[ADXA] K5UR on FT8 calling W5NX, the rest of the story!

[Jay Bromley]

I thought I would share a very cool story to our ADXA group.  Last Thursday was our local BVRC meeting.  We have a very young pre-teen ham named Mercy, KJ5EQA.  When she talks to you, you would think she is much older than she is!  I have learned that I need to have the club station ready to go after the club meeting, as she always wants to get on 20m FT8 and work some DX.  BTW, she is studying for her General and I expect her to pass it without any trouble.  I always tell her she can also use the microphone, but is very content using FT8.  She is getting really good at using the digital mode FT8.

This time the station computer had the usual problems being behind with updates and I was trying to get those done at the same time.  Her rig time is limited because her family needs to head home after the meeting.  She is in a family full of ham radio operators, but she is the one that loves HF and getting on the air!  Mercy's dad is also interested in HF and seems to love watching his daughter work the world.

About the time the updates where finished, it was time for her to leave and I told her I would finish up her last QSO for her.  Like always, we had one of those that would not complete the QSO.  At the same time, I had a few more calling us.  One callsign in the mini pileup for W5NX (club call for BVRC) was K5UR!  Most on watchers were new hams and they didn't know why I was so excited.  So, after a few tries trying to finish up with that QSO, I clicked on Rick and we made super quick QSO.  Then I went back to the other person that is in the 3rd area call district and finished up that time.

About that time some of the old timers came into the room and I pointed at the log.  They couldn't believe we had worked the ARRL president.  It was a super nice memory for sure!

Thanks, Rick, for making more great memories!  It was great to see you and Miss Holly up here at the last ADXA conference!  73 de w5jay/jay..

P.S. Our station antenna is homebrew K5GO design and was installed by another ADXA member Chuck, KM5G.  The rig used is an Icom 7600 donated by Dennis W5DM.  Without those guys and others, BRVC would not have a working club station!  There were about 20 more folks that help build the station.  Most are ADXA members.  We are sowing good seed for tomorrow's DXer like Mercy, KJ5EQA!  Thanks everyone!
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