[SADXA] I'm off of 30m and 80m for a while

[Jim W]

Tom, I've been lucky in two areas.  First the bees could have swarmed to 
me, which would have really ruined my day.  Second I have gotten FT4JA 
on 17, 20, and 40, and VK0EK on 17, 20, and 30.  My goal has been to put 
both stations in the log on 30, 40 and 80, and to get SSB and CW QSOs 
out of each.  I should get a chance to do that after the swarm goes away 
or is removed.  There are still a few more days to go on each 
DXpedition.  Meanwhile my family and I are safe and sound in the house.

73, Jim  W9FI

On 4/4/2016 4:27 PM, Tom Kramer wrote:
> Well Jim, despite losing the air time I think you will agree that you 
> came out of that very lucky.   I have been lucky to get FT4JA on 30 
> and 80 and VK0 on 30 so I am pretty happy with those results.  Good 
> Luck to you. K8BN's advice on FT4JA on 80 worked out for me.  I copied 
> them from just after 0300Z for about 45 minutes.  73 Tom NQ7R
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Jim W
> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 2:13 PM
> To: Southern AZ DX Association E-Mail Reflector
> Subject: [SADXA] I'm off of 30m and 80m for a while
>
> So I'm clearing brush near the house to make a work area for the
> assembly of my new homebrew 12m/17m yagi and it's a great day. Clear
> sky, temp in the mid-70's and the birds are chirping.  I clear out the
> last of the prickly pear clumps, lay out the antenna elements on the
> ground, and lower my 30m and 80m dipoles so that I can tilt over the
> tower.  The cables have been safely laid underground, the rotor system
> has been tested and is ready, and the lightning protection system is in
> place.  The tower is cranked down and ready to be tilted over. But I'm
> short a wrench, so I go back to the garage to get it.  Then I notice
> them.  The bees.
>
> There are only a couple hundred visible but they're making a
> considerable noise.  Instead of returning outside, I close the garage
> door and go out into the front garden.  It's quieter but something still
> isn't right.  Then I notice more of them.  A swarm. Tens of thousands of
> bees have taken over a branch of the mesquite tree that's across from
> the house.  That's it for me.  I go inside and summon the bee guys.
> They come out, inspect the area, and tell me that the bees should be
> quiet now that the temperature has gone up and they're tired.  The bee
> removal guy is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, but the bee inspectors tell
> me that he'll call first before leaving the office.  The bees are
> looking for a place to build a new hive and they might leave the
> mesquite tree for parts unknown tomorrow morning.
>
> Meanwhile, I've carefully recovered my tools and the antenna parts from
> where I left them.  I'm not going to tempt fate by raising the dipoles,
> since one of their wires is resting inside of the mesquite tree next to
> the swarm.  If the antennas are pulled up, the mesquite branches will
> start shaking.  So might the bees.  I don't know how many there are, but
> they're in a clump over four feet long, shaped like the lower half of a
> football that's been laid on the ground. It's about 18 inches thick at
> the fattest part of the swarm.  This is a pretty impressive gathering of
> insects.
>
> So VK0EK and FT4JA will have to wait for a couple of days until the bee
> situation is resolved.  I can still use my Yagi, so I still have the
> usual HF bands and 40m at my disposal.  But there will be no QSOs on 30
> and 80 from this QTH until after the bee situation is resolved.
>
> 73,  Jim  W9FI
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