Amateur Radio - south of the Waitaki - Terminology, Silent Key

Amateur Radio - south of the Waitaki

Terminology - "Silent Key"

The term "Silent Key" is well known in amateur circles and indicates that an amateur has passed away.

Of course in the early years of amateur radio the only method of communication was by the sending and receiving of morse code, sometimes known as CW for "Continuous Wave".

Morse in those early days was always sent using a hand operated key so when an amateur died it was usual to say "ZL4.. is now a silent key".

This term has stood the test of time and remains in use even now in todays world of modern electronic technology.