Topband: this morning

[kb5njd@netzero.com]

Greetings to all!

This is my first post to the list although I have been lurking and learning for a few years now.  Lots of great information here.

I worked my first JA and G on 160 this morning.  The G came early this morning local time on western European sunrise.  I could not sleep so I thought I would check the band.  I heard N7JW calling CQ around 1829 and several loud G's and ON's calling him so I decided to call CQ on 1822 -- Keep in mind that I have only heard Europe on 160 maybe 3 or 4 times in about 2 years.  A spot went on the cluster for K6HT on 1822 by an ON.  I knew he must mean me because of the comment "? CQ Weak".  I kept calling though and finally heard G3PQA CALLING ME! WOW. He was in the log and I was back to bed.  I am not sure if I slept much the remainder of the night because of the adrenaline.

At 12:30z, I got up and made it into the shack as I do every morning to listen around a bit and heard someone around 1821.  Not real loud at that point, but several were working him.  I soon learned as he started to peak that it was JA1HQT and he was calling CQ without an answer.  The amp had warmed up, so I gave him a call and sure enough, my first 160m JA was in the log.   He peaked about 5 minutes before my local sunrise and then disappeared into the noise.

I had gotten a little disheartened over the past few months because I wasn't hearing much Europe and never a JA on 160m, but stuck with it because the point was made on the list that the last few seasons really haven't "panned out" as they had in the past.  Anyway, I felt pretty comfortable saying that I was hooked before working the DX this morning, now I can whole-heartedly say that I am completely addicted to 160! 

Just had to share my excitement!  Not a big accomplishment for a big gun station, I am sure, but huge for me and my little "cap-gun" station.

73,

John KB5NJD