[WVDXA] Is This for REAL?

[W8TN - Clark]

OK, I don't know whether to believe this or not.  Tonight I saw a spot for
ZS1JX on 160-M.  I could use ZS for a new country.  So I went to that
frequency and found some guy rag-chewing.  You know, "Name name is AL AL AL
- UR RST RST 559 559 559 in VA VA VA - SO HW?"  etc.  I figured the ZS had
left the band.  But, when the "rag-chewer" signed, he WAS working the ZS!
 And, when he turned it over, I COULD HEAR THE ZS !!  Not only could I hear
him, I heard him well.

So, I got ready to call but when the ZS said "73", the band exploded.  I
mean it was a total *ZOO*!  All I could hear was a solid squeal in my
receiver.  So, I did not even call.  I just waited for the calling to cease
to see who the ZS heard - but the calling NEVER stopped!  It went on for
about a minute.  As it died down I could hear the ZS working someone.  But,
I figured this was a lost cause for me.  I would be just wasting my time
trying to call in that mess.  So, when I then saw a spot for another ZS a
little further up the band, I went to the other VFO to look for him.

No joy on the second ZS so I clicked on the A-VFO and there was the ZOO
calling away.  I listened for about 10 seconds and said, "Why not join the
fun?"  So I dropped my call three times into the mess.  When I finished
calling the ZOO was still wailing away but soon it died down and I could
hear the ZS working someone.  He gave his RST said there was a lot of QRM
gave his name as "Peter" and so on.  As he was about to turn it back to the
guy he was working, QSB took him into the noise and I did not hear who he
was talking to.  It must be someone in Europe I thought because I could not
hear the station he was working.  Then, I heard the ZS, clear as a bell say
"W8TN W8TN de ZS1JX ??"  *SAY WHAT?*  He had been talking to *ME*???

Well I jumped on the paddles and gave him a report, my name and QTH and
turned it back to him and received a "R R FB Clark Clark."  What do you
know?  Without half trying I smashed the pileup with my hastily erected
Inverted "L" over a single elevated radial.  Boy, if those other people
calling knew what a poor antenna I had, they'd be ticked even more than they
probably were already.

I logged the QSO at 0324 GMT as the clock was just turning over to 0325.
When I looked at the logger, here is a spot that was just sent:

ZS1JX   1831.0    11 Dec 03:26   KA9FOX   Big Sig, Big Pile :-(

Notice the "frowny face" on the spot.  Someone is not happy with the pile
up.  But NOT ME!  I'm on cloud nine!  8,121 miles to South Africa on my
FIRST CALL in a HUGE dog pile!  Who wudda thunk it?

That's country number 75 AND a NEW ZONE to boot.  Boy, I'll have trouble
getting to sleep tonight.


Clark, W8TN
*Somebody Pinch Me
This Can't be Real!*
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