I've been using a Carolina Windom 80 for about a year. Have been very satisfied (190 DXCC entities worked since last September), and recently raised it from 35ft to 50ft. I am considering adding a CW40Plus at 90 degrees to the CW80 for a little switchable pattern diversity. I would appreciate hearing from any other Radio Works customers with orthogonal Carolina Windoms about their experience. Is there in fact any noticeable DX signal improvement with the CW's multilobe patterns at right angles?

George W1EBI

Are you saying the Linksys was causing RFI to your radio?  I don't have any instruments for measuring RF, but before I swapped out the Linksys altogether I went to several CompUSA stores in the Boston area and none had any shielded CAT5 cables.  I had beads on everything and could not locate the RFI soft spot, but it's all academic now with the WEBramp and Powerline network, which actually works FB.  Also put a new Carolina Windom antenna in service last month with shorter length of coax feedline on the basement floor, so no sign of RF and the PC was quite happy during 30 hours of operating in CQWWSSB last weekend.

Thanks for the follow-up note, Wiley.  The WebRamp is a neat little box, and I got mine out-of-box for $18!  So far, not one single crash.  Meanwhile, I have a new Compaq Presario for the shack (now into latest state-of-the-hamming-art for logging and contesting...) and after moving some of the coax around, no apparent RFI in that PC, which is inches from the feedlines and rig.  But I still have a handful of ferrite beads and chokes just in case.

I liked the Linksys unit OK, but could not find the source of the killer RFI.  Traded it to my son-in-law even up for the Compaq.  I'm determined to try PSK31 one of these days, maybe we'll connect.

73, George W1EBI

There is.  The site is:

www.eqsl.cc

They have several types of eQSLs to choose from if you register.  Unfortunately this type of QSO confirmation is not acceptable to ARRL and other organizations for operating awards, but for saving printing and postage expenses, it's a valid option.

For any of the helpful hams who responded, thanks for the suggestions.  I tried ferrite beads and chokes on nearly every cable in the network, as well as the AC cord on the rig DC supply--no help.  I finally decided the Linksys had to go.  It's an OK appliance for a combo wireless access point/DSL router, but the RFI was its Achilles heel.  I replaced the Linksys with a WEBRamp 700s firewall/DSL router from Centrix, transferred my ISP's static IP address, flashed the latest Sonicwall s/w, and voila!  NO MORE RFI!  

...Obviously the lighthouse/lightship event.

I worked KP4ES/LGT and 4Z5KJ/LGT on 20m CW yesterday, short RST-only exchanges.  Can't find any contest that correlates to "LGT."  Anybody know what the suffix means?

I picked up six of those chokes at R/S, Harry.  Wrapped the AC cord from the rig power supply through four of them in parallel, but my router still crashed.  I'll go to six, but I'm really getting frustrated.  Problem is I don't know whether it's RF being picked up by the Ethernet cables or noise getting through the AC line to the AC adapter.  Anyway, thanks a lot for the tip.  Next I'll try shielded Cat5 cables, but don't have a good way to ground the ends.  Since the Linksys router uses an AC-DC adapter there is no convenient ground connection on the unit.

Steve, do you have any direct performance knowledge or experience re the Carolina Windom vs. the W9INN multiband dipoles? Per our earlier correspondence, I am evaluating all options to improving the "OK" performance of my G5RV. My only way to get up around 40ft and also pass the spousal acceptance factor would be to use trees. Susceptible to wind movement, but maximum stealth. I have worked a number of stations with Carolina Windoms, and in fact had bookmarked the Radio Works website, but it got lost as "KS" and I really didn't look into it. Lots of good stuff there!

George

Thanks a lot, Harry.  In fact, I already coiled up the Ethernet cables going into the Linksys router.  Yesterday I was in Radio Shack and bought three of the clamp-on ferrite chokes, but have not taken them out of the package.  I saw another type in the store, they were rectangular and had a rectangular opening, came in pairs for about $8, but I wasn’t sure how they were used.  How do you "wrap" them around a cable?

I was on the air for quite a while last evening and the router stayed up, and that was before I did the cable coiling, so I don't think the problem is major.  But my DSL ISP offers a managed service, so they call me at home whenever there is a router down flag.  The wireless configuration fell over nearly every time I transmitted.

I also favor direct QSLs with SAE.  I have slipped in a GS here and there when I am aware of the DX ham's preference (or request), but have not yet gone the SASE route, although Bill Plum's stamp service (plumdx@msn.com) is quite intriguing.  Have logged 75 countries in six weeks on the air after a 38-year absence, and expect to use outgoing services such as W5FE or the overseas bureaus for the majority of cards after sending direct to the first couple in each new country.  A very helpful website to check QSL managers is SM5ARL (www.algonet.se/~sm5arl/qslmgr.html).

73, George W1EBI

Sorry, forgot to post Subject!

I need advice on eliminating an RFI problem with my home PC network. I have a Linksys Wireless Access Point/DSL Router and two PCs in rooms on the second floor. My hamshack is in the basement. When I am on the air, there was interference with the wireless link and the router would crash, causing my DSL ISP tech support to notify me (too often for their pleasure, and mine). This happened nearly 100% of the time, so yesterday I replaced the wireless link with new Linksys PowerLine devices, which use the home AC wiring as a LAN. On Day One, I transmitted for 2-1/2 hours without any problem, but today (Day Two), the router crashed. Does anyone else have a similar setup, and what would be the best way to eliminate the RF from crashing the home network? Would ferrite chokes on the AC side of the PowerLine bridge and adapter do it?

Thanks,
George W1EBI

I need advice on eliminating an RFI problem with my home PC network. I have a Linksys Wireless Access Point/DSL Router and two PCs in rooms on the second floor. My hamshack is in the basement. When I am on the air, there was interference with the wireless link and the router would crash, causing my DSL ISP tech support to notify me (too often for their pleasure, and mine). This happened nearly 100% of the time, so yesterday I replaced the wireless link with new Linksys PowerLine devices, which use the home AC wiring as a LAN. On Day One, I transmitted for 2-1/2 hours without any problem, but today (Day Two), the router crashed. Does anyone else have a similar setup, and what would be the best way to eliminate the RF from crashing the home network? Would ferrite chokes on the AC side of the PowerLine bridge and adapter do it?

Thanks,
George W1EBI

I'm an old newbie just returning to ham radio and DX chasing after a 38-year absence.  I've worked 100 stations in 40 countries in my first two weeks back on the air, and am still waiting for my QSL's to come from the printer.  This trail is very interesting to me, as I want to get back into the DXCC and award chase fast to make up for my "lost time."

Doesn't anyone mail the CARD direct any longer?  When outgoing bureaus or SASE's or green stamps (I finally figured that out...) are not required, is it not cheaper to mail the card itself for $.70 rather than slipping it into an envelope for $.80?

Seems like a silly question, but I'm still trying to modernize my habits from the late '50s.

Thanks and 73,
George W1EBI

You will no doubt get plenty of advice to build your own, "never buy a wire antenna", which is actually good advice.  But I was too eager to get on the air with my new 100W rig after 38yrs away from ham radio, so I bought an Antennas & More G5RV because it was quite low cost but light and well made.  It's been up (30ft at center as a lazy inverted V) for less than a week and I have received S8-9 reports from a dozen stations in Europe on 20m.  I agree with the previous recommendation, plus this one is made with insulated wire, so you can toss it up on your roof while you decide what kind of antenna you REALLY want.  Good luck!

George W1EBI