My Most Recent QSO's

Sunday, July 15, 2012

40 Meters is Always There

Despite very poor band conditions, I still manage to make short range contacts on 40 meters. With a few exceptions, they're in the neighboring states around WV. I've worked two "special event stations" since the beginning of the month. WP3 (you have to dig a little to find this call) was operated by WB3AAI. I've worked him twice.  K4F was also a special event station in Tennessee, who was transmitting from a music festival. I happily recognized one station ( KA3WELas a ham I'd previously worked a few days ago. 


It's always a joy to work a new ham (KJ4WRE) and especially so when the station is a female. She was struggling with the code. These contacts always bring back memories of my beginning days on the radio. In a follow up e-mail, she thanked me for slowing down to match her speed. For me, that's always standard operating procedure.

The thing I like so much about 40 meters is that it's usually easy to find a "long conversation" here, even under pitiful band conditions. The last few weeks should have a new category added to the "propagation" sites. Currently they're listed as excellent, fair, poor, and very poor. They should add an "almost non-existent" category.  

I'm pretty "low tech" here, but I know for sure when I can't hear the GMT time signal anywhere, or a shortwave transmission on 11775 MHz, that things are going to be "tuff" for radio. Thank goodness for 40 meters, it's been a life saver for me. Working these few stations have been good for the soul.

Thank goodness also, for better weather conditions now. Believe it or not, there's still isolated places in this state without electricity.


6 comments:

VE9KK said...

Good evening John, yes 40m's sure is always great for local QSO's. It's nice to hear of new CW op's and we all at one time or another were learning and picking up CW.

Jim said...

Nice work on the 40 meter contacts. I noticed all charts listed poor for all bands.

Regards,
Jim - W2KLM

Jspiker said...

Hello Jim,

The worst band condx I can remember in many years, but I'm always having fun on 40 meters. I really love those QRP contacts. I worked three flying pigs tonight around 9pm. Didn't realize they were running for the bacon. Hihi

BTW/ Love the LED Zeplin!

Jspiker said...

Hello Mike,

I'll never forget my first CW QSO with a borrowed rig and a simple dipole. Palmer Lake, Colorado !!

Those first few years are difficult but worth every effort. I've enjoyed it for almost 20 years now.

I still get a kick out of working someone just starting out on CW.

recumbent conspiracy theorist said...

Hi John, Fine Business to run into on 40m on Friday. I was just spinning the big knob and recognized your call. Thanks for the QSO.
73, Mike W8MDE

Jspiker said...

Hello Mike,

The pleasure was mine...even tho I missed the E on the first go round. Hihi

I'll be looking for you now that I know we can work on the radio. It would be nice to chat about bikes and music.

BTW/ Nice 50 mile ride for you the other day. Sure wish we had more of those straight level country roads around here.