1. Introduction

Sked Page is a real-time web application that helps SKCC members connect and schedule straight key CW QSOs with other operators. Think of it as your digital meeting place for arranging on-air contacts and chatting with fellow straight key enthusiasts.

Whether you're looking to work new SPCs, schedule a specific time for a QSO, or just chat with other SKCC members, the Sked Page brings our community together online. You can see who's currently active, send private messages, and coordinate your on-air activities all from one convenient location.

What You Can Do:

Chat in real-time with other SKCC members who are online
See who's currently online with their minutes of inactivity to gauge if they're actively monitoring
Send private messages to coordinate QSOs
View member information including SPC, QTH, and grid square
Stay updated with SKCC announcements and events
Access from your computer or mobile device

2. Sign Up

Getting started with the Sked Page is easy! Since this is an SKCC member service, you'll need to be a current member to create an account. If you're not already a member, visit www.skccgroup.com to join our community.

What You'll Need:

Your current amateur radio callsign
A valid email address for account verification

The sign-up process takes just a few minutes. We'll send a verification code to your email address to confirm your account. Once verified, you'll be ready to start connecting with other SKCC members online!

Don't worry - we'll automatically check that your information matches our membership database to keep the community secure and welcoming for all members.

3. Login

Once you've created your account, logging in is simple! Just use your callsign and the password you created during sign-up. Don't worry about capitalization for your callsign - we'll recognize it either way.

Login Information:

Callsign: Your amateur radio callsign (not case sensitive)
Password: The password you created (case sensitive)

Forgot Your Password?
No problem! Click the password reset link and we'll send a reset code to your registered email address. You'll be back online with your fellow SKCC members in no time.

A Note About Security:
We take your account security seriously and use modern password protection. Please choose a strong password and keep your login information private to help maintain a safe environment for all SKCC members.

4. Using the Sked Page

Once you're logged in, you'll see the main Sked Page interface. Here's what each area does to help you connect with other SKCC members:

Main Chat Tabs:

Everyone Tab: The main chat area where all logged-in members can see your messages and you can see theirs. This is perfect for general conversation, announcing you're looking for contacts, or coordinating group activities.
PM Tab: Private messaging area that appears when you want to send direct messages to specific operators. You can start a PM by clicking on a callsign in the Active Users list or by typing a callsign in the PM section.
Settings Tab: Your personal preferences and account settings. This tab gives you control over your Sked Page experience with options to customize notifications, appearance, and account information.

Right Sidebar Panels:

Active Users Panel: Shows all SKCC members currently online, along with their idle time - the number of minutes since they last moved their mouse over the Sked Page. Click on any callsign to start a private message or see more details about that operator.
Active SPCs Panel: Displays which states, provinces, and countries are currently represented by online members. Great for seeing if that SPC you need is active right now!
Member Lookup Panel: Search for specific SKCC members by callsign to see their information and activity status.

Header Information:

Date/Time Display: Shows current UTC time - essential for coordinating QSO times across different time zones.
Announcements: Important SKCC news, upcoming events, and special activities are displayed prominently at the top.
Connection Status: Shows your connection status and total number of users currently connected.
Enable PMs Checkbox: Located in the top-right area next to your welcome message. Control whether other users can send you private messages. When disabled, your callsign appears grayed out to other users, indicating you're not accepting new private conversations.

Message Features:

Callsign Highlighting: Your callsign is highlighted whenever someone mentions it in a message.
Clickable Callsigns: Click on any callsign in a message to quickly start a private conversation with that operator.
Auto-Away: After 61 minutes of inactivity, you'll be automatically marked as away to help others know you're not actively monitoring.

Settings Tab Features:

Email Reset: Update your email address for account notifications and password recovery. The system will verify your new email address before making the change.
Set Grid Square: Update your Maidenhead grid square location. This information is displayed to other users and helps with distance calculations for QSO planning.
Set On Air Name: Customize the name that appears with your callsign in the user interface. This is especially useful for clubs or operators who prefer a specific display name.
Password Reset: Change your account password securely. You'll need to verify the change via email for security.
Test Notification Audio: Test the audio notification sound that plays when your callsign is mentioned in messages. This helps ensure your speakers are working and the volume is appropriate.
Toggle Dark Mode: Switch between light and dark themes for the interface. Dark mode is easier on the eyes during long operating sessions and in low-light environments.

The interface is designed to be intuitive - just start typing in the message box to join the conversation, and explore the different areas to find the operators you'd like to work!

5. Solar Data

The Sked Page displays real-time solar data to help you assess current HF propagation conditions. This information is updated automatically every 60 minutes from https://www.hamqsl.com.

Understanding Solar Indices:

SSN (Sunspot Number): Count of visible sunspots. Higher numbers generally mean better HF propagation, especially on higher bands.
SFI (Solar Flux Index): Measure of solar radio emissions at 2800 MHz. Values above 100 indicate good propagation conditions.
A-Index: Daily average of geomagnetic activity. Lower is better - values below 10 indicate quiet conditions.
K-Index: 3-hour snapshot of geomagnetic activity. Scale is 0-9, with lower values indicating more stable conditions.

Color-Coded Indicators:
The solar data values are color-coded to help you quickly assess conditions:

Index	Good (Green)		Fair (Yellow)		Poor (Red)
Index	Light Mode	Dark Mode	Light Mode	Dark Mode	Light Mode	Dark Mode
SSN	> 100	> 100	50-100	50-100	< 50	< 50
SFI	> 150	> 150	100-150	100-150	< 100	< 100
A-Index	< 10	< 10	10-30	10-30	> 30	> 30
K-Index	< 3	< 3	3-5	3-5	> 5	> 5

Using Solar Data for QSOs:
These indicators help you make informed decisions about which bands to use:

High SSN/SFI: Better conditions on higher bands (20m, 15m, 10m)
Low A/K indices: More stable propagation, less signal fading
Poor conditions: Focus on lower bands (80m, 40m) which are less affected by solar activity

Remember that propagation is complex and these are just indicators. Local conditions, time of day, and seasonal variations all play important roles in HF propagation.

6. Handy Tricks

6.1 Zooming

The Sked page uses fonts small enough to keep the page compact, but it can make it harder to read for some operators. All three major browsers (Chrome, Firefox and IE) have the capability to zoom the text on a page while keeping the rest of the layout of the page intact.
To Zoom in (make text larger), press CNTL +. Press it again and again for even bigger text. Press CNTL - to unzoom. Press CNTL-0 to snap back to normal mode.
You may even find it useful to unzoom (less than 100% zoom) in some cases. If you have very nice monitor, try unzooming to 90% and see how you like it.
Note that on a Mac, use the "Command" key (⌘) instead of CNTL.

6.2 Emojis

You can copy emojis from this site and paste them into your messages. https://getemoji.com. 😁