The Mite Might if it had More Might

I got on 7.040 three evenings this week and CQed with the RockMite and had no luck.  Don’t forget the CW DX contest this weekend will bring a lot of stations out of the woodwork.

n7oc

I worked a low power mobile today in West Virginia.

Later a station called me from Ibaraki, Japan. They all seem to have fabulous stations with large arrays.

The bands seemed to be a bit better today, Stan.

n7oc

WOW, I thought I snagged Guam, KH2TJ/7 but then he said he was portable in a motel in Gold Beach, Oregon.

Nothing else to write home about, Stan.

n7oc

What a bust! Worked several on 7.0 mhz. today but a lot of strange stuff going on. Had a long rag chew with a fellow in Colorado, but when talking to another Ham in California, he dropped out like our economy.

Also missed the DX but managed to snag most of the RTTY boys.

Better luck next week.

Stan.

K5D? Nope.

Big pile-up tonight on K5D- another dxpedition ( 80m).  Qrp does not stand much chance I’m afraid.  I called a bit but I can only cheat a 5 KC split with the RIT on the KX-1.  He went to “EU only” so I gave up.  Earlier I worked another Japan and had a rough QSO with  A fellow in Texas that was putting up with lightening QRN.  Good for nothing RTTY bums are all over 80 tonight as well as 40.  BAH!

n7oc

I worked some stateside stuff today mostly on 20 meters, with one contact on 30 and one on 40 meters before the RTTY “Gentlemen” ended the fun. They now cover the entire band from top to bottom unshamedly! Even on the WARC bands.

Oh well, enuf of the sour grapes, at least Brian is doing very well with DX contacts.

Today I worked radio officer Andrew, maritime mobile en route near Jamaica, on an oil freighter cruising from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico. He was from Wales, UK, and has a nice picture of his ship on QRZ.COM under the call sign WW0MUT/MM. That was fun when he answered my CQ.

Also, Wayne, KB0PCI from Hopkins, Mn. was running QRP from his 7th floor apartment with an AEA Isopole Loop INSIDE his house.

Also worked W7FFF, Chief Radio Officer for 30 years aboard U.S. Merchant Marine ship and now lives in Phoenix, AZ.

There are some interesting folks out there, Stan.

Callsign Bingo

Boy I sure don’t know much about DX.  I squeaked out a contact with Brian- 7L1AZE… Wow, what a weird callsign… must be rare!  What’s this? Japan?  His name is “Brian”… Hmm  Foriegn licensees get issued these wacky calls in Japan I guess.  Live and learn.

Finally made a Q or 2

Well KPUG fixed their transmitter so no more excuses.  40M was bust thanks to RTTY all over the place but I got a bite on 80. At 0442z I answered a CQ from Ralph in Reno NV.  He only gave me a 339 so that was short.  I tried some calling and answering but got no more QSO’s so I went QRT to watch the tube with my harmonic.  Came back in to see what was happening on the bands and heard FW5RE calling CQ loud and clear with no answers on 3518 at 0743z.  I gave a shout and he came right back with a 559 and a 73… I thought he was in France but I guess it is a DXpedition in the South Pacific on some island (Wallis?  Never heard of it!).  Once again my KX-1 and four watts to the G5RV are doing business down under.

n7oc

“A DAY WITHOUT CW IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE”!

Stan.

n7oc

I used the K 1-4 today with the beam on 20 meters. Worked Korea. Finally passed the 1000 miles per watt today with that one. Missed Europe, and there was a pile up of big guns trying to work him, so I went to 40 when it got ugly. So it was Japan and Korea to Bellingham (KK7LK) and points east. Nothing over to the Pacific yet.

Will be off the air again tomorrow, and hopefully get to do some listening on Saturday, Stan.

PS, can you believe Rodger gave me a 335 report? Must have been ESP!