[Fists] 1st QSO

[Jeff Davis]

A friend and I were recently discussing how much we enjoyed CW. In our
discussion he mentioned several specific details about his very first
CW QSO many years ago.

How well I can recall my first CW QSO as a newly licensed Novice in
August of 1977. I was using a rockbound HW-16 that I had bought with
earnings from my paper route. I spent countless hours building that
simple transceiver and yet when I turned it on, all that happened was
I filled the kitchen with smoke! So great was my disappointment that
without telling me, my Dad drove the sick rig down to the Heathkit
store in Cincinnati and paid the folks there to repair it.

My eyes were no doubt wide when Dad presented me with my HW-16 that
now worked.

First QSO was with Jim, WB4AKY down in Tampa, Florida. I never worked
Jim again and for all I know he has become a Silent Key. But I will
never forget how he patiently worked with me while we completed my
very first CW QSO. And I have still have his QSL card congratulating
me on my "good fist".

I guess my excitement was contagious because within a week or so my
Dad bought me the HG-10 VFO to go along with the transceiver. Moving
from three crystals to a real VFO opened a whole new world for me.

And a few years later, Ham Radio led me to a career in electrical
engineering.

It's funny how I can remember every detail of that first CW QSO
twenty-five years ago, but I couldn't begin to tell you a thing about
my first phone (SSB) contact. Heck, I don't think I could give the
details of my LAST phone contact!

So what about the rest of you FISTS, do you still remember your first
QSO?

Tell us about it!

Vy 73 de Jeff
FISTS #6641