In my department at work, it's just me and one other guy (in our building). Our office has to have coverage each day from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. So we have two "shifts, if you will. The "early guy" works from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, while the "late guy" works from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM. We rotate from week to week, so that neither of us gets stuck staying until 6:00 PM all the time.
This week, I'm the late guy - so after dropping the kids off at school for 7:30 AM, I have some time to kill each morning this week until I have to leave for work. Today, when I came home, I decided to see what 15 Meters was like.
There, at about 21.020 MHz was 4Z5AD calling "CQ NA". He was not terribly loud; but there was not much of a pileup, so I decided to throw out my call. Nothing. I changed from HF9V to EDZ - same result - nil. As time is going by, he is getting louder - coming closer and closer to 589/599.
I switch back to the vertical (I'm hearing him louder on it) and throw out my call again. This time I get an "LJ?" But I am thwarted when I hear him come back to someone with a JLK suffix. Determined, I keep sending out my call. This time, I get a "W2L?". I send my call a few more times more. But he's not hearing me and goes back to calling "CQ NA".
I look at the clock - it's 8:10 AM, I have to get headed for work VERY soon. What do I do? I have worked Israel before; but never QRP. But at the same time, I am trying to accomplish Diamond DXCC this year; and I think this could count for Palestine.
So I made an "executive decision" and I turned up the power knob. This time when I sent my call, I was greeted by an exchange of "W2LJ 449 TU". Israel is once again in the log - not QRP, but at least I can use the contact towards Diamond DXCC. If I had left the knob where it was, I may or may not have eventually worked him - but I'll never know as I had to leave for work. I don't think my boss would have appreciated, "Sorry I'm late, but Israel was on 15 Meters, and ........."
By the way, when I checked the power output after the QSO, the K2 was at 8 Watts.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least! (Most times!)
Don't know what I would do in this situation. Obviously the boss wouldn't understand but I might have to call in "sick", or have a flat tire, or traffic accident....or another traffic tie up, or help a little old lady with car problems or.........tuff call.
ReplyDeleteGood evening Larry. that for sure is a nice catch!! As for the boss I guess maybe there would be some understanding if he was a ham...:)
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