[WVDXA] WVDXA Straight Key/Glowbug Night - A Success!

[Rick Kourey (K4KL)]

Hey Clark,

Do most of the members of the WVDXA use DXBase logging software to log their DX contacts?

Rick Kourey, K4KL
Marvin/Charlotte, NC
rkourey at carolina.rr.com


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Clark L. Stewart 
  To: WVDXA at wvdxa.org 
  Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 10:40 PM
  Subject: [WVDXA] WVDXA Straight Key/Glowbug Night - A Success!


  WOW - That's more CW QSO's than I've had in the last DECADE!  I've turned off the radio now but I "still" hear CW.  Plus, my right arm feels like I just pitched a couple of innings of baseball.

  I know you "old-time" CW ops think nothing of chewing the rag but my CW has been limited to:

  me:  W8TN
  DX:  W8TN 599
  me:  RR 599 TU
  DX:  TU

  Plus, that has all been done by just pushing the right button on the memory keyer!  This "pounding of brass" has not been done by me in quite awhile.

  And, I really, really thought the QSO's would be short.  I should have known when I saw K8KFJ and W8UI exchanging their life histories a half-hour before the start of the WVDXA SKN that I was in for some long-winded QSO's.

  But, it was certainly fun.  AND, I feel that I have definitely improved my ability to copy CW in a QSO.  I was sweating a bit when some of the guys started "talking" to me but it all worked out.

  And hey, that Mr. Ritchie from down in Florida must have hooked some wire to the Goodyear Blimp or something.  He was pounding in up here.  He keeps trying to tell everyone that he works all this DX from his RV with a Hamstick mobile antenna but the type of signal he was putting up this way kind of makes you think he has a real antenna farm down there.

  Then, there was the surprise of hearing "CQ CQ CQ DE W8AH W8AH - AH"  WA8WV used the club call of "W8AH" and even used one of Al's straight keys to give several a contact with the club call.

  W8HC (who snuck away from Steph's New Year's Eve Party) also managed to hand out some QSO's.  Even though he forgot to take his Aleve, he was still sailing along with the straight key.

  I managed to work W8OI, W8AH, W8HC, W8OP and K8KFJ.  I heard W8UI before the SKN started but never managed to hear him after he worked K8KFJ.  I was also hoping to hear K8MN or W8WEJ but could not find either of them.  WA8VPN unfortunately had to miss the event due to a funeral home visit.  Sorry you could not make it "Papa November."

  All in all, I think it was a good time.  WA8WV was looking for a bigger turn-out but this was a "last minute" set up.  Considering that, I think it was time well spent.

  HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the WVDXA.  May 2008 be filled with lots of rare DX and new radios and antennas grace your stations.


  Clark, W8TN
  Indian Name Changed to "Broken Arm"




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