From what I have heard on the band, 2m ssb is pretty active in the Mid-South.  FM is decent on the repeaters and there are pockets of simplex FMers.  But it is true that you've got to get that antenna up there and a beam is needed.

Current Central Arkansas QTH is not great for getting antennas way up.  At the old house, which was on a flat prairie, I had a 2m/440 dualband vertical on a chimney mount about 20 ft above the roof.  Beam was a homebrew 3L on tripod about 10 ft above roof.  This worked pretty well, but when I homebrewed a 7L beam and added a 5 ft section to both antenna setups the difference was dramatic.  One of my regular contacts in east Tennessee said I went from readable but fairly weak on both FM and SSB to being so strong it was like I was there.  That was with 10 watts and just over 200 miles.  Not too bad.

I won't have results like that at current abode until I  get the tower built.  SO true that you have to get up as high as you can with best antennas possible.


73 and good 2m work to all -- Ray, KE5ICG

Mike -- W0BTU is correct.  CB is a great way to tell if 10 will be open.  I'll put my little Sears RoadTalker on channel 6 or 14 and keep the volume down.  The radio is connected to a walmart magmount near a window in the shack.  When the heterodyne starts whining, you just know ten will be sounding good soon.

Good Dx and 73 -- Ray

As much as I like building antennas, I don't think that I'll be building one for working the birds.  There are some guys working sats regularly here in central Arkansas and they almost all use Arrows w/duplexers.  No complaints that I've heard. They say the Arrow is pretty much trouble free and very easy to assemble and break down.  The duplexer limits your power, but most birds over North America are easily worked with a 5 watt dual band HT.  Another antenna I like the look of is the Elk dual band log periodic -- under $100 w/shipping and no duplexer needed.  Just my 2 cents worth, but I'm probably buying the Elk next month.

73 and See you on the sats -- Ray KE5ICG

Can't say I blame you; but I must agree with one poster who pointed out that all kinds of clubs can give you that feeling -- not really unwelcome  but not really welcome. Ho-hum who needs that.

But it does look like you have found a good niche with the sat guys.  Also I have generally found the guys on UHF to be very friendly everywhere I go.

I actually belong to 2 clubs -- one is mainly for emergency nets and community service and the other is a more general interest club.  So, I go to one club and it's all Skywarn and ARES and such, and then the other club is just a bunch of folks hanging out on the repeater and meeting one Sunday a month at a local KFC.

Good luck and don't give up on it.

73 Ray KE5ICG

Hi Ed,

I've got a Sixer, absolutely QRP (a watt and a half) but not a bad little radio.  Bought it on ebay on a lark so I'm darn lucky it actually works.  Tubes are plentiful, and it was a good build to begin with.  Plus, I believe I could work on it if needed based on what I see in the manual.

You might try and get a look at the manual for a Swan 250 or the Gonset Communicator.  Might give you some ideas.

Good luck and give a holler on 50.4

Ray

First, welcome to the hobby.  The whip is an ok idea, but I'd take it down and put it on a vehicle (that's where mine is).  A wire dipole would probably do better for you, and they are easy and fun to make with plans all over the internet (wire, insulators and such are plentiful and inexpensive).  As for 10 meters, long distance communications are only fair right now, but you never know when opportunities to work some DX may present themselves.  I keep an inexpensive scanner (radio shack NASCAR type) around and let it scan from CB through 28 and 50 to 54 Mhz.  When I start to hear lots of distant stations in CB land, that is often a sign that the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF)-- read about it on the net -- is climbing.  Other times you may be able to work some stations after a front comes through or when there are temperature inversions -- again the scanner comes in handy.

I too, am looking forward to getting my general class license -- after all, 20 meters is usually going pretty good all the time.  But in the meantime, there are all kinds of things to do on 10 and 6 and even 2 meters.  With eham you've got a very good resource for information too.

73 and good luck -- Ray

Ben,

If there's a Tractor Supply or similar store near you, go in there and check out their electric fence supplies. You'll probably find insulators that will work for you, and at a very reasonable price.  JMTC and 73 Ray -- KE5ICG

Of course, I do not know your circumstances but you might reconsider taking it outside.  I know a guy who was using an attic ant. with so-so results (no "visible" antennas allowed in his subdivision), and another op in our area suggested he set up a big loop on the top rail of the wooden fence around his back yard. He laid the wire right on the wood securing it w/plastic cable ties and said it tunes up 10-80 just fine rain or shine.  Might be worth trying if you have a fence like that.  Or, you could always try a vertical somewhere out of sight, but outdoors.  JMHO, but I'd rather have all antennas outdoors if at all possible.  In any event, have some fun with it.  73 -- Ray KE5ICG  

Try AF4K (just google that call sign) -- he might have something for you.  I bought a crystal from him recently.  He's easy to deal with and takes Paypal.

73 and Good Luck -- Ray

Never thought I would say it, but "bravo" for the FCC. No reason I can see for dropping code or any of the tests.  It would not be amateur radio without them.  Looking forward to passing Elements 1 and 3 soon.

73

Ray