[ADXA] Solving Life's Problems

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

Its pretty crazy out in the world today, I can no longer watch a news
program, or what is called a news program these days and Kim no longer
allows me to watch the weather because of the foul language I use
describing the TV personalities masquerading as meteorologists trying to
convince you they can forecast the weather amid all of the Facebook
photos of pretty sunsets and tweets they show. 

What's a old curmudgeon like me to do? What I have done ever since I was
13 years old to recalibrate my mind, forget all of life's problems and
refocus and that is to get on the air and work a few stations, pick up
some DX or whatever the day's adventure on the air brings. 

I've had a pretty tough few weeks personally and
professionally.....nothing unexpected in the game of life, just the game
of life. I have always been a morning person. I really love the quite
time before sunrise with a nice cup of coffee, one of life's pleasures I
truly enjoy. I also enjoy having the radio on as well and listening for
some rare signals from the distant lands of the orient and southeast
Asia on 40, 80 and 160 meters. Just something about it that is still
very magical to me! 

So, this morning I am having my coffee, pondering life and listening on
160 meters which was pretty dead then I see a spot for XV9D on 80
meters, 3501 KHz. I needed Vietnam on 80, it is one of only 16 DXCC
countries I don't have on 80 meters. The XV9D op is Mats, SM6LRR who has
been there before and I know he is only running an inverted Vee about 30
feet high with no receive antennas. Since 160 was dead and we were in
the gray line right about our sunrise I thought "what the heck", I'll go
down and listen. To my surprise, I could hear him.....VERY WEAK but Q5
although some QSB. Sadly, he had a JA pileup so ugly it had hair all
over it. Well, I can't resist and started calling but knew it would be
fruitless through the JA's. Then, Mats stopped and called only for
NA!!!! The JA's are some of the most polite hams around. When the DX
calls for a specific area other than theirs, they stop (unlike some
other areas of the world, including USA!). There were about a dozen west
coast USA stations calling and I about fell out of my chair when he came
back to me!!! #325 on 80 meters is now in the log AND Mats has already
uploaded to LoTW so it is now confirmed!!! 

I had an email exchange with Mats today and he sent me a photo of his
inverted Vee antenna (see attached). So, after nabbing a new one on 80
this morning then attending my youngest granddaughter's Thanksgiving
program at school this morning, life isn't so bad after all.....in the
grand scheme of reality, LIFE'S PROBLEMS SOLVED!!! 

There is DX on the air that you need, GET ON THE AIR AND WORK IT, and
forget about that dumbass weather man masquerading as a meteorologist! 

73 Joel W5ZN
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