STORY ABOUT ME AND MY BROTHER HARRY , UA6JW

My brother Igor was born in 1951 - all relatives called him Harrik and later when he began to work on air all knew him under a name of Harry
Our daddy Anton (UA6JD) in middle of the sixties has got acquainted Valentin Posykin (UA6JW) which has involved all over again him, and then they contain also us in this fine hobby.
I remember those fine years in second half of sixties when we together with the brother stayed in the whole days and at night in front of the big army receiver KBM listening to mysterious as it seemed to us then, to sounds. In 1967 the brother has received callsign UA6JWW and one of his first QSO on 10 meters AM was with VS9A??? - to a regret those years we did not understand value of this country -logs were not conducted properly and this country appeared irrevocably lost for Harry. Later I1RBJ has visited Aden as 7O0A - and Harry has QSO (I unfortunately at that time was not an at home and has missed him).
We have not found Don Miller - but Harry had the luck to QSOs with Gus Browning's the African activity in summer 1970 - at me still then there was no license and I only with pleasure listened such pleasant to an ear signal like VQ9/A/A , AC0A/GR
In the beginning of seventies Harry and me had meeting with two HAMs which in the image have changed ours relations to DXing. It was Peter Rushakov UM8FM (nw SK - at the end of 70 years the license of him was selected for active correspondence with foreign radio HAMs) and Vlad Kaploun UA1CK (nowadays DJ9BK) . We repeatedly met them personally at us and at their place - frequently talked on air and by the phone. They open in us that has then developed a spark of that into unextinguishable fire of DXing. Understanding that rare DXpeditions are very hard for fulfilling with the simple equipment and having missed the first DXpedition to Okino Torishima we have begun build a new antenna array - have constructed rare at that time the 6 elements YAGI on a tower established with the ground. After one month of daily work on adjustment we have achieved an optimum F/B & F/S ratio of parameters for DX operation. At the same time we already is realized have started to hunt for the new countries and also behind performance 5 bands awards - 5BDXCC and later 5BWAZ. It is necessary to tell that in seventies activity and propagationwas differed from present activity - small activity on 80 meters at round-the-clock pass on 20 meters with huge non-stop hours US pile-up. Made 500-800 QSO with North Americans for 2 or 3 hour on air before office time was ordinary business. Destinies has once again turned to us the person and has acquainted us with brother with remarkable people - which have brought up in us that spirit of the HAMRADIO which I think true till now. Many of them have left this life - but I shall try to tell about those who most sharply relate to us, simple unknown to anybody guys from Russia, have changed our relation not only on air but also on life. It was Ed W2MIG, Ray W8CNL , Jim K1MEM, Franz DJ9ZB, Gary K4MQG, Joe W3HNK, Jim W8ZET and many others.They were our Elmers - and we tried to be diligent pupils. Especially us with Harry the open relation to us has struck pleased famous HAMs known at that time. They shared with us that knowledge and experience which probably too have got as well as we communicating with other HAMs. Those years conditions in the USSR was such - as then it was characterized by historians - "cold war". It was forbidden to receive QSL on the home address. Those years when was not Internet we always communicated by QSO or by post letters - send AIR MAIL envelope costed very cheaply - approximately as much - how many costed half-packs of cigarettes. And we with the brother wrote much. It is a lot of. We always received cards from DXpeditions direct - and never paid for them. Why? Ben , W2BXA was taught us with very good lesson - he has told what easy and better simply to tell that the card is necessary and to thank for it - than to apply $$ or the IRC. I do not remember practically any case when we had difficulties with reception of QSL. All with whom we communicated were impregnated with spirit of HAM RADIO - that is tried help each other nothing demanding in exchange . Unfortunately now the HAM RADIO spirit began to be substituted by commercial interests of insatiable managers and it started to be considered same rare now as North Korea .
Gradually necessary countries became ever less and less - and there has come the long-awaited moment when we could remove to Moscow in Central Radio Club applications for plaques DXCC HR and 5BDXCC. Post to the charge on process of these awards has undertaken - CRC reception of these plaques has costed for us an equivalent approximately 2.5$ each - it about cost of one small box of Marlboro. Those years applications for such awards acted very little - as to execute them it was very uneasy. The truth the application for UA6JW 5BWAZ plaque laid about 4 years while was solved the problem with payment.
Have passed years and at last long-awaited and it seemed - not achievable HR#1. And before us there was a question - than to be more? By then IARU has made the decision removing an interdiction on receptions HF licensee without knowledge of CW - there was a Perestroyka, crash of USSR. The ether was captivated by huge crowd of people,who have money enough for purchase of the expensive equipment - but concepts not having about norms of morals and rules of behaviour on air. The range of 20 meters became similar to east market - infinite conversations on personal themes with not normative words. Harry, and I till now, and could not accept it. Harry with a head has left in work CW , for one year at him it was no more than 50 phone QSOs - the beginnings to be engaged in clubs plaques and trophies. For years of work on air he became a member of many clubs and organizations like Clipperton DX Club, Western Washington DX Club, French-DX-Foundation, EUDXF, NCDXF, HH, FH, MF,FISTS,10-10 and many others.
Harry waited for 3 new countries in PJ - spoke that it will be his last label - 370 countries. He has not waited.August 20, 2009 after haemorrhage of brain his DX saga has stopped on 367 countries.
He always remain in my memory as the true person with which it is necessary to follow an example.

Vlad UA6JD September '09