Seeing joyful reports of snagging DX under challenging conditions, such as just posted by Bill, KA3IXF, adds so much pleasure for me to this great hobby. Not only are they testaments to the fine Elecraft products, but they also attest to the operating skills of so many in the Elecraft Forum group. Comparisons of DX worked don't mean much, however, until they include antennas used. In Bill's case, the key words are "with my homebrew, helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill." Now, that's a challenge well met. Good job, Bill! To the phrase, "Anybody can do it with power," I'd like to add, "Anybody can do it with low power and a good antenna." It's the hams in our happy group who operate under extremely limited conditions that draw the most admiration from me. I can't imagine how discouraging it must be at times for someone living, for example, in a restrictive condo building having to run QRP with wire tacked to an interior wall, a shortened vertical sticking out a window in the darkness, or a stealth antenna tucked in a hidden location. I know those antennas will work and have experimented successfully with them myself, but the skills required to make long-distance contacts with such limitations expresses to me the real heart of ham radio. Hat's off to all of you operating in such a manner, and your enthusiastic postings add a wonderful flavor to the daily forum. Keep the joyful shouts coming! 73, Dale - K6PJV, Sacramento <snip> Just worked Cyprus, 5B4AGC, 14.027, on my K2, from my third floor apartment, with my homebrew helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill. WOW !!!!!!! 73, Bill KA3IXF <end snip> _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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