[kids] N5NU Belated Kids Day (long but worth it)

[J. Goldsberry]

Hello,

  Had a great time during Kid's Day this time around.  The pileups get
bigger and bigger every year - participation is really growing.  Usually I
heard just a jumble of voices, a lot of high pitched ones (kids), and lower
pitched voices (big kids with little kids).  It's a unique sound to say the
least.  

  I worked everyone that I could, but several times simply had to move
because the QRM was too fierce.  BTW, this would be one great 15 meter
contest too!!  10 meters didn't open up here in Texas like it did for some
of the others.  I worked a kid from Maryland, and the signal had that
scattery sound on it.  The next one, from VA, had a hollow sound, so I knew
that this wasn't a good band to be on.

  I was planning on having friends over, but one had guitar practice, and
one had to cancel at the last minute.  The youth group from my church went
to see Star Wars, and I elected to say here and play radio.  Good choice!!  

  What scares me is -- These kids are better than your typical Field Day
operator.  Some of these kids already have great instincts at hamming, and
others are on their way.  The mass of hams on 2 meters aren't this good!!
(So how's my rubber duck getting out these days?)

  It's hard for many of us to realize, that we're more than likely working
the future before it gets here.  I believe that this contest makes the
biggest impact on amateur radio today -- not ARRL, IARU, CQWW, or even SS,
but this contest here.  This is what exposes radio to other people, and it
is contagious!!  After all, that's why I'm here - because it's contagious!!

  I'll be glad to send a log in if anyone wants to verify their call or
anything.  BTW, I ended up around 129 QSO's and about 41
states/provinces/countries all mixed up.  Toward the end, I had a few
Europeans call in, but none with kids.  All QSL's receieved will be
answered, as always.  Very sorry if you tried to call me and I didn't hear.  

  One last note, a big thanks to N6TR for the addition of "Kids Day" to his
program.   It really makes it managable, so I don't have to fool around
with the windows based logging program to make a log (which I don't know
how to do).  TR makes it easy to see the log, and send it in.  Also, my
gratitude toward the sponsors of this, ARRL, N6TR, N9JF, K9IG, and surely
many others whose calls escape me at this moment.

73, Jason N5NU (Age 16)
n5nu@inu.net
http://www.inu.net/n5nu/


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