[50mhz] QSO's and Band Openings - Food for thought

[Dave, K2DP]

It occurred to me today while listening to a nice "sporadic-e" band opening to Florida from the mid-west, that folks are so keen on running pile ups, that they are failing to keep the "ham" in ham radio !!!!! Conditions were solid for better than an hour and yet when in QSO with a particular station in Florida, the only words I could get this OM to utter were "5x9, EL 96" !!!! This was disappointing in that each QSO on 6 meters, is an opportunity to meet another ham who has precisely the same interests and high degree of patience and persistence that you do, just validated by the mere fact that you are both 6 meter enthusiasts !!! While achieving WAS or DXCC on the HF bands might take an active amateur 12-24 months, this might represent a life time endeavor for a 6 meter amateur !!!!!! Those of us who are avid 6 meter enthusiasts are a fraternity within the fraternity of Amateur Radio ! Let's at least take the time to introduce ourselves to one another by name and provide a little bit of information about ourselves such as our actual QTH (we don't address snail mail to EL 96 , do we ?), etc. After all, even during the outstanding DX openings on 6 meters to JA in December , 2001, we had the time to exchange our "handles and QTH" and still work plenty of stations. As another example, listen to world renowned DX-er, Martti Lane, OH2BH, when he runs a pile up on 20 meters ( not a contest) and note the courtesy that he extends to each amateur he works by introducing himself as Martti and giving his QTH, etc, in addition to the signal report of the station he is working !!!!  Let's have fun on the air and let's enjoy those great 6 meter band openings when they occur, but let's also take the time to get to know one another better. Friendships make amateur radio the great and strong hobby that it is. 

Thanks for the bandwidth, 73 & c u on 6 meters.....Dave, K2DP (ex-WB2PMP), University City, MO