TX3A, and I

by

Scott Woelm, WXØV

When I was first licensed in 1979 at age 14, I really enjoyed the DX articles (and later a book) written by Bob Locher (W9KNI). So, 30 years later, here's my shot at it.

“They are going to be tough”, I said.

“I can't even hear them!”, my neighbor, George Scott, WAØFSE, replied.

“Like I said...they are going to be tough.”

Chesterfield Island, TX3A, was being put on the air by the dynamic duo of George Wallner (AA7JV) and Tomi Pekarik (HA7RY). I scratched out 1 QSO with them on Mellish Reef, but the chatter about this one had it even tougher. They had been on a week and George said he heard the pile-ups, but not them. Adding Chesterfield was going to be a challenge for me.

I decided to take 2 days off and create a 4 day weekend from November 19th through the 22nd. By then, I guessed it would be easier to get through with my 100 watts, roof-mounted beam, and ground-mounted verticals. Plus, it was ARRL Sweepstakes SSB weekend; a lot of competition would be elsewhere. Right?

Haw! Although they were strong on 30 meters, the pile-ups were too large. Even when I showed up early I could not get through (Europe had a better path as well). Add in a litany of jammers, cops, simplex call-signs, “UP”, “LID” (and other things I can't mention here) and, well, I was having my doubts.

However, I kept trying...and trying...and trying...and trying...

Now it's Sunday and there he is; on 15 meter CW! Go, get `em! It's a nice opening and he's very Q5! However, a line of stations with more power and better antennas kept my numerous calls of WXØV from getting any response. After a long while, he moved to other bands, but I couldn't hear him. Dejected, I worked Sweepstakes and picked up some new WAS band slots. I also had a fine chat with Sebastian, NSØW, but the goal was not met, and now my “TX3A vacation” was over, and Chesterfield was not in my log. To bed I went.

I have Restless Legs Syndrome. Those familiar with RLS know it can have you tossing and turning for hours. Well, my RLS kicked in Sunday night/Monday morning. I keep an Icom 706 MKIIG at my bedside, so I turned that on. At 1:46 a.m. and tuning across 40 meter CW, I hear some rather fast code, calling CQ, nice clean and clear. Was that what I think it is? What? He quickly sends again:

CQ CQ DE TX3A TX3A UP

It's TX3A! For crying out loud, he's begging! GO!—but my bedroom radio has no CW paddle!

I leap out of bed! Wearing nothing but underwear and a worried look, I dash down the hall to the radio room. Thoughts are flying through my head;

“I gotta get there before he gets spotted...he's sure loud; is it 'Slim?'...maybe he wants EU only...the pile-ups for K5D and TX5C were awful this late at night...I am going to be a wreck at work tomorrow…move, mister, MOVE...please don't trip and fall!”

THUNK! The Astron power supply surged to life, and with a `click' the 10 second calibration warm-up for my Icom 756 PROIII was underway. It took forever, I swear. The only thing missing was Chris Berman from ESPN bellowing “tick...tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...tick!"

Goodness, he's STILL sending CQ! I haphazardly set the split frequency (not even a full KC up) and without even checking to see if my antenna was in tune, I fire away, sloppy and uneven:

WXØV

I was quite groggy, and he was FAST, but I then hear what I think is:

WXØV 5NN

DE WXØV 5NN TU

TU

What? Did that just happen? It couldn't have! I spent HOURS sending WXØV with no luck. How could I get him with one try? Are you KIDDING me? Um, uh, did he get my call ok?

TX3A kept sending CQ, and still no one was answering him! Very groggy and unsure if he got my call ok (a weird 2x1), I send again:

WXØV, a brief pause, then OK?

WXØV 5NN UR OK TU, followed by my still nervous TU

No competition, no pile-up, no lids, no cops, no jammers, no QSB, just TX3A, and I.

TX3A was getting few responses, but soon he was spotted on the cluster, and a very large JA wall rapidly developed. I would have had no chance. Sleep was now impossible with both RLS and adrenaline on tap, so I listened to him expertly work the pile-up. I've heard that one of the best sounds in Ham Radio is the sound of a pile-up after you got `em; I agree!

This isn't some “look how great I am!” story, but it does say that sometimes a good thing can happen from a bad thing, just by plain dumb luck. I see two teachable moments here. First, as my dad, Dave Woelm (WØELM; yep, his call sign is our last name) tells me; “just keep at it, you'll get them.” Next, keep spinning that big knob on the radio (recently echoed to me by Steve Root; KØSR). It might deliver an exclusive meeting with TX3A, and you!

73!

Scott - WXØV