[Elecraft] Trip to South Africa (ZS) with K1

[John Webster]

Greetings:

This is my first post to the list.  I had always thought it would be to
announce the birth of my very own home-constructed K1 or K2,
or a desperate cry for help, as the case might be.  But it is neither.

After being a faithful (and enthusiastic) "lurker", reading the postings on
the web archive page for more than a year (!), events have conspired to
force me to reveal myself. :)

At short notice, I will be in South Africa on a business trip from July 24
to August 9.  Since I will have plenty of time to operate, and still have
my original ZS license (obtained at age 16 in '69), I decided to take
the plunge into Elecraftdom (even if only in a "miss-half-the-fun" way).

I have just got my hands on K1 #754 (2 bander, with 2 filter boards:
a 40-20; and 20-15) with all options; 8 1600mAh NiMH batteries;
Palm mini-paddle; and a MP-1 vertical (for antenna-challenged
situations).  Wherever possible I hope to be able to use a long-wire
(perhaps 80 odd feet) thrown into a tree, with counterpoise, instead.

I believe this will still be a rather rare activation of an Elecraft radio
from Southern Africa.  Other than a ham from the UK's trip to
Johannesburg with his K2 (reported here on the list), and the first
ever sale of an Elecraft rig to a ZS ham just this last week (a still to
be built K2), there has not been any other activity from ZS, as far
as I know.

Working stateside from South Africa, without a beam, under less than
optimal conditions is something of a challenge even at QRO levels.
Trying to do it QRP will be something else entirely.  It will probably
require decent antennas this side, good ears, a very good RX (K2!),
and a bit of luck.  Long path openings to the West Coast are fairly
dependable in the early mornings (PST)--but will be a real challenge
at QRP levels; and short path openings can happen in the mid to
late evenings (also PST)--at least this is how it was back in winter.
I'm not sure of when to look for openings to the rest of the country.

I will be using the callsign--ZS1WN and be in the Johannesburg
(ZS6) area from this Wednesday to Sunday (July 24-28).  Work
demands will make operation sporadic and hit-and-miss at best.

For the remainder of the time I will be in Cape Town (ZS1).  I
hope to be rather active for the week July 29 to 4 Aug., but
perhaps less so for the last week up to 9 Aug.

I would love to work some of you, QRP, from the southern tip of
Africa!  Unfortunately, there are even more challenges in the way:

1. Until the two test contacts yesterday, I've never operated QRP
before. [Well, that's not counting my first ever (unintended and
embarrassing) ham radio "contact", running 10 watts from a Geloso
(Italian made) TX into a dummy load (40 watt light bulb!) while
practicing net call-in procedures for the day my license would
actually arrive in the mail!  And, I suppose I should also admit to
building a Heathkit HW-7 in 1972. But to my recollection, although
it worked, I never did make a contact using it.  But that might have
had more to do with the lack of skill of the operator, and the fact
that I was trying to use a short loaded whip without antenna tuner
or radials!]

2. Until yesterday, I've never used iambic paddles before.  [Well,
I've tried clipping two J-38 straight keys back to back. Works,
after a fashion.]

3.  My CW is really rusty!  [After South Africa's then-time policy
of restricting all newly licensed hams to one year of CW only operation,
I did what happens when you force something--took flight to phone
as soon as the restrictions were lifted, never to look back, until
recently.  (Ironically, the moment the CW test was reduced to 5 wpm
I became interested again in CW and in improving my speed!  Some
of us are funny creatures!)]

But, they say we turn to QRP to bring back the challenge to ham radio!
I will hang out around the QRP frequencies mostly.  Please give me a
call if you hear me.  But please be patient with my poor cw.  :)

While in Cape Town I will have Internet access.  I will try to post to
the list when I am QRV and where.  The email address while there
will be:

ecw@new.co.za

After this all-too-long initial announcement, I will be posting a couple
of (short!) questions about the operation of my K1 for the list before
I leave on Tuesday.

I still have every intention (after playing with this K1 awhile) of building
a K1 with my son Kevin KG6HMF, and a K2 for myself.

Thanks for the bandwidth,

John  N6JW, ZS1WN