I was able to make my first HF QSO today on 20 meters SSB! Talked to W1AW/3 in Pennsylvania working the ARRL Centennial special event. He called CQ, I threw out my call, and he came right back 🙂
He said I was 59 into PA. Given my antenna, I'm amazed I got out of the county…I was running 100 watts, though.
Given this was HF, it's a little more cool than the 2m FM simplex QSO I made on March 15 with K9TAL during the American Legion 95th Birthday special event, but that was cool in its own way 🙂
LATER: I looked out the window a few minutes ago and discovered that the 31' Jackite pole … that I have the EARCHI end-fed wire dangling from in vertical polarization … had lost its top ring to which the antenna was connected and the wire was all coiled up on the ground. Luckily the ring was still attached to the wire and I was able to get everything put back together — but if I actually did that QSO with W1AW/3 with the wire on the ground, then I am seriously impressed…