The story of a great QSO between DL4FO/p Chris and VK4FW Bill
Dear Bill,
Thanks for listening to my weak WWFF-signal on 20m today and answering my call.
You really made my day!! I was on a hiking trip and called from a wooden tower on a summit near Frankfurt (not a SOTA reference but within DLFF-0068).
Since it was getting cold and my wife waited with two dogs down at the tower, I only took out the little MFJ-1820T telescopic antenna, which is abt. 1.5 m long (see picture).
I used the lighting rod of the tower as a counterpoise and started calling CQ with 5 watts from my KX2 by Elecraft.
Surprisingly UA9LT answered, but when you came back, I was completely hyped.
Thanks very much, I will send postage and my address via OQRS/Paypal to get your QSL for this great QSO.
Looking forward to meeting you again from any mountain or from my home-QTH!
73 and 44 Chris DL4FO/p
It was a real pleasure to get into the log. I am surprised at just how effective that tower was with the little antenna. I look forward to many more wwff areas between us.
My great pleasure! A simple quaterwave wire might have done a better job, but this time the telescopic antenna was faster…
Let me add that the summit is named PFERDSKOPF, situated 25 km n/w of the city of Frankfurt and 660m above sealevel. It is part of the GMA-programme (Global Mountain Activity, DA/HE-019). If you ever hear me or others call “CQ GMA”, be so kind to come back for a short QSO, even if you do not participate in the programme. For more information see http://www.cqgma.net !