----- Original Message -----
From: "Garry Shapiro" <garry@ni6t.com>
>...if East Coast stations could forego their fifth, tenth or 50th QSO with
>stations
> that are routine to them but rare to us, and give us a crack at them.
> An act of kindness comes back to the giver manyfold...
I don't believe this kind of altruism exists Garry. You can get some good
advice on this forum, and even some personal offerings of help via e-mail or
phone. But when it comes to actual operating, it's a different world. For
the handful of ops that will do what you are asking, there are the hundreds
of others who would not think of it. It's a "me-first" world, a world of
the "haves and have-nots". I assure you there is noone else who really
gives a rip if you or I or anyone else works Europe or not. It's up to you
alone to do the best you can with what you have, and enjoy it. It's a
hobby. I did find it interesting to hear the same W3 contact the same EU
station 3 times in the hour or so that I was listening. Was he being
hoggish? showing off? or trying out different antennas? Who knows. But
I'll bet he was having fun - regardless if he was QRMing a W6/W7 or not, I
doubt if he cared.
I tried to work 9 EU stations last night (I stayed up most the night
determined to make my first EU QSO), but could not work any of them. The
best I got was a QRZ? and NO COPY from OH2BO, if he was even replying to me
at all. I know there were many more EU stations out there last night, but I
would stick with one for a long time waiting for good copy and no QRM to
coincide. I know what my weaknesses are, and I slowly correct/improve
things as I have time and funds. As of this year, I feel I have the best
antenna set-up that I can fit on my acre - a T vertical over 50 radials, a
270-ft dipole at 80 feet, and K9AY loops. My remaining improvements are to
investigate ways to reduce my constant S7-S9 noise levels, and scratch
together enough cash and parts to build an amplifier - an ongoing 5-year
endeavor now. My foolish desire to get 160m DXCC is just not going to
happen at his QTH with 100 watts. And I do not expect Mr. W3 to sit on his
hands while OH2 tries to hear a p-weak station from a deep rocky Montana
canyon.
73, Steve KK7UV
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