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I'm making an effort to pick up the mic and have SSB contacts and I've had my first one of the year on 60m.

Listening on 5320kHz I heard a weakish CQ call from M0JMV and replied a few times, but no joy… then I was called by G4MQL, with a 59 signal report (both ways).

It still feels a little alien speaking rather than typing or sending dots and dashes but it somehow transports me back to when I first got interested in radio back in the 1980s and got my callsign. Why have I largely ignored 'phone modes in the last 20 years?

I will have more SSB contacts. I have even put my morse keys and bugs away for a while and am waiting for delivery of a new HF radio, FT-891, bought with the express intention to use it purely for SSB.

I've been using the 60m band since we first got access via a Notice of Variation, but 90% of this has been in digimodes (mostly Olivia) with some CW and a little SSB.

But…. I'm also interested in the use of 60m for “normal” phone QSOs - I listen a LOT to 60m SSB operation, be it amateur or commercial/aeronuatical (and in the past to the Cadets, where have they all gone??) I now want to get more involved in things instead of listening/watching from the sidelines.

Onwards and upwards.