Hello all!

I've just passed my technician level exam a couple
months back, and my Morse code exam about a month
ago.

After building an antenna matcher from a '62 ARRL
book, I could finally match my long wire Xtal radio
antenna to my new old-ICOM xmitter.

Today, I tried my first QSO.  Man, I've been wanting
to do this since my grade school days (and that was
a long time ago!)

I got a response almost immediately!  My contactee
lives about 275 miles away, but he sounded like he
was in my back yard!

What a hoot to hear your call sign being echoed back
for the first time.

I'll have to admit, I got nervous and started mind
blanking, by my contact was very patient and went
slow!

It sure is different to be whacking a straight-key than
it is to be sitting at a PC, taking placebo exams
where one just needs to just decipher code.

But, I'm high on this experience!  What a hoot!

A lowly clothes line like wire doing the work, and
I'm the weak line in the technology!

Oh well, I just had to share this.  It's one of those
things that I've always wanted to do and I'm glad that
my first transmission was CW.  (I'll try phone later ..)

Now, I’m inspired to keep working on my xmission
Speed and try again when I’m better at it!

Thanks all
73’s

KC9CEP