Still working 30 meters today, I saw a call sign from someone who I’d been unable to connect with a little earlier this morning.
EA1SA from Spain was calling CQ. I cranked my iCom 7100 up to 95% and replied.
Nothing. The band just wasn’t going to take me to one of the most beautiful countries to ride a bicycle.
I moved on and replied to K9STT who’s callsign looked familiar. Forgetting I had my radio to 95 watts, I cranked it down to 50% since he just a thousand miles away from me.
Waiting for the next receive cycle I receive 2 replies – one by K9STT whom I expected and then EA1SA comes out of the ether! We’ve got ourselves a little pileup, gentlemen!
I turned my radio back to 95% and held my breath as I worked EA1SA. Then replied back to STT and finished with him.
Whew. That was exciting! I never like to not reply to a countryman but its always so exciting to be able to talk to someone far, far away from you with a little radio.
I wish SSB were this easy to QSO 🙁