Posted: 2/23/2011 6:41:11 AM EDT
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On my rig. I did some 20m for field day on another guys rig, but this is on my rig. 20m Ohio to Oklahoma right along the gray line. 49 to go for WAS!
I tried to board the failboat of the 80m phone net to no avail. |
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My first HF QSO was on 17m from LA to CA. Nice chat with one of the elder statesman of the hobby. And thank you for the warm welcome. To this day 17m is still one of my favorite bands. On the 1 year anniversary of that QSO I'll send the gentleman a letter thanking him for the welcome. That happened last April and I still remember it like is was yesterday.
Just wait till the DX bug bites. Cuba and Canada are easy. Once you work most of S. America you start looking for EU then it's keeping an eye for anything you haven't worked before. Catching one before the pileup starts just makes it that much better. In the meantime start on WAS. Think DX on a smaller scale. From OH you may have to stay up a bit later to hit all the West Coast stations and get on the air a bit earlier for East Coast. AK and HI can be tough depending on propagation. Worthwhile to spend the time to 'figger out when the sunspot cycle and MUF come together to make those contacts. Some states have a scarcity of hams and nailing a 'rare one' is a treat. 10 months to finally find DE on 20m PSK. AK was easier. HF is a hoot. I probably spend 90% on HF and 10% on VHF. VHF is a different animal. I joke with the wife that it's easier for me to make a contact halfway across the planet than halfway across town. If all else fails, pick a band and start calling CQ. You never know who will respond. |