Topband: TI9/3Z9DX, etc.

[Jeff Wilson]

Wow!  I guess I also have to thank Mike W0BTU for my TI9/3Z9DX contact. Doing a SO160(A) for DXing only I thought they would be 160 during the contest and it would be impossible to break the inevitable pile up.  Didn't know about this sked, but I set my rig on 1.844 up 1 split and was hopefully listening to the noise and QSB on my South Beverage for about 40 min while doing a linux installation on my old WinXP machine.  Then at 0300 things started happening and at 0303 I heard my call clearly returned after 4 or 5 calls...got up and jumped around the room!  And now I have my OQRS QSL on the way for number 122, all with low power.   That is the fun of Top Band for me!  Though I wish there were fewer alligators...but totally understandable.

As for all the angst over remote operation and the death of ham radio etc., I think there are too many A types out there where winning is everything and they find no fun in the chase.  Contesting gives me a rush, but I only compete with myself and if I cheated for a contact (the evil remote thread) I only cheat myself and there would be no jumping with joy!  I had no problem with what K4VV did....not the same thing at all.  Life is too short to worry about changing technology...just do what you want...accept or move on to something else.....QRP anyone?

CheersJeff VE3CV
    

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:31:10 -0500
From: " K1FZ-Bruce " <k1fz at myfairpoint.net>
To: topband at contesting.com, W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu at w0mu.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: TI9/3Z9DX
Message-ID: <20150223203110.afgg3dmewww08g4c at webmail.myfairpoint.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=UTF-8;    format="flowed"

Mike. I emailed Dom asking for a 160 meter, time specific,?North 
America standby.? On? 02/22/2015 they were on working mixed instead 
of just Europe.? The opening to Northern New England was only about 
15?minutes long. ? Found their listening frequency, called them at 
0331 UTC? and? made the contact on the first call. 
It also worked out well with many other North America stations making 
the contact.?

Thanks Mike, appreciate the help,

Bruce-K1FZ