Alaska is a bit of a DX catch - it's not one of those
areas that is easy to work as the solar cycle wanes - but it's
been a strange day, and I heard kl7hrn, Ed Luteran at 5/9+, working a stream of
South Aricans... I missed that chance, but a minute or two
later, I heard al7kc working a european station. I tried to butt
in but failed, so I set up in the next available slot on 20m,
and called him directly - hoping he would tune around and find
me. Well, Mike didn't hear me, but his pal Ed did. And Ed called
me to say he was texting Mike to come and find us.
Ed kl7hrn
-Mike al7kc
Which he did: a case of call one Alaskan, and get
another one free, or "COAGAOF".
VOA doesn't think this contact is viable..... but that's the fun
of freak conditions.
I heard a massive pileup of South Africans
working Alaska that was being spoiled by the
usual suspects who simply don't listen to requests - notably- CT1ASM
SV3IBP
EA8FM
TA7OM
EA1EQ
EA7ADM, EA1HB, 9HT1TT and
IT9QHN - but then I got double lucky...
... a truly
magnificent and completely unexpected QSO
This is very rare thing - especially at
sunspot minimum.
You won't hear both
ends of an Alaskan working through a pileup of South Africans
very often
- if ever.
A 10,000 mile trip.
