:00 GMT+00:00

You can find the May WES results here.

Straight Key Sprint - Wednesday, May 23, from 0000-0200 UTC

The next SKS starts in: 2012-5-23 00:00:00 GMT+00:00

You can finds the current results here.

Odds 'n' Ends

Looking For A Sked?

Many SKCC'ers have asked for a simple, convenient way to schedule QSOs  with other members -- without having to learn or install new software. So, Andy, K3UK, #1325, and Joe, N8FQ, put their creative heads together and developed a simple,web-based scheduling utility for SKCC members. This is a FUN and FRIENDLY place. New members and beginners are encouraged to join in the fun too! No commands to learn, no mickey-mousing around with new software. The system simply asks you to provide some basic info about yourself and, voil\E1, you get a list of all SKCC members looking for some cw fun! Can't get any easier than that! Nice job guys!  Go to the K3UK Sked Page link under Member Services at left.

SKCC Files & Downloads Section

Looking for SKCC related software? Download club related software free. Programs like W5ZR's SKCC Awards tracker. If you are a software author and have club or CW related programs to contribute, please contact the webmaster@skccgroup.com See the Files and downloads under Member services at left.

What's an SKCC Elmer?

We have all faced the daunting task of firing-up the radio for that first CW contact. Now you can take that shaky, uncertain hand and turn it into a confident, firm fist with the help of our group of SKCC Morse Code Elmers. Simply click on the Morse Elmers link in the navigation column at left, choose from the list of Elmers, send him or her an email requesting a sked, and before you know it you'll be enjoying the thrill of sending and receiving solid CW. Or you can visit the Elmer sked page and see who already is on the air. You'll find that page here. The SKCC Elmer Manager is Jeff K9JP.

Can You Spare a Key For a Good Cause?

Condsider supporting the Halfway House for Keys program, run by a group of hams led by Michael Aretsky, N6MQL, SKCC 5051. The program provides free or very-low-cost straight keys, bugs, and cootie keys to young, newly licensed amateur radio operators who have shown an interest in using CW. The goal of the group is to keep Morse code alive and working on the air.  All recipients are required to use their donated keys for at least one hour a week on the air, not just with a practice oscillator. They also are required to meet minimum guidelines to receive a key.

If you would like to donate a spare straight key, bug, or cootie key in any condition, or if you have keys' parts you would like to donate, Mike's group would be very grateful for your contribution. Keys and spare parts can go directly to Mike at:

N6MQL Halfway House for Keys Program
5543 Tierra Gardens Lane
Carmichael, CA  95608

If you have no keys to spare, cash works. You can donate directly though PayPal at halfwayhouse@pncengineering.com. All of the money collected pays for parts that have not been donated or for postage, which we pay if a recipient can't pay for it. NONE of the money is kept by the Halfway House members for personal use.

If you have any questions about the program, would like to donate a key or parts, or would like to be considered as a reciepient for key donation, please do not hesitate to email Mike at n6mql@arrl.net.

SKCC Shopping Mall

So now you've joined SKCC, you have your mechanical sending device, radios, antennae, and other station accessories. But do you have the SKCC "look"? Here are some gift ideas you might think about when gift-giving/receiving time arrives. Why not stop by some of the vendors who are providing SKCC-related gear and do a little virtual window shopping?

For an SKCC name badge, stop by the SignMan of Baton Rouge, purveyor of the SKCC badge shown at left. Drop the proprietor, Rick, an email if you're interested in pinning one on your pocket. His website is still being rebuilt (along with his home) after hurricane Gustav a couple of years ago. And the house has priority over the website. So he'll have to email you ordering instructions.

If embroidered hats are your thing, visit Asterid's Embroidery and Quilts for a look at some au courant SKCC chapeaus! If you've got hair, complement it with a like-colored hat. If you don't have hair, well, protect that dome! Finally, for items ranging from mugs and water bottles for hiking or biking, to, shall we say, unique garments, visit Cafe Press.