Yogi Berra is reputed to have said, “You can observe a lot by just looking.” Well, to paraphrase that wise old man, “You can hear a lot by just listening.”
Let me give you an example. Sometimes, when I’m tuning around, I’ll pick up a copy of QST or World Radio, that’s lying on the desk. I was just doing that a minute ago and almost missed a DX QSO.
As I tuned to 7024, I heard WA3RLP calling CQ. He was kind of weak, and I almost continued tuning around, but for some reason, I decided to leave it right there. The station didn’t get a reply to his CQ, so he started again. This time, I really listened and got a surprise. It wasn’t WA3RLP at all. Instead it was RA3RLP! I had to call him a couple of times, but he stuck with me and we had a nice QSO.
So, the moral of the story, I guess, is to put down the magazine and really listen to what’s on the radio. Who knows what I’ve been missing all these years. You can really hear a lot if you just listen.
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