Congrats on the 2 meter ssb, Mike.  Sounds like fun.  And congrats on 
finding a tirific deal for the radio.  Reminds me of my first ever 2 meter 
contact in 1970 on 2-meter AM with a gonset communicater.  I've always 
wanted to put something on 2 ssb here but mountains are prohibitive.  Lou 
WA3MIX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 8:53 PM
Subject: My First Ever 2 Meter SSB QSO


> At a radio club junk auction a year ago, I bought an Icom
> IC260 all mode 2 meter rig circa 1980 for a whole $5.00. I
> then spent another $5.00 on a DC power cord.
>
> I just talked with a station in Waterproof LA, and another
> in St. Francisville, LA on SSB using that radio and my
> 2 meter/440 vertical.
>
> One station was about 70 miles away, the other about 125
> miles. Both of them had strong local sounding signals.
>
> Not bad for ten watts and a total investment of $10.
>
> One of those guys asked if this contact was going to be like
> that first hot air balloon ride. The first one is free, the
> second cost a chunk of change when you go out and buy your
> own balloon.
>
> I don't know about that, but the first 2 meter SSB contact
> was fun, even though the radio isn't exactly blind friendly.
>
>
>
> Mike Duke, K5XU
> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs