Reaching out to stations from HF QSOs 25 years ago….
1-30-2023 –
Hello!
Please pardon the intrusion. My name is Scott. My call was KD5CAS from August 1997 to November 1999, when I became W5WZ.
I was thinking about my first HF QSOs back in September and October 1997, and wanted to reach out to those 18 hams who patiently endured those QSOs with a brand-new ham only 26 years old. I could barely copy CW at the time, so I’m sure I wasn’t much for conversation. Searching QRZ, only four remain with active licenses and an email address in the QRZ records. So this email is being sent to those four. If you were the person at the other end of one of these QSOs, I’d love to hear from you.
And, if you happen to have notes in your logbook about our QSO, or have my inbound QSL card, I would love to have a digital scan or photo of that to add to my radio history.
I was licensed as a technician plus at the time. The rig was a Kenwood TS-430, and the antenna was a ladder-line feed 132-foot dipole.
I’ve been active on HF continually for the past 25 years. I’ve grown to love DXing and contesting. With lots of help from others, we’ve built a competitive contest station at my home in Louisiana.
Along the way, my wife and all four children earned ham licenses.
I’ve attended the Dayton Hamvention 9 times, and have ham friends all around the world.
I’m grateful for my elmer, W5LA, who is a close friend to this day. And likewise, I’m grateful to you for the QSO in my radio infancy. I wanted you to know that this has been an enjoyable journey, and you each are a part of it.
Thank you so much,
73, Scott, W5WZ (ex KD5CAS)
I was pleased to receive replies via email from two of the four:
Well Hello Scott,
It has certainly been a while. Back when we had our QSO I believe I just upgraded to extra and upgraded from a Kenwood TS-440SAT to a new Icom IC-756. While I had taken a break from the hobby I have upgraded the station over the years. When we had our QSO I was running the Icom 756 with a Cushcraft R-7000 40-10 meter vertical, I no longer have the 756 but I still have the R-7000, the matching network failed a few years ago and is now just a pile of parts. I still have my Astron RS-50M power supply, MFJ-986 tuner and still use my AEA PK-88 that I used to digipeat through the MIR space station, now used through the ISS. My station now consists of two Icom IC-775DSP transceivers, Alpha 76A, Palstar AT-1500CV,(soon to be upgraded to a Palstar AT 4K) MFJ-986, Icom IC-2000, two Heil ICM boom mics, and a Icom IC-9700 all mode VHF/UHF transceiver, soon to be paired with a Icom IC-7300. My primary antennas are a Buckmaster 3kW off center 7 band dipole, an inverted L for 160 and various VHF/UHF antennas. I just purchased a High Gain 640 AV and a Comet GP-95 VHF/UHF vertical but have not installed them yet. I have included a link to my general album that I have posted both of the QSL cards I received form you and the current state of my HAM / Test and measurement shack. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gksC6mUmF7UaUMz27
QSL cards sent by me to N7UQA for my 10th and 155th QSOs ever
73 and thanks for the links.
Craig Petersen – N7UQA
Thanks for your email. congrats.. I was 37 then..
62 now still working with new cw ops. Just helped a guy on 20 cw today.
