[Elecraft] KX1 #112 Breaks Through the Pileups!

[Ken Alexander]

I was getting a little anxious lately because I hadn't been able to make any 
contacts with #112 since completing it a week or so ago.  Then I fired up 
last night, completely forgetting about CQWW CW Contest!  "Tonight's gonna 
be the night", I thought.

Wow!  What a night I had.  I made a dozen or so contacts throughout the 
lower 48 on 40 metres before turning in.  Partway through the session we 
started experiencing power blackouts as a result of our first snowstorm of 
the season, a mix of wet snow and rain that froze and started bringing wires 
down.  I was running off a 12 volt supply to squeeze out that last watt of 
transmitter output, but was pleasantly surprised that the KX1 kept on 
working on it's internal batteries right through the blackouts!

Heck, I even used the built-in lamp so I could see my logbook!  I was 
originally dubious about the usefulness of that light, but not anymore!

So, with only a few hours on the air I've made 19 contacts!  17 of them are 
from all US call districts except W6, 2, and 3, but they'll come soon.  My 2 
DX contacts came this morning on 20 metres from Cayman Islands and my 
crowning achievement so far...England!  I should mention that my antenna is 
a 24 foot wire strung around my bedroom/shack, with two 14 ft counterpoise 
wires lying on the floor!

Don't know if I'll make an official entry.  I'm sure that others with better 
antenna systems are doing much better, but I'll post a summary of my results 
on Sunday night.  It would be fun to see similar reports here from others 
when the contest ends!

73,

Ken Alexander - VE3HLS
Newmarket ON

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