Be careful.  Many decades ago I lived in a townhouse and when I keyed my HW100 the smoke alarm in my unit (or I thought just in my unit) would act like a sidetone.  So removing the battery I started operating again until suddenly someone pounded on my door getting everyone out of the building because it was "on fire".  That was when I discovered the joys of QRP. ;-)

72, 73, JP, K8AG

But in reality if you can turn your rig down a bit you may find the 50W is all you need to work the world.  Until you know your supply can handle 20A peak, consider a bit less output on transmit.

72, 73, JP, K8AG

I have been a ham for decades now but only in the last coiuple of years have I had the time to operate on a fairly regular basis.  I have been working the last year on not writing everything down.  I used to write every single letter which makes copy at 20+ wpm extremely difficult.  It has taken me about a year to feel comfortable writing a call and a name and a few other notes during a qso but leaving the TX FER THE CALL.  UR RST IS... for my brain only.

It takes time to unlearn.

73, JP, K8AG

An equalizing charge is used to bring back all cells to nearly the same voltage.  Cells under a normal (lower voltage) charge will tend to favor some cells.  As a result some cells will charge to a higher voltage (more fully charged) while other cells will not.  Their electrolytes get depleated to different levels and eventually some cells in the series will not produce the current needed for the battery to function properly.

What an equalizing charge does is raise the voltage across the entire bank of cells to force all of the cells up to full potential.  Equalization charging is only done for a short period trying to get the voltages are relatively the same. Then the normal charge voltage is returned.  This is sometimes done in large banks of lead acid cells used to back up UPS systems for buildings etc.  Most car chargers I have seen don't have the ability to perform an equalization charge.  Individual cell voltages and electrolytes need to be monitored during an equalization charge.

I used to service battery systems many years ago.  We tended them fairly closely and got an amazingly long life from our cells.

73, JP, K8AG

There is a genuine prejudice in the technical world against those who do not know.  People who know (whether it is code or Ohm's Law, or operating procedures or anything technical) tend to be offended by those who do not.  It's almost like they feel that somehow they have achieve a certain greatness and the unknowing don't deserve to be helped into the community.  I work every day with many engineers and the attitude pervades most technical communities.  We need to stop and appreciate those who helped us and try to help those who are not yet "in the know".

I thought that total removal of CW requirements was a bad idea.  After all CW is the most basic form of communication.  Put the information on the radio wave by simply turning it on and off.  But the CW bands are busier than ever with folks trying CW for the first time.  I was wrong about keeping CW from those who needed to learn it.  Let's encourage all of the new coders and QRS once in a while.

My 2 cents.  73, JP, K8AG

When they removed the code requirement I thought the CW segments would shrink until nearly gone.  After all CW is legal everywhere on the ham bands (60M?).  But I seem to have been wrong.  Now that we are no longer "required" to operate CW it seems that folks are trying it.  Whodathunk?

73, JP, K8AG

I understand your apprehension.  I would suggest the following:

Consider stealth antennas even if you don't have a home owners agreement with which to contend.  They are easy and most neighbors don't even know they are not simply power or phone lines.  (Of course ham neighbors will see them for what they are.)

Also consider QRP operation.  Some consider 100W QRP but I work nearly all QRP now and have a simple wire antenna between the trees.  It amazes me the contacts I make all over the world on 5W or less.

73, JP, K8AG

I would suggest sending from a book or magazine into a recorder (computer or tape).  Then play it back and see if you can copy it.  If you have a hard time copying your own fist then everybody else will.  Makes you a better fist.

Welcome to CW.  It's the most fun.

73, JP, K8AG

I built my first rigs from scratch using articles in books and ARRL publications as guides.  I agree that much of that activity is gone.  But I think this is a case of hate the game, don't hate the player.

I have done a lot of technical writing in my job over the decades.  One thing I understand is that most technical people have a difficult time expressing ideas and understanding to those who don't already share their insight.  Trying to learn ham radio from literature written only for those who need little explanation is difficult.  Ham radio study materials, for the most part, are badly written with little flow from one subject to another, and little explanation of why a question might address something important.  Of course I understand the materials.  But as a 20 wpm FCC tested extra and former radio engineer, I already understand the material.

We need to push ARRL and the others to rework their study guides to make them more comprehensive and less tuner to the quick buck of getting more people their tickets.

Sorry for the rant.  73, JP, K8AG

You might look for a dpdt knife switch.  A ceramic one would be best.  They are impressive in the shack.  But of course then you have exposed RF contacts.

73

JP

Make some of your own practice tapes "digital recordings".  You can simply send backward text from a book or magazine.  Then copy your own fist.  You can use the book or magazine to check your accuracy.  This is a way to increase your listening speed while checking your sending quality and syncing your send and receive speed.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

From what I have been reading this may not be exactly true.  Apparently if you use PayPal for a non-Ebay transaction the buyer can take the funds back before you use them.  To me that makes PayPal kind of like a check that has "cleared" but not been "paid".

73, JP, K8AG
 

This is sad.  Especially for newer hams.

I buy nearly all of my equipment used and have never been ripped off.  But I don't buy from friends because I feel I lose control.  (Nobody likes to tell their friend that the equipment they sold was lousy.)

All I can say is check them out as well as you can and leave postings that are only facts.  This way we all benefit.

If it's too good of a deal or the seller is really anxious to get the thing sold, walk away.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

One suggestion I would make is try going faster.  I remember way back in the mid 70s when I was upping my speed to 13wpm to test for my Advanced license.  It seemed that the FCC chose 13 as the speed where the brain switches between hearing the character, resolving what it is then writing it and hearing then writing it.  I could do 16 wpm comfortably all day yet 13 was very annoying.

I passed the test and got 20wpm Extra shortly after.  But 20 was an extension of what my brain did at 16wpm, not 13wpm.

Try going a bit faster and copy individual characters.  You may find you can do 15 or 16, having trouble at 13.

73, JP, K8AG

I hate to say it but this is a point.  As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a ham.  I love the idea of sitting in my house and pushing a signal out of a wire above my roof and somebody somewhere in the world can detect it and send one back.  Truly fantastic.

But I feel that truly my first year as a ham radio operator was 2011.  I have been licensed since 1975 and a 20 wpm Extra since 1976.  But I never really participated in the activity involved in being a ham until 2011.  My kids are now fairly grown, needing less direct assistance from me.  In 2011 for the first time I:

Attended Dayton for a whole day.
Set a goal of one QSO for every day in 2011 (got over 400).
Participate in at least one contest (never had before).

I accomomplished each of the above AND found that I had an AK QSO on an old log that hadn't been recorded so I can now apply for WAS should I choose.  (Yes I participated so little that I never got AK in over 30 years of being licensed.)

Maybe this year I'll join a club.  73, JP, K8AG