Topband: ZS1C last night (Monday night in NA).

[Ron Spencer]

I was monitoring the on4kst chat pages and Raoul, ZS1C,  came on around 3:30Z or so saying he was CQing on 1835. I am out in NM with a very small set up. 160 antenna is a top loaded wire hung from an approx 43' fiberglass push up pole. Receive in ZS direction is a very low beverage averaging about 3 to 4 inches off the ground. Unterminated and about 350' long. So far, FAR from a superstation. Perhaps a bit above average. 



As I listened and Raoul's sunrise approached I heard, I think, some CW. A bit later (a minute or so) I am hearing letters and then ZS1C. 



With my set up I was AMAZED, and still am, that I was hearing him. Now, will he hear me with that short tramsmit antenna? Indeed he does! I'm running around a kw with a SPE 1.3k amp and the radio is a K3. 



After some back and forths (LOTS of QRN) we complete the Q!! 



As Steve, VE6WZ, posted earlier, the thrill is, at least for me, much greater than when working someone using ft8. With cw the brain has to do all the processing piecing the bits together to make sense of it.



Perhaps this is why I still enjoy the hobby! Raoul, thanks for your patience and for getting on!



Ron   N4XD


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