[Fists] Can't Stop the Signal

[Jeff Davis]

Hello FISTS.

This morning I worked John, K8JD [FISTS 3853, CC 455] on 7.058mHz. He is=
 near 
Detroit and I'm about 250 miles away in Muncie, Indiana.

No big deal you say?

Well, my family moved to this new house in March and I have yet to get an 
antenna up. I built a center-fed zepp fed with 450 ohm ladder line and wound=
 it 
up in the garage ready to install "one of these days".

I was in the garage this morning and figured I'd hook the coiled up antenna=
 to 
the K2 and just listen around while trying to clean things up a bit, there=
 are 
still unopened boxes setting everywhere. Hooking the coiled up antenna to=
 the 
4:1 balun and rig I didn't expect much and I really didn't hear much.

Except for a fat, juicy signal on 7.058mHz calling "CQ FISTS". I listened to=
 
John work one station and then when he started calling CQ again ... well,=
 okay, 
so I am not too bright. There is a FISTS calling CQ and I figured, "why=
 not?"

So I hit the tune button on the K2 and was surprised to see the thing tune=
 so 
well. No matter, I figured John would never hear my 5 watt signal with the 
antenna rolled up on the garage floor...

You already know the rest of the story ... K8JD is the first contact in the=
 log 
from my new QTH and now I guess I'll go hang that center-fed zepp up in the=
 big 
oak tree right outside. I imagine it will work a little better in the air=
 than 
on the floor but it just goes to show that the CW angels watch out for fools=
 
like me.

It also goes to show that ANY antenna is better than NO antenna. You just=
 can't 
stop the signal.

Thanks for the short QSO John, will chew the rag a little longer next time.

-- 
73 de Jeff, KE9V
FISTS #6641