My First QRP Contact

The video in my previous post inspired me to try again with my FT-817. I've had the radio for a few months but had not made any contacts on it. I had a few free minutes after dinner tonight, so I attached the Miracle Whip to it and carried it outside. I called CQ a little bit on 28.385 but got nothing. I tuned up a little to 28.430 and heard someone calling CQ, but could only make out the end of their call, 4MAX. I figured I was hearing someone on the east coast, so I responded with my call, not expecting much. To my surprise, I got a response. He said I was weak, but barely readable. He blamed the problem on some local rain and then identified that he was VK4MAX in Queensland. No wonder I was weak! 8,300 miles on 5w! With a tiny antenna!

Needless to say, I am pleased. I was starting to think that I just wasn't cut out for QRP, so this came at a good time. Even better, it was my first Australian contact. A QSL card is going out for sure.