Ham Radio - Picking up new HF antenna this weekend

[Rod]

Been out of Ham Radio for about 5 years or so, but I'm finally getting back into it. I forgot how much fun it was. Went up on the roof to setup my HF antenna last weekend and discovered it's beyond repair. I'm going out and picking up a new HF Verticle this weekend. The antenna received high ratings, so as long as the bands are open I should be able to work the world no problem.

Any hams out here want to setup a QSO? I've always wanted to do a Cigar Net. If anyone is up to a doing a QSO this weekend, let's plan on 20 Meters.

I currently hold a General license. Started out as a tech back in '94, then a tech plus in '97, then a General in '99. I'm going to go for the Extra this summer.

Let's see how many hams we have out here...

73,
Rod
KE6MGB

 

[BlindedByScience]

KE6MGB DE NY7D RPT NY7D ES NAME HR IS B.B.S. RPT B.B.S. ES QTH HR VANCOUVER WA RPT VANCOUVER WA KN

(Secret code known only to ham radio guys..... )

...be interesting to see how many hams we have here. I haven't been active for a while but did get my Extra some time back (as you can tell by my 2X1 call sign). I was pretty active in contesting for a while, having worked a number of field day events, as well as being invited to guest op a few years ago at Rush Drake's amazing "antenna farm" one sweepstakes. Of course we got a clean sweep..... :thumbs:

Here's a link to Rush's antenna farm. Rush passed on this year, and as the web page says, his station is now owned by John Gohndrone, N7TT.

73's, Rod - NY7D - B.B.S.

 

[Castaway]

.- .-.. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / --. ..- -.-- ... / . ...- . .-. / - .- .-.. -.- / .- -... --- ..- - / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .- -. - . -. -. .- ... .-.-.-

 

[bfreebern]

I know Leebo is into ham radio.

 

[Lee]

Still working on my upgrade but I've been enjoying 2 meter DX with the ducting as of late. I've talked to NC, MD, PA and WVA on fm in the last few days on a Ringo Ranger.

Which antenna are you getting Rod? Butternut or something like that?

KD4JXZ

 

[BlindedByScience]

When I had my HF station, I lived in a teeny house in the city. Also, was in engineering school at the time so the budget was really tight. No towers and beams, to be sure.

I had a Hy-Gain 18AVT vertical antenna that I mounted on the ground, on a 8' pipe we stuck in the ground. Used the old "hose down the middle" trick to irrigate the pipe down into the ground. That antenna required a ground plane of some sort and I didn't have the room on the roof of the house to run long enough wires to create and effective one. It really worked well; I worked most of Asia and almost every state there was. Lots of Russian hams, too. Rig was an older Kenwood TS-520 that I kick myself in the butt for ever selling; It was a dandy. Ran a lot of CW with an AEA keyer and a set of Bencher paddles.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[Lee]

That's cool! You can also use screen as the ground plane on those ground mounted verticles, they kick butt!

I have a vintage HF rig, Yaesu FT-301AD with matching power supply. Got it for $50 and it works perfectly. I have it in my office at work with a homemade dipole strung up, I can hear stations all over the world.

 

[Castaway]

.- .-.. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / --. ..- -.-- ... / . ...- . .-. / - .- .-.. -.- / .- -... --- ..- - / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .- -. - . -. -. .- ... .-.-.-

[snapback]203682[/snapback]​

Translation:

"ALL YOU GUYS EVER TALK ABOUT ARE YOUR ANTENNAS."

 

[BlindedByScience]

.- .-.. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / --. ..- -.-- ... / . ...- . .-. / - .- .-.. -.- / .- -... --- ..- - / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .- -. - . -. -. .- ... .-.-.-

[snapback]203682[/snapback]​

Translation:

"ALL YOU GUYS EVER TALK ABOUT ARE YOUR ANTENNAS."

[snapback]203891[/snapback]​

...of course. My antenna is WAAAAY bigger than yours..... :whistling:

(snicker) - B.B.S.