I don't think either approach is particularly good.  The legs of a G5RV, like a dipole, are cut to a specific length for a reason.  If you adjust the length you will have a fine antenna, but it will be optimized for a freqency outside the ham bands.

The G5RV design is actually 1.5 X lambda which makes it longer than a dipole.  If you don't have the space for a G5RV why not just build (or buy) a dipole that is cut properly for the band(s) you want to work?

Finally, you might want to play around with some of the free antenna software.  I like MMANA which is freeware from this link:

http://www.qsl.net/mmhamsoft/

The software comes with a big library of antennas, so you can probably find a model for the antenna you are interested in.  Then look at the radiation patterns from the standard antenna model, and compare it with the modifications you suggest to see what effects those will have.  It is quite instructive as a learning exercise.

73,
Jim  

Ricardo,

KL calls are issued to hams living in Alaska or to military personnel stationed in Korea (the KL9KAA-KL9KHZ range).  However, if a ham relocates to another part of the United States they are allowed to keep their call sign.  It is no longer possible to tell which part of the United States a ham is from just from his call sign.

If you need a "real" contact, swing that beam and keep on calling CQ.

You might post the question here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TS-520_820_530_830/

Lot of experienced 820 owners hang out there.

They can all be found in the ARRL Handbook, if you don't have one you might find a copy at Barnes & Noble or one of the other large chains.  I have something in electronic form if you will send me your e-mail.

73,
Jim

You would get a sequential sign, but I think it would be a 2X2 if you are an extra.  If you look on VanityHQ.com, you will see a list recently issued calls.  The most recent "0 land" extra call issued was AB0YX, so it looks like you would be in line for an AB0Z? if you do it soon.

Kenneth,

A CSCE, for any element, is only good for one year unless a license issues.  If a license issues, you have credit for any elements required for that license for as long as the license remains active (including the two-year grace period).  

Strictly speaking you do not have a year; the regulation reads 365 days.  Normally that doesn't matter, but 2004 is a leap year and you just know that somebody is going to wait until the last minute and lose their credits.

This question comes up mainly with respect to Element 1 (Morse code).  The CSCE give you element credit toward licensing for one year, while the various FCC issued licenses provides element credit for the term of the license plus the two year grace period.

If a Tech has a CSCE for Morse Code, they must upgrade to General within one year or be prepared to retest on code.  This quirk comes about because the FCC stopped issuing "Tech Plus" licenses a few years back, so the CSCE is the only proof you have of passing Element 1 and the CSCE credit expires after a year.

This may not make much sense, but that is the way the regulations read.  If you are interested in the details, look at 97.505 for the specific rules.

Most radios will let you do that; there is usually some type of control that will engage the sidetone without activating the transmitter.  

Also, try CW Communicator (Free!!) from the following link:

http://www.mrx.com.au/d_cwcom.htm

and on this link about 3/4 of the way down you can find instructions on how to interface a straight key to your computer:

http://www.mrx.com.au/images/cwcom_help.htm

John,

I think the practice tests are a pretty accurate predictor.  For the tests there are 35 topic categories (50 for Extra)and ten or more questions per topic.  Most of the practice exams just do a random draw for each topic.  Due to the randomness of it all, it is entirely possible that you can do many tests and still not hit every question.

In my experience, those that are consistently getting a good score on the practice tests get something very close to that on the real thing.  So, if you have studied to the point where you are only missing one or two questions each time, I think you are ready for that upgrade.  Good luck with it.

I have been playing with an APRS set-up for the past week or so in preparation for Field Day.  I was unable to get it setup on my computer, and I am 99% sure it is a WinAPRS problem with ports.  I finally gave up, borrowed the XYL's computer, and it works fine with the identical setup on hers.

The difference is the type of port.  The XYL has an older Win 98 machine from the days when they shipped with both USB and 9-pin serial ports.  I have a newer box with three USB connections but no 9-pin.  As a result, I had to use a USB converter that is assigned to COM4.  After reading some other info on the net, it appears WinAPRS does not like to use anything other than COM1 or COM2 but my installation of Win XP has those ports reserved in such a way that I cannot easily move devices around and remap the USB converter to COM2.

Has anybody figured out a way to make WinAPRS talk to COM4?  Does this problem exist with APRS+SA?  Now that I am hooked on APRS, I want it on my computer!

Computer modeling is exactly how they came up with those numbers.  All the calculations are found in OET Bulletin 65, Supplement B which is available on the FCC web site.

I am not sure there is a short description other than "Minimum Compliance Distance".

I got mine very quickly, like two or three days after it appeared on the ULS.  You should have it soon.  

If it still doesn't show up, you might want to use this trick - any change to a license generates a fresh printed copy.  So, if your license shows that you live at 111 Main St. do an administrative update to change your address to 111 Main Street or make some other trivial tweak (5 digit to 9 digit zip code, etc).  

N8UZE gave you some good advice.  I spent over two weeks just listening to "E" and "T" and never did get it right.  I was using a software that would not let you move to character 3 until you could copy the first two perfectly.

Finally, I changed software.  I downloaded a bunch of programs and tried them out (I finally settled on NuMorse) and started to make progress, albeit slowly.  Six weeks later, I passed.  Find the one that works for you go for it.  Both NuMorse and G4FON have Koch lessons and if I had to do it all over again, I would learn Koch at 20 WPM.  However, don't listen to me or anybody else about which one is best, find the one that fits your learning style and go with it!!!

Just know that some days your head will really hurt, and you will make ZERO progress.  Other days, you will breeze right through and learn two or three new letters.  Just shake off the bad days and keep at it; it does get easier as you go along.  

I also found that listening to random QSO's helps build confidence.  Once you know about half the material, start listening to messages like those on the test (NuMorse will build random QSO's).  You start to hear / guess words instead of individual letters, and you can then see the light at the end of the tunnel.

There are 104,000 hams with Extra class licenses, and plenty of us are "regular Joes" as you put it.  Get the ARRL study guide and do a bit of homework; I bet you will do just fine.

The rules are pretty clear - you should have enough grandfather credit for a General license.  The Code of Federal Regulations reads as follows (Part 97.505):

(a)  The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an examinee holding any of the following license grants or license documents:
.
(paragraphs 1-7 omitted)
.
( An expired FCC-issued Technician Class operator license document granted before March 21, 1987: Element 3.

(9) An expired or unexpired FCC-issued Technician Class operator license document granted before February 14, 1991: Element 1.

(b) No examination credit, except as herein provided, shall be allowed on the basis of holding or having held any other license grant or document.

So, if you can demonstrate that you had that Tech license from the early 1980's you can get element 1 and 3 credit even though the license itself is expired.

While it seems silly, another part of the regulations (at 97.501) reads that you must have credit for element 1,2, and 3 to get a General license.  So, I think that you still have to take the first 35 question Tech test to get element 2 since you do not appear to have grandfather credit for that.  However, once you pass you immediately qualify for a General license.  I hope that helps.