Our Silent Keys

What is a Silent Key (SK)?

Silent Key is a dignified term going back to wired telegraphy, adopted in the early days of ham radio when only Morse code was used to honor a CW operator whose key will not be heard again.  This tradition has carried over into modern times when voice, video and data have been added to the amateur radio repertoire.  Considering the prosign SK (…  -.-) as “end of transmission,” the double meaning of SK is very fitting.

Our Coffee Shop Silent Keys

As of 1/8/2026 Our Coffee Shop has lost 19 members due to death since it’s inception in February 2010.  The silent keys listed below appear in the alphabetical order.

CallsignNameCheckinsJoinedStatusNote
G0NQZPeter8510/16/13Silent KeyAssumed SK – 1/1/2023
K0PJHPatrick008/13/12Silent Key 
KB3TYZBig Ric96905/11/14Silent KeySilent Key – 7/20/2023
KC2RILRic2702/04/13Silent Key 
KC2THOTom010/02/10Silent Key 
KC5GVTAlfred40804/11/16Silent KeySilent Key – 10/31/2020
KG7AYFRichard012/06/13Silent Key 
KK4AMDDon008/02/11Silent Key 
KM4QPSDavid64012/22/18Silent Key 
M3YCJVi109/01/10Silent KeySilent Key – 08/2024
N0EBBDon151510/10/19Silent KeySilent Key – 1/8/2026
N1FGGale005/21/11Silent Key 
N7LMVJerry #1107807/24/11Silent KeyMexico Silent Key – 1/6/2023
N9OJCJohn408/04/12Silent Key 
PD2WTDCyriel8604/19/21Silent KeySilent Key – 9/1/2025
VE7PNNJack & Diane114803/15/15Silent KeySilent Key – 3/27/2021
VK5AVRRay002/11/11Silent Key 
WA4NFZBob012/29/14Silent Key 
ZL2ADRAndy002/01/10Silent Key 

SK Don Sandin (N0EBB)

Don’s obituary can be found HERE.

From Jerry (K6FN) 1/8/2026

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the addition of another name to our Silent Key members.

Apparently our dear friend Don N0EBB (our Thrusday morning moderator) had a heart attack and passed away within the last few hours. Don was a great friend and he will be sorely missed by Our Coffee Shop family and by all of his friends and family. This saddens me a great deal because he and I were very close. We had so many things in common and had lots of great conversations along the way.

So please keep Don and his family in your prayers and that God will provide comfort and Solace during this sad time.
God’s blessings on his soul!

Don’s coffee shop stats

1st Checkin on 9/30/2019.  Jack VE7PNN was moderator (now a SK)
Became a member on 10/10/2019.
Became a moderator on 3/25/2021
Don has moderated 242 nets
Don has a total of 1511 checkins to our nets

Silent Key Tribute Recordings

Below are audio recordings of Silent Key Tributes that have been conducted during one of Our Coffee Shop nets.

Silent Key Tribute from 2023 Marathon Celebration by K6FN