[KL7AA] Alaska QSO

[Jim Wiley]

Jack -


I understand you are looking for an Alaskan 80 meter CW contact.   Here 
are some things you might want to consider:


1.  Have you ever heard an Alaskan station, CW or phone,  on this 
band?    There are two Alaska nets that meet every day on 75 meters, the 
Alaska Snipers net that meets at 10PM (Eastern time) on 3920 KHz, and 
the Motley group, that meets at 1:00 AM (Eastern), on 3933 KHz.  Try 
listening for them to see if you can hear anyone.  As someone once said, 
"You have to hear 'em before you can work 'em". 


2. What sort of antenna do you have?  30 feet of wire in a tree just 
isn't going to make it.   KL7DTH and I share a station.  We have been 
working Europeans, Asians, North and South America, the Pacific Islands, 
etc.,  almost every day on SSB in the area of 3750-3800 kHz, starting at 
about 8:00 PM Eastern and running until about 11:00 AM eastern.  We hear 
(and work)  the stations running 500 watts or more to full-size 
verticals, quads, 4-squares,  delta loops, etc.    We run roughly 1200 
watts  to a selection of  1/2 wave vertical,  cubical quad, and loop 
antennas.


We don't hear the guys running 10 watts to a dipole 15 feet high.  Get 
on and listen to see if you can hear the DX.  If you can, then there is 
a chance your QRP CW signal will make it.  But, if you can't hear the 
DX, you need to work on your station until you can. 


If you can hear the nets mentioned, and if you have a decent transmit 
antenna, we could give it a try.  But, if either one of these conditions 
is not met, there is little point in making the attempt.  The best time 
would probably be when we have a mutual "gray line" path. 


Looking forward to hearing you on the bands.


- Jim, KL7CC