The Setup

Braving the elements in the garden shack as HA/DG5CW in Hungary, I found myself in a battle of wills against a biting, freezing wind. Despite temperatures and windy conditions that threatened to turn my fingers into icicles, the station stayed hot. I pushed the Yaesu FT-891 to a robust 75 Watts on the 30m band, relying on the precision of the 9A5N Solid State Paddle. Althrough the 10m vertical was dancing in the wind, our signals were holding a stable 589/579
There is something incredibly rewarding about maintaining a higher speed CW run when the environment is fighting you every step of the way… ;-)

The QSO with DL1DXL

It is always a pleasure to cross air-paths with Lothar, DL1DXL. Having worked him from various locations in the past, I’ve come to consider him a true role model for CW operating. His code is always perfectly timed — a joy to copy.
This session was no exception, as we settled into a comfortable 40 minute ragchew. This contact turned out to be another milestone, as Lothar graciously provided the third of the five qualifying recommendations I needed for my HSC membership. A vital step forward, achieved with excellent company.