First CW QSO

I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm learning the code.

Recently a group of Croatian hams visited Vanuatu for a DX-pediton and used the callsign YV0MM. Vanuatu isn't that far from VK land so it wasn't hard to get an SSB contact with them. In fact they were on so often I could have got them every day, but that wouldn't have been fair on those that were struggling to get them.

Then when I heard them down around 14.004 MHz I thought, hmm, should I?

It took me a while to be sure it was really them, since the operator was sending a lot faster than I can usually read. When I was sure, I turned on the heater on the TS-820S, listened some more until I thought the rig was warmed up then, with a shaking hand, sent my callsign when I heard a TU.

After a couple of attempts I heard them come back with a very fast VK4 and a 5nn, which I was pretty sure was in reply to my call, so I replied with a 5nn. I wasn't sure if I'd got him or not. He had slowed down a bit, as though he was making it a bit easier on a slow op, so I thought maybe I'd got him. I decided not to try again, since I would just be causing QRM for everyone else. I also decided not to log it as I wasn't sure.

Today I checked their online log, since they've now finished and gone home. I was pretty sure I'd gotten into the log with my SSB QSO, although you can never be too sure. I thought I'd gotten into the log for the last Clipperton DX-pedition TX5C, since he'd read back my callsign correctly, but he'd logged me as VK4VZP. Well there I was in YV0MM's log, not just for the SSB QSO, but also the CW one.

I learnt two things from today, when learning CW, you're probably more ready to start sending than you think you are. Some ops are very forgiving. Secondly, if you think you've got them, but you aren't sure, log it anyway with a question mark against it. You never know.

73 de VK4VSP