Monday, January 30, 2012

Decisions, decisions .....

A little back story is in order to set the scene.

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!)

2 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. Good 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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