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.
| Callsign | Name | Checkins | Joined | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G0NQZ | Peter | 85 | 10/16/13 | Silent Key | Assumed SK – 1/1/2023 |
| K0PJH | Patrick | 0 | 08/13/12 | Silent Key | |
| KB3TYZ | Big Ric | 969 | 05/11/14 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 7/20/2023 |
| KC2RIL | Ric | 27 | 02/04/13 | Silent Key | |
| KC2THO | Tom | 0 | 10/02/10 | Silent Key | |
| KC5GVT | Alfred | 408 | 04/11/16 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 10/31/2020 |
| KG7AYF | Richard | 0 | 12/06/13 | Silent Key | |
| KK4AMD | Don | 0 | 08/02/11 | Silent Key | |
| KM4QPS | David | 640 | 12/22/18 | Silent Key | |
| M3YCJ | Vi | 1 | 09/01/10 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 08/2024 |
| N0EBB | Don | 1515 | 10/10/19 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 1/8/2026 |
| N1FG | Gale | 0 | 05/21/11 | Silent Key | |
| N7LMV | Jerry #1 | 1078 | 07/24/11 | Silent Key | Mexico Silent Key – 1/6/2023 |
| N9OJC | John | 4 | 08/04/12 | Silent Key | |
| PD2WTD | Cyriel | 86 | 04/19/21 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 9/1/2025 |
| VE7PNN | Jack & Diane | 1148 | 03/15/15 | Silent Key | Silent Key – 3/27/2021 |
| VK5AVR | Ray | 0 | 02/11/11 | Silent Key | |
| WA4NFZ | Bob | 0 | 12/29/14 | Silent Key | |
| ZL2ADR | Andy | 0 | 02/01/10 | Silent 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.