03/04/2002 | WA8DID Newly back into the hobby, the ARRL International DX Contest (Phone) was my first contest ever. I had tried to QSO with PW0T for the past week or so but running barefoot on a ground mounted vertical just couldnt compete with the Big Voices. So, Friday evening I turned my attention to the contest and had a really good time. Saturday morning I got a call from my father in Michigan, Ron Gorzynksi K8DID, that PW0T was on the air! I had expected them to be packing up. Tuning to the frequency, I was disappointed to find lots of QRM and a weak signal, but PW0T was there calling CQ contest! My husband Art, who is studying for his General Ticket along with me, got up off his sick bed unprompted and spent half an hour working to install our 10 meter dipole antenna up on our roof. The extra height was just what was needed, but the signal was still a bit weak as I sat down at the rig and made my first call. I was thrilled to get the call back on my first try! Immediately, the phone rang and it was my surprised and very proud father, who had been monitoring the frequency while visiting on 2 meters with our friend Phil Eckley, WB8FIW. What a scene we must have made: my husband talking on the phone and listening to my QSO with PW0T coming over my fathers radio while Im fighting the low signal! But we did it! And I cant wait to have that card hanging in my shack! --Deanna Lutz -- WA8DID