XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.dx

W2LJ QRP - When you care to send the very least!

///////////////////////////////////////////
Christmas is a comin'!

Posted: 22 Dec 2021 07:15 PM PST http://w2lj.blogspot.com/2021/12/christmas-is-comin_22.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

‘Twas the night before ChristmasThe shack was quiet as a mouseNot an amplifier was fired up, or was warming the house.
The tree was lit up, all the presents were wrapped,All the busy-ness was
done, I should have taken a nap.Rubbing my eyes, I turned towards the rig
To see if the bands might be hopping, activity big.
20 Meters was quiet, no signals to be heard40 Meters seemed better, by the activity I was spurred.I twiddled the dial, across the band the tuning knob purred And to my surprise, I came upon a Morse tone that chirped like a
bird.
It was a Ham In 8 Land calling CQ, kind of weaklyHis fist was not shaky,
but he was only S3So I decided to throw out my call to see if he would
answer me.
He told me his rig was homebrewed, not quite up to snuffHis first go at building, the design was still rough, but he had turned on the power,Hoping he’d snag a QSO if conditions weren’t too tough.
We were both pumping five WattsSending our RF to and froHe was thrilled his creation was working– his excitement was beginning to show.
We had a nice rag chew, on this NoelFinally, he sent me his fondest
farewell.In turn, I bade him a Merry Christmas, and 73I switched off the
rig, took my hand off the key.
It was not a big deal, not an extraordinary contact, it would
appearCertainly, no great feat of DX – he was actually quite nearBut it did my heart good to make another Ham happy at this time of year.
So if you hear a signal that’s not quite S9Perhaps a bit warbly, or choppy
or a fist touching a paddle for the very first timeWork them, if you can,
it won’t cost a dimeTo make a brother or sister Ham’s Holiday sublime!

72 de Larry W2LJQRP - When you care to send the very least!

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)