[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement < KD5PZO (SK) >

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening Folks,
    Our sun has been quite active this week.  Two X-class flares, a coronal  
mass ejection near miss, and a very strong solar wind from the coronal  
hole.  There are times when the bands are quite attenuated and others when  
they are fantastic.  I listened to 10 meters two nights ago and the band  
was packed with signals.  If I had not so many other things to do I would  
have jumped in a made some DX contacts.  As it is I have moved my  
computers, radios, and antennas.  The new work area is not done by any  
means but it is functional.  I will run ECN tomorrow night from a new  
location.

    This is fitting because I will commemorate one year without Pat.  I've  
had a very tumultuous life since then but I think it has settled into a  
new rhythm.  I'd like you all to join me on the air for this first  
anniversary.  It has been helpful running the nets.  They are something  
steady to hold on to; a responsibility which keeps me focussed.  At first  
it was very hard to keep going but each Sunday I had something on my  
schedule.  A bunch of great folks to chat with and then meet a few more  
fine operators.  Working the nets got me outside of myself for a few hours  
each week.

    I had just started a new job the week before she passed away so my  
responsibilities had grown and then took a much larger jump after her  
passing.  There was so much to do there was little time to think.  In a  
way that was good.  But many of you wrote me emails, sent me cards, and  
called me on the telephone.  It was nice to know I had developed a support  
group of folks I have never seen (except for two of you :)  Sam and I  
carry on and in some ways have grown.  He used to ignore me because Pat  
spoiled him so; she spoiled me too!  Now he and I have grown closer.  He  
gets fed and I get to feed him.  He is training me well ;)  There are days  
when he eats better than I do!

    Another week and I will have my new work area producing new software,  
circuits, pc board designs, robots, and maybe even some prose.  I still  
need to move the test equipment and set up another work bench.  I also  
need to move the set of batteries I normally use for running my radios.   
Once those are in place I hope to run an inverter/charger system to keep  
them ready for when the power goes out.  I have enough energy to power my  
home office equipment and my radios for a few days.  Hopefully I will get  
some solar panels so I can make the time period indefinite.

   Please join me for a tribute to Pat Kusch, KD5PZO (SK):

Monday 0000z (Sunday 4 PM PST) 14050 kHz
Monday 0300z (Sunday 7 PM PST)  7045 kHz

       Kevin.  KD5ONS