That was a cool story! It reminds me of my very first ham radio QSO. I had
bought a used Icom IC-451A. I stuck an N to BNC adapter on the back, and
put a 440MHz rubber resistor on the BNC connector. I took the radio into
the attic, stuck the back end of the radio out the window, dialed to
432.100 and proceeded to call CQ for 15-20 minutes. I did finally make a
random contact on SSB. It was all of 5-10 miles, but it was a contact. The
other station did the heavy lifting with an 8x EME array.
Ever since that time, I have been more comfortable and interested in
VHF/UHF/+ than anything else. Dave, I hope you have set the hook in Matt to
be VHF/UHF/+ active. Let us all know if he needs help and encouragement.
Cheers,
Brian
NX9O
On Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:47 AM David Olean via groups.io <k1whs=
metrocast.net@groups.io> wrote:
> Hello VHFers
>
> Activity was a bit light, but hard for me to tell as i had my hands full
> helping new ham KC1YBG make his first few radio contacts of his ham
> career. We all have been there, and we know how intimidating and
> downright scary it was t first get on the air. Stating from zero made
> me realize how far we have all come in our hobby. Anyway K1FMS, WW1Z,
> WA1MBA, and WA1NLG were his first few contacts. Matt also worked K1TR,
> WB2SIH, WB2JAY, and W1AIM. We then showed him FT8, but I think it was
> too much for one night. Just too much to grasp. After a few FT8
> contacts, I got a note from WA3EOQ to try our weekly sked at 502 miles.
> Honest to God he started calling me at 559. Al WA1T was in the shack and
> his eyes bugged out! I worked Howard and we then switched to SSB and s
> queaked out our first SSB QSO. It was very hard to hear Howard's 95
> watts, but I could get the report and his grid on SSB, so that was a
> first. Here is the log.
>
>
> Type of propagation: All Mode: All mode
> From 09/16/2025 to 09/17/2025 Distance over: 0 Km. Page: 1
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> DATE TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE
> PRO.REMARKS QRB
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 09/16/2025 23:04 K1FMS FN32QB 59 59 220 MHzSSB
> TR KC1YBG Matt op This was KC1YBGs first ham QSO 201
> 09/16/2025 23:05 WW1Z FN42ET FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR Matt KC1YBG Op. Used his call 84
> 09/16/2025 23:08 WA1MBA FN51AS FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR Matt KC1YBG OP 198
> 09/16/2025 23:10 WA1NLG FN41XF FN43 fn41 220 MHzSSB
> TR Matt KC1YBG op 252
> 09/16/2025 23:17 K1PXE FN31 FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR K1WHS OP for K1PXE QSO 265+-
> 09/16/2025 23:32 WB2SIH FN33DK FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR Near Lake George 30 watts omni antenna KC1BYBG op 222
> 09/16/2025 23:38 WB2JAY FN3 IU FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR KC1BJY OP using his call 342
> 09/16/2025 23:45 K1TR FN42 FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR KC1YBG Was the op with his call 97+-
> 09/16/2025 23:50 W1AIM FN34 FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR KC1YBG op 203+-
> 09/16/2025 23:58 K1TEO FN31JH FN43 fn31 220 MHzFT8
> EME KC1YBG was the op and used his call 296
> 09/17/2025 00:04 KA2ENE FN13FE FN43 220 MHzFT8
> TR KC1YBG 533
> 09/17/2025 00:04 WA4YA FN42KJ FN43 220 MHzFT8
> TR KC1YBG 112
> 09/17/2025 00:16 W2BYP FN13IB 58 58 220 MHzSSB
> TR K1WHS op 514
> 09/17/2025 00:16 KA2ENE FN13FE FN43 220 MHzSSB
> TR K1WHS op 533
> 09/17/2025 00:34 WB3IGR FN1 VI FN43 220 MHzFT8
> TR K1WHS op 550
> 09/17/2025 00:49 WA3EOQ FM 9JO FN43 FM09 220 MHzCW
> TR Howard peaked at 559 try SSB! 805
> 09/17/2025 00:50 WA3EOQ FM 9JO 53 53 220 MHzSSB
> TR weak on SSB but we made a contact!He has 95 watts 805
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Number of QSO listed: 17
>
> With three people in the shack, WA1T, KC1BYG, and myself, plus a paper
> bag with cold full beer cans, We did more talking than operating. There
> was just so much to teach Matt, that it really cut down on my tuning
> around and chatter on the ON4KST chat page. I hope the effort with Matt
> provides some dividends for VHF. We need new operators. I should also
> add that Matt is a proud Papa, with a brand new son who was born the
> morning before, I won't see much of him until they get a good schedule
> going with Mom, Matt, and baby Atticus.
>
> Anyway, it was a fun night up here in Mumbo Jumbo land.
>
> 73
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
>
>
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