Back in January 1997, I was scanning the 30m band late at night. The conditions were pretty average, just the usual winter noise. Then, around 00:20 UTC, I caught a faint CW signal. After some careful tuning, I figured out it was CP4BT, operated by Claus in Bolivia.
We got in touch and did the usual signal reports, names, and locations exchange. The signal strength was bouncing between 339 and 449, which was expected for that path and time. Claus was spot-on with his keying, making it easier to copy despite the not-so-great conditions.
Our chat lasted about 5 minutes before the signal faded into the noise. This QSO was a big deal for me because it was my first time reaching Bolivia, adding a new country to my DXCC list. Even though Bolivia isn't super rare DX from England, it had somehow slipped through my fingers until then.
This QSO showed me the potential for long-distance chats on the 30m band at night, even with basic power levels and antennas. It also reminded me of the importance of staying patient and keeping an eye out for new countries to add to the list.
Radio: Icom IC-738
Antenna: Random wire
Power: 50w
Location: Loughborough
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