[Elecraft] (OT) Thank you Elecraft!

[stan levandowski]

...so late last night after patiently wading through the humongous 
pileup on 20M for HK0NA, I finally manage to work the DXpedition.  But 
the band was in lousy shape, the flutter was signaling an imminent 
reversal of fortune and, as luck would have it, I was not *really sure* 
he'd gotten  my callsign correct.  In cases such as this, my personal 
policy is to not even log the QSO -- If I can't feel 'good' about a QSO 
I'd rather ignore it.  Call me old-fashioned -- there's always the hope 
that *tomorrow* brings.  Hey, it's only a hobby!

So along comes *tomorrow* -- I take the dog out and then sit down for an 
early morning check of the bands.  On 20M, I hear an S8 signal calling 
"CQ" and it's HK0NA begging for contacts!  A quick call with 5 watts 
from my K2 into my 44' attic doublet and the result is a solid QSO!

So then I tune up the band and there's VP6T working a pileup at least as 
wide as HK0NA.  No way am I going to play this game!  Maybe another 
time.

So I head up to 15 meters to check out the conditions.  There, on 
21.035, I find VP6T calling "CQ" over and over with no takers!!

Then my XYL turns on the dishwasher!  Noise level jumps to S6.  The K2 
Noise Blanker is nowhere near as good as the K3's digital noise blanker 
and noise reduction programming.

Off goes the K2; up comes the K3. Darn near total silence!!   By now 
VP6T has attracted some attention, but not much.  I send my call once 
and he comes back!

HK0NA (Malpelo) and VP6T (Pitcairn Island) all in the same morning on 5 
watts and a  44' wire in the attic (and CW of course).

Thank you, Elecraft, for producing the kind of gear that gives the QRP 
community a more level playing field.

P.S. -- Kudos to VP6T for rapid LOTW updates - QSO at 10 a.m EST; LOTW 
confirmation 5 hours later!!!!!!!!!!

73, Stan WB2LQF
KX1 #2411    K1#2994    K2# 6980    K3#5244     KX3 (on order)    K9 #1 
(Cocoa the Chihuahua)
Everything is QRP, even the dog.