[EIDXA] [Fwd: Re: [PJ2T] W0NB/BY4AA]

[jamesandmary at islands.vi]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: [PJ2T] W0NB/BY4AA
From:    jamesandmary at islands.vi
Date:    Wed, April 2, 2008 8:58 am
To:      EIDXA

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>
Hi Gang.

No propagation North America on 20. Lots of asiatic Russians, JA, 9M, 9V,
HS, DU and one VK. I arrived at 0700Z and after the ritual cup of tea I
went into the shack. The rig is an ancient Yaesu transceiver with a
Japanese or Chinese number on it. I'm not sure which. I've used this radio
the past two years and about 2 weeks ago. The side tone was almost
inaudible and there was not headset and five people were working (as in
paid office people) in the shack. In spite of this I worked 180 stations
in about 90 minutes. There was no key either. Thankfully I had talked
Bencher out of new paddle at Dayton for the station and had it with me. 20
was good to everywhere but the americas. I worked one K6. I had made no
promises so nothing lost and no-one inconvenienced. I had it on good
authority that I would have propagation in the morning, which was  not
available to me, or the evening starting around 0800Z, or 4pm local. I
decided to switch to 40 and wait for propagation to lengthen out. I could
not find the 40 meter coax in the jumble on the floor. I recalled that it
came through a hole in the wall last year. I saw the 40 meter dipole atop
the TH6 on the way in. I rounded up my friend BA4HU for help. He looked at
the hole in the wall also, and then went up to the rooftop. He came back
and said there was no coax coming from the dipole. He thinks it was
"borrowed" for field day last year and not replaced. Back to 20 where I
worked a bunch of those asiatic russians, JA's and a few other on this
side of the world who were curious about a stateside in China. Asked them
to stand by several times. Moved the beam from short to long path. Nothing
from Eu or the Americas. Just fairly short path Asia. During this time I
was using the K-5 Army key since there was no side tone at all. At one
point the tuning knob came off the transceiver so I just turned the post
while working the pile-up split. I did this til about 0900Z (5pm local)
when 20 started the evening fade and then nothing. I left them with a new
Bencher Key and a pair of good Phillips headsets with adapters to power
both sides out of the mono jacks. I slid the knob back on the shaft,
signed the log, and tore out my carbon copy. Shook hands all around, drank
more tea, and went "home" to Susan's house for supper. We received a call
from Jennifer in Washington, DC this morning the twins, expected in July,
seem to have other plans, so we are out of here tomorrow.

I'm sorry I let all of you down. It was fun. The chinese hams are very
friendly, especially BA4HU. CW seems no longer to be a priority at this
station, nor does HF in general. It is a data world with a dedicated Fox
Hunting group out of this club. The small group of contesters does not
hang around the club station. They do the November CQWW field day style. I
was invited to join them again but I'm going to stick with PJ2T until we
can win it from Curacao. Then I might be tempted to come over. I'll bet
the contestors absconded with the 40 meter coax.

73,  Jim  W0NB/BY4AA (believe it or not)

 Jim, nothing indicated there would be any propagation but I listened
> hourly.  I did hear a very weak station on 7024 at 0825-0830z.  He appeared
> to be working some stations and calling CQ with an "up" at the end. 
Just at/below the noise level on my Orion with all weak station tweaking
in operation.  Was that you??
>
> Otherwise, Nada.
>
> Mal, NP2L
>