01/05/2008 | K2WI I had so much fun this year, I had to force myself to get some sleep at 5AM. I started with the "Big Rig", 500W Navy TCK and RBB receiver, with Vibroplex Champion bug and copying on Underwood mill. When the mill ribbon wouldn't reverse, I got distracted as I crossed the shack to grab my log book. When my gaze hit the TBX rig I remembered the matching key that my friend Joe Rapp brought back from Okinawa from his stint as a USMC radio operator. He never ran the TBX, but he said it was an easy souvenir to stuff in his gear, being otherwise handicapped by having to carry an SCR-300 along with his other gear. I broke that key out and plugged it into the TBX and spent the next 10 hours on 12 QSOs with a short nap in there. I had many great QSOs. Funny that the buzziest, chirpiest signal I heard was a Yaecomwood. Best fist I heard was W3ZT, who I did not work.

More details on radios and friend Joe on www.home.earthlink.net/~navyradio

73, Rob K2WI -- K2WI