The 25^th of June 2007. That date will remain embedded in my mind for a long time to come! The River Don in Yorkshire burst its banks a second time after two weeks' worth of rain fell in a day. Much of England and Wales had been under the influence of some strange weather phenomena keeping a raft of low pressure fronts sweeping over the UK when they normally pass by above the northern tip of Scotland.

Nowhere escaped the rain, it was depressing. Here in the South West of England we normally enjoy a moderate climate compared to other areas of the country but even we didn't escape the torrents that fell from the sky. The big difference is no one was killed down here and for that I am grateful. It is a pity anyone had to die.

Away from the events dominating the news but perhaps almost equally depressing to we VHF radio enthusiasts was the fact that six meters was behaving in a most disappointing way, promising to be the worst summer witnessed for a long while with very poor propagation indeed. Needless to say, if 6m Sporadic E is misbehaving, you can be sure 4m is worse... Don't get me wrong, there had been openings - in fact there had been some great openings but not anywhere near the quality of the previous year which many reported as being a great season.

Clicking on this QSL will open a new window to You Tube where the latter part of the contact  was recorded on Mike's camcorder.

The twenty fifth however was a good radio day - a silver lining on a particularly grey forecast. A series interesting openings starting between 10AM and midday local time to the Caribbean and East Coast USA, brightened up the horizon - no end. Just after lunch I was working into the states and mid afternoon I had the great fortune to work Darren, C52T! However W5UWB also appeared on JT6m and we worked making him my JT6m ODX at 8000kms and my all-time 6m ODX also! Indeed as the afternoon developed the propagation showed no signs of abating, with occasional flurries of CW wafting over the band from East Coast and inland USA.

Then came the time I dreaded the most when there is an opening - my childrens' bed time. I could tell you some stories about "the ones that got away" during that fateful hour, to an hour-and-a-half! Indeed the propagation was improving all the time on the approach to 7pm which was my cut-off point! No doubt my kids would not have appreciated those stories and I refrain from boring you with them also ;o)

Bedtime came and went for the little ones and I armed myself with a fine cup of tea. Hobbling back down to the shack in anticipation of a good evening my ears were primed from the moment I opened the shack door, straining for the signs of Es; so often have I left an active band at this awkward time only to return later to hissssss.... I did not know at this point that this particular evening was going to be a momentous occasion! Putting the headphones on and glancing at the cluster I could see that business was booming.

The signals were coming in thick and fast. I noticed that there was unusually low activity from the Mediterranean; almost inevitably when 6m is open to the USA and Caribbean to my part of the country, the Portuguese and Spanish are never far away but tonight this did not appear to be the case. I worked a couple of NA stations with enormous signals; the kind of signals one is normally happy to work the EU with. My mind went into overdrive.

In the preceding months to the Sporadic season kicking off, I had made written contact with some NA and Canadian stations with more than a passing interest in 4m. If you don't know me then suffice it to say that one could possibly describe me as passionate about 4m, indeed some might even go as far as saying that I am obsessive about the band. They would most likely be correct too; my station revolves around 4m, all other bands are of secondary interest to me.

I had both ON4KST chat and also Justin's DXers.info 6m chat running and I watched them cooking with excitement. Now the band was singing, I had not witnessed for a while, the strength and volume of transatlantic radio traffic that I was seeing this night, it was truly awesome! I sat for a moment, listening to my instincts, I was being told to abandon the furore of 6m and opt for the silence beckoning on 4m. What was I to do; I had a 6m band full of DX that I could have almost reached out and touched and on the other hand I knew there was something like 4 transatlantic stations listening to 4m this night. The odds were very much stacked against me but this day had already seen my luck peak once with landing C5 which I had been chasing relentlessly for over a week. And then I started; banging away a CQ on 70185, CW. Relentlessly I went on and on, CQ CQ G7CNF CQ CQ G7CNF XBAND LSN 50185 G7CNF DX K K. On and on I went; the cluster was almost scrolling it was so busy on 6m. I must have missed 50 or 60 possible new ones but I was not going to leave this band, the opportunity existed and I was certain it was possible. . .

By now, a couple of NA and one VE station had nailed their colours to the mast and advertised that they were listening cross band on 4m. Several times I too posted messages that I was CQ'ing and the frequencies that I was operating on. Six meters continued to wax hot and wane occasionally.

About 9.45pm local, Daran, MW0HMV, called me on KST chat with a "meep" (audible alert). He drew my attention to a comment by VE9AA who was listening on 4m and looking for transatlantic cross band. I was instantly buzzing with excitement. Mike (VE9AA) was on KST chat now but I had been too busy watching the DXers.info chat and calling CQ; I forgot to review KST which was buried under a host of other windows all vying for my attention. I began calling VE9AA on 102. Literally moments after I had completed my short call, Mike reported hearing CW on 4m and was himself quite obviously brimming over with excitement; he too was hunting in earnest to make that momentous contact. Another call and this time Mike identified me as the caller. I couldn't believe it! Right about then, MUF took a nose dive and Mike lost the signals before we had exchanged reports. My frustration was indescribable. The chat transcript elucidates:-

2007-06-25 20:42:26Z VE9AA Mikeaa I have 4m RX capability. 6el aimed @ EU on 4m 2007-06-25 20:44:21Z MW0HMV Daran 10/6/4/XB Nige you looking here...look at VE9AA comment 2007-06-25 20:46:24Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Daran Tnx, too many windows open HI! 2007-06-25 20:47:01Z VE9AA Mikeaa 70.102 & 70.200 I'm tuning 2007-06-25 20:47:41Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) I CQ in CW 2007-06-25 20:47:50Z VE9AA Mikeaa I hear CW on 70.,102 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Where are you listening 2007-06-25 20:48:09Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) 50185 2007-06-25 20:49:53Z VE9AA Mikeaa I hear you I hear you. Listen on 50.185 Cnf 2007-06-25 20:51:05Z VE9AA Mikeaa DAMN! Nothing now Nige...keep clg 2007-06-25 20:52:38Z VE9AA Mikeaa Throw some more coal on the fire Nige. Lost you on 4m....if anyone else wants to call, I'll listening 70.102 2007-06-25 20:54:01Z VE9AA Mikeaa I am listening 70.102 guys.......hrd g7cnf but faded

By now the word was out and there were at least 5 CW callers I could hear on 4m all trying for Mike. He identified another caller but then lost them in exactly the same way that he lost me. I was certain I was going to lose the race and the adrenalin was pumping. With a mixture of excitement and apprehension my CW must have sounded pretty shaky there for a while. The cluster was still spinning with activity; I knew that conditions had not gone completely. Repetitiously I called over and over. One by one the competitors gave up until I remained the solitary caller. Steadfast I continued, not flinching, not QSY'ing to 6m where guys with 10w and a dipole were now chalking up dozens of NA contacts. I think it was about 20 minutes later I was still banging away, sending Mike his report, I simply didn't have it in me to stop. Reluctantly I reverted to CQ:-

2007-06-25 21:20:36Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Condx building and SSB QRM in 50185 nw but still continue CQ on 70102 2007-06-25 21:20:38Z VE9AA Mikeaa G7CNF you or anyone else still calling on 70.102 Nige ?

It is very interesting to note the synchronicity here; following an inactivity of 25 minutes by Mike and myself on the chat, we issue messages on chat separated by just 2 seconds - how odd it that??? Then:-

2007-06-25 21:22:23Z VE9AA Mikeaa CW on 70.102 again.....I sent some QRZ's on 50.185 CW 2007-06-25 21:24:09Z VE9AA Mikeaa CW again 70.102. I need another 3-5dB to get calls/reports 2007-06-25 21:25:49Z CT1FFU CTony 6&4 Mikeaa pse check CQ5FOUR beacon in 70,608 2007-06-25 21:26:40Z VE9AA Mikeaa CTony I have been checking every few minutes 608/612 for CT bcns 2007-06-25 21:26:50Z VE9AA Mikeaa CW on 102 again. 2007-06-25 21:29:17Z G3SED Mike Darren band been open for 5 hours to USA worked over 250 W's !!!!! 2007-06-25 21:31:22Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Yesssssssss 2007-06-25 21:31:35Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Thank u soooo much! 2007-06-25 21:32:01Z VE9AA Mikeaa woooooooooooooooooo-hooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!! 2007-06-25 21:32:30Z OZ3ZW Torben 4/6M N!ge what did u wkd `?? 2007-06-25 21:32:45Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) VE9AA Torben

The moment of truth came. On 50185 appeared Mike in CW and he was a solid 599 and he was calling me - me! He had heard me and was coming back with a report! Wow! Was this my moment? I hammered back Mike's report over and over. It was clear that the conditions his end on 4m were marginal so I persisted. At this point the story becomes more graphic because after Mike had sent me his report he grabbed his camcorder and began filming the QSO at his end. You can watch the video and hear us battling it out with mother nature, determined to overcome the brutal QSB gnawing at my signal over the enormous path of 4620km. Really, the video says it all. There is a quality issue of audio reproduction for which I have done my best to engineer an improvement and compared to the original footage, the reproduction has improved my CW a little. But Mike has confirmed since that his experience of the CW was better than the camcorder reproduced. Nonetheless, the video footage does show the latter part of the QSO.

I found it quite eerie to watch, as every syllable of CW that came out of Mike's speaker that the camcorder picked up - I remember sending. I also remember my state of mind at the moment I was sending it. Even months later I still feel a sense of elation when I watch the video or read the chat transcript. The messages of congratulation we received were very kind and certainly welcome; I think we both needed something to bring us down off the ceiling!

I was later told by my good friend Tomi, HA5PT that the QSO earned a brief mention in QST. He kindly sent the edition over to me when he was finished but it never arrived. Fortunately he had scanned and emailed the relevant pages prior to dispatch - thanks Tomi!

2007-06-25 21:32:47Z VE9AA Mikeaa Dave, I'm sorry, I was working G7CNF and took me a few. Will listehning 130 now if you like 2007-06-25 21:32:54Z OZ3ZW Torben 4/6M Ohh I see 2007-06-25 21:32:57Z G0CHE K€V Congrats Nige/Mike 2007-06-25 21:32:59Z VE9AA Mikeaa You just made my day Nige !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-06-25 21:33:06Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) QSL will be direct Mike, OK? 2007-06-25 21:33:29Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) U just made mine Mike, this is a first (I meant for me) 2007-06-25 21:33:29Z VE9AA Mikeaa RR Nige 2007-06-25 21:33:29Z MW0HMV Daran 10/6/4/XB Well done Nige/Mike 2007-06-25 21:33:51Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Tnx Daran 2007-06-25 21:33:55Z GM4ISM Mark Congrats both 2007-06-25 21:34:19Z OZ3ZW Torben 4/6M Gratulations here from me. Excellent job guy,s 2007-06-25 21:34:22Z G1OAR Peter 6/4M Well done N!ge & Mikeaa 2007-06-25 21:34:27Z CT1FFU CTony 6&4 congrats Nigel !!! 2007-06-25 21:34:32Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Mike was 599 here continuously throughout this attempt 2007-06-25 21:34:40Z EI2IP Robbie Well done Nige 2007-06-25 21:34:48Z GM4ISM Mark hd u on 6m mike, ony 539 2007-06-25 21:35:16Z G0JJL John Wow boys congrats 2007-06-25 21:35:28Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Wooohoooooo!!! 2007-06-25 21:35:32Z EI7BMB Cowboy Tony was that 4m transatlantic? 2007-06-25 21:35:42Z VE9AA Mikeaa Nige, I caught it on video on my digi camera. Not sure your CW will even be loud enough for playback HI HI 2007-06-25 21:35:39Z PA2V Peter V Was that 4/6M X-band Mike and Nigel? WOOOWWWW 2007-06-25 21:36:33Z OZ1DJJ Bo from Oz © congratulation Mikeaa and Nige 2007-06-25 21:36:48Z HB9RUZ Peter congrats CNF !!!!!!! 2007-06-25 21:37:40Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Tnx Peter, this is a monumental occasion for me 2007-06-25 21:38:20Z EI7BMB Cowboy Tony Great work Nige/Mike 2007-06-25 21:38:24Z G7BUR Graham CNF and AA well done 2007-06-25 21:38:47Z VE9AA Mikeaa I always thought 4m would be open during these so called WHIZZ BANG openings. Now I know 2007-06-25 21:39:28Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) I thought I had lost the QSO when I faded out. 1st time 2007-06-25 21:41:21Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Come on EI make that crossing! 2007-06-25 21:42:36Z EI2IP Robbie Maybe a late Nige but give it another few mins 2007-06-25 21:44:45Z EI3IO Dave Conditions almost completely gone on 6m stopping on 4m 2007-06-25 21:45:31Z VE9AA Mikeaa what is your power/antenna on 4m Nige ? Here tr-751A and modified 6el CC on 4m. 6m is ic-736 and 2 x 8el (100w) 2007-06-25 21:47:07Z G7CNF N!ge (4/6/JT) Power was 160w (max legal) and antenna 7 el YU7EF at 60ft

The chat transcript has been edited only inasmuch that I have removed other conversations from the exchanges and retained the comments which were relevant to the contact or those relevant to it, the content itself remains unaltered, unedited with typos and spelling left exactly as they were on the night.

Special thanks go to ON4KST for kindly providing the transcript of the chat that evening from his archives, enabling me to paste directly on to this page the exchanges which took place that evening. Without them I would not have been able to reproduce this story with the correct chronology.

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