I vividly remember MY first Novice DX contact in 1981.
I was running an SB-102, HP-23, & SP-600 rig. To get on 15 mtrs I was
using an 11 mtr ground plane (5/8 wave), with a homebrew tuner.
I was in the novice segment, called CQ, and got a SSB voice reply from a
Mr. Harry Adcock, ZL2MM, North Island, Masterton, New Zealand.
Obviously being a VERY excited novice, I fell all over myself with the
key. Errors all over the place. Mr. Adcock was VERY tolerant! We went
on for around 20 - 30 minutes. It was VERY satisfying and delightful,
in spite of my having to repeatedly send the "error" character!
Bob - N0DGN
Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:
My funny novice story has to do with my first CW contact. I'm a newbie
compared to most, licensed in March of 1983. Shortly thereafter I
spoke with a VE3 station for what I thought was 20 minutes or so, all
shakey and nervous and using the 'dit-dit-dit-dit-dit-dit-' error
signal many a time. My YL of the day was downstairs talking with my
mom (she apparently got bored). Later she asked me if I knew how long
I had spent on the contact. I said 'sure, about 20 minutes'. She
rolled her eyes and said 'try 2 HOURS'.
*shrug* It was still fun. A used ricebox 101EE piped to a 40 meter
antenna I made myself, keyed with el-cheapo imitation brass Ratshack
key screwed to a couple of wooden slats taped with duct tape to a
heavy piece of truck leaf spring steel found in the road in front of
my house. I still have the key and antenna.
DX(sortakinda?) on my first try!
de Todd/'Boomer' KA1KAQ
--
Bob Bethman - N0DGN
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| N0DGN AMRadio Manassas, VA | REAL Tube Radio and AM |
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