Here is one of those stories that leave me mumbling in my sleep.
I was getting ready for bed around 10Z--2AM local--but, with the XYL in
the shower, I decided to sneak one more look at the bands. ZK1DI/P was
posted on 80 CW and I decided to go ask him once more about 160. Now, I
dunno if any of you have tried to induce this guy to try Topband, but he
has been generally unreceptive to any such questions. In fact, he had
blown off me and my friends quite consistently on several occasions on
40 and 80, going on to the next QSO before the question was out.
However--no model of consistency-- he <had> gone briefly to 160 SSB from
75 SSB for N7JW earlier, so it was deemed to be worth a try.
Just as I readied to pounce on 80, he abruptly informed a JA that he
would try 1828, QSX 1911, right then. Sheesh! So I run down to 1828 and
not only do I <not> hear ZK1DI/P but FM5BH is CQing there, louder than I
have ever heard him, with no answers. After five minutes of straining to
hear under Laurent, I give up, post FM5BH pn PacketCluster, and go away.
Meanwhile John, KG6I, unable to sleep, gets up to equalize his bodily
fluids. On his way to the bathroom, he pops into the shack to check
PacketCluster, sees my FM5BH post, realizes he needs FM5BH, and grabs
the cans. He never does hear FM5BH, who has given up, but he <does> hear
ZK1DI/P--very weak--and calls and works him barefoot before the amp
times out. I heard the whole thing. New One for John. Nothing for me.
Mumble, mumble, mumble.
-- =
Garry Shapiro, NI6T
Editor, =93The DXer,=94 newsletter of the NCDXC
Visit the Northern California DX Club 50th Anniversary page:
http://www.aa6g.org/ncdxc50.html
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