Often after a disaster, the victims will look back and comment how it was such
an ordinary day at first. Yesterday was such a day. It began with a simple
phone call at work.
"Honey can you be home a bit early from work today. We've got company and I'm
making this wonderful Chilean sea bass". My XYL of 26 years, Abby is both an
understanding ham's wife, and a fantastic cook. Her skills in the kitchen
inspired our son to become a chef, and their mutual passion is a source of much
pride in our home.
"Oh...and on the way, can you pick up a new coffee maker, ours is acting up
again". Ah! I saw a chance to impress her. In the dim corners of my mind, I
knew that she'd be eying one of those commercial style Bunn coffee makers for
weeks. A quick trip to the store on the way home, and coffee in 3 minutes would
be within her reach.
On the way to the store, I switched on the Yaesu FT-857D in the truck. It's not
much of a V/U set up. A 1/4 whip on six, and a small KU4AB loop for 2 Meters on
the back. To my surprise, the Magic Band had awaken from it's two week nap, and
a few Maryland stations were worked on the drive home. Nothing new, just the
regular grids including CT, NY, and MD.
I switched over to 2 Meters...dead as usual, but there was THAT noise. You know
the one, right? That strange brewing sound...and the hair on the back of my
neck stood up. Hmmm...
The coffee maker was purchased, and by the time I'd made it to our home, six
meters was really hopping. More importantly, the grids I was working were
moving closer to Alabama. Still nothing on 2, except for more of that sound...
I rushed in and greeted my niece and nephew, visiting from TN My wife was
thrilled with the new coffee pot, and I could smell the sea bass broiling in
the oven. Fresh spinach and baby corn ears were simmering on the stove. I
explained that six was open, and I had a feeling about 2 meters as well...My
wife smiled and said, "Go ahead and see who you can work".
I rushed to the radio room and switched on both the Icom 756Pro III and the
IC-910H. Six was open, but not booming. I tried to work a few CQ'ers on .125
but the QRM was getting extreme. Too many stations from multiple
directions...so I announced that would QSY to .145.
Thus began the "Sea Bass Fiasco".
A quick CQ on .145 suddenly put me into the midst of a pileup! Stations were
calling me like crazy. One after another...and I struggled to get up to speed.
At first it was more of the familiar FN19's, and 20's. More Maryland stations,
but then things began to shift. I was getting calls from PA, and then WV...and
then VA! I turned up the volume on the IC-910H, trying to keep an ear on 2
Meters while working the pileup.
Then I was literally flooded with calls from VA, TN, GA, and KY. These stations
were literally right on top of me. Some less than 300 miles away! Even with my
limited experience, I knew this was no ordinary opening. I kept thinking, 2
Meters must be open.
I checked the APRS map...still nothing. The 144 logger...nothing except others
noting the short skip on six and asking for noise on 2. More stations worked
me, one after another. All within 500 miles...How could 2 Meters not be open???
The pileup was thrilling. I struggled to work stations, and had to resort to
saying things like, "Ending in November", or "The Whiskey 2 Station only". To
their credit, all the operators I heard would stand by and wait for their turn.
I wanted to work them all, because I knew how rare this kind of short skip was.
One station in SC mentioned that he needed only Alabama for WAS on Six Meters.
He had worked the state two years ago, but no amount of begging or SASE's had
resulted in a card. Would I please QSL?
Yes, OM, I QSL 100%...He thanked me over and over for helping to make his dream
of WAS on Six come true. He didn't know that being asked was a like a dream
come true for me.
NC, SC, more GA stations...and then a flood of Tennessee stations filled the
log. In the midst of it, I forgot to check my computer monitors to see what was
going on on 2 Meters. I had my hands full with the pileup...
Then a polite tap on my shoulder. My wife smiled and said, "Dinner's ready".
AHHH!!!!
I quickly came up with a plan. I turned down the volume on the 6 Meter rig, and
turned up the volume on the IC-910H. If Two Meters opened, I'd be able to hear
it in the dining room.
Dinner was spectacular. The Chilean sea bass had been marinated, pan seared,
and then broiled briefly in the oven to finish. Fresh spinach leaves mixed with
baby ears of corn danced in a ginger sauce. Hand whipped mash potatoes, and a
creamy dish of fried corn chowder rounded out the meal.
Just as the first bite of fish and spinach melted in my mouth, I hear a loud
voice on 2 Meters in the next room. I sprang from the chair and bolted into the
room. 2 Meters was open! The APRS map showed a huge red star burst pattern
right over the Southeast. And the 144 logger showed stations working all around
me.
A quick CQ was answered but the station returning my call was just too weak.
The operator called me again...I could make out my own callsign, but not
his---KA--something. He switched to CW, "This guy is pro thank god!". I
reached for the pencil and the bottom dropped out in the middle of my own
callsign. No!! Damn it!!
I began twisting the beams and listening hard on 2 Meters....after about ten
minutes, my wife brought the sea bass still steaming on the plate into the
shack. More static and weak calls....had I missed the opening on two or had it
simply skipped around EM63?
A few minutes later my cell phone rang...my wife answered it and brought it to
me immediately. "It's Jimmy Long [W4ZRZ]...he says that there's someone on 432
who wants to work you".
Jimmy had been moving folks up to 432 from 2 meters---it had been his powerful
signal that I heard on the speaker, not a E-Opening. Todd, N4QWZ in EM66 [TN]
was coming in great tonight on 432...did I want to try to work him with my
single Yagi? Sure!
I quickly QSY'ed to 432.1, and worked Todd on the first call. I think we were
both surprised at how easy it was. I listened to Jimmy work several weak
stations, most of them below my noise floor. Jimmy has a terrific new array of
15 element Yagi's, eight of them in all with a power divider from his
mountaintop home. He's even louder on 432 now than 2 Meters!
Six and two died down after that...with little more heard until I switched them
off and returned to our company.
My wife smiled and made small talk the rest of the evening...never once
complaining. A bit later after I'd finished my evening exercise, I went to ask
her about our dogs, and while she responded kindly...I got THAT look. You know
the one.
In a flash, I realized exactly what I had done. AHHH!!! How could I be so
stupid? She made this incredible dinner and I had deserted her and our guests
and then never even apologized for it.
Even though it was nearly 1AM by then, I made a point to talk with her for
almost another hour. Apologizing over and over for my mistake.
This morning the alarm went off at 6AM, and I got up to head towards the shack.
My plan was to try to work some new grids on 2M via WSJT. As I approached the
radios...I remembered that discretion is often the better part of valor...and
decided not to switch the radios on at all.
Instead, I showered, then gathered up some laundry, stacked a few dishes in the
dishwasher, and prepared our dogs for their vet appointment (which I
volunteered to take them to). I even made sure that some fresh coffee was
brewing in that new Bunn.
When I left, I apologized once more, and Abby smiled and said, "I
understand...when the band is open, it's open. You have to work them when you
can".
Isn't she great? But just to play it safe, if today brings the band opening of
the century, you may not hear the N1LF callsign there. I've got some making up
to do. And hey, let's face it. They'll always be another band opening, but
there's just one Abby.
To see a picture of my beautiful wife, please visit my blog:
www.n1lf.blogspot.com
Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
-----------------------------------------
Les Rayburn, director
High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216-3748
205.824.8930
205.824.8960 fax
205.253.4867 cell
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|