I could make a 16 foot dipole, but I am not mechanically inclined in the least, well just never had much practice.

I would almost need someone over my shoulder walking me through it.

I know 10M is dead but i want to try play around with it and learn.  I have  an HTX-100 on the way and I was thinking of building the following.

Using this formula: 234/28.4 = 8 1/4

I'd take some RG-8U strip off 8 1/4 feet of black jacket, pull 8 1/4 ft of braid down over the jacket pate it down, then solder a little loop at the top of the center conducter and hang that mother somewhere. Obviously I'll need to be 16 plus feet off of the ground.  

I'm also going to throw that magmount 10M antenna on the old swamp cooler, which do you thing would work better or worse?  even across town?

The 2M and 70CM coax dipoles I've made work pretty darn well.

The manual says not to even turn it on during the 12 charge cycle, I'm guessing it relates to battery memory arrising.

Rob

I've heard mixed messages on this one.

Is it okay to use K2AT while it's on the AC charger?  OR only when connected to DC power through the optional adapter?

Lets assume I've got my 10-meter radio up and i'm running some 10-meter dipoles and or a vertical 10 meter dipole.  

Is there a good Internet resource that will let me lookup my location and see what 10-meter propagation looks like from wher I'm at?  I,e, how far I might be able to get a contact etc?

BTW I'm in Salt Lake City

Thanks
(forgive the newb)

I know.....but how do you edit the title wants it's posted?

I just picked up an HTX-100 10-Meter, it's an old RS model based on a Uniden.

I know 10 meters is somwhat dead, but I'm wondering what my antenna options are.  Raising a tower or even a mast is kinda dicey for me as I have a fear of heights (though I do expect some help from the local HAM club.)

Here's what I'm thinking about as far as antenna options go:

1. A mag mount ontop of an OLD metal swamp-cooler that is attached to side of my house near the roof.

2. Same mag-mount attached to the rain-gutter.

3. Indoor horizontal dipole strung from the ceiling.

4. Outdoor Dipole (here's the rub I don't have any high trees or posts) So I'd wind up running the dipole maybe 6-10 feet off of the ground is that even safe or usable?

5. Lastly would it make sense to have two dipoles indoor or outdoor that criscross E-W and N-S ? To increase my directional capabilities?

I know 10 meters is dead right now, but I'd like to try some light DXing, even if it's only 20, 30 miles away I'd like to start trading QSL's and 10 meters seems a better way to do it then call CQ on my HT on 146.52, 146.54, 146.56.  

Hang on, whats the difference between what I made and what you did in the pictures?

I went with this method.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/401633621_2b66ba4b65_o.gif

I'm using RG-8U, I've got the black stuff cut off but, how the devil to you get the copper braid to roll back over it's self?  Mine just keeps unraveling.

I am in a VERY repeater rich area:
http://www.ussc.com/~uvhfs/rptr.html

I'm planning on buying a mag-mount antenna for the car and building one of the simple outdoor antenna's for home use.

I'm on a budget and will have to take things slow.  Orginally I was planning on just picking up a cheap scanner to easdrop with --something I did as a kid, my father was W6NZX, i don't have my license yet.

The price on scanners these days are as expensive if not more then this Kenwood i'm talking about. Yes I could go used or the Ebay route, but I'm just to impatient and have been burned lately with used and ebay purchases so I want new :-)

Does this look like a good 2-meter starter radio?  The price looks right.


http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/th_k2at/index.html

I experienced RTM when I first got into linux, so I'm used to it.  Now that I have a couple books I'll slow down a bit.

But thanks everyone!

WOW!

Thanks everyone! This helped alot.

The QSO from 8 blocks away would be just a symbolic thing for me.  Remember I spent lots of time as a little kid looking really neat QSO's so I'm dieing to get my very first one even if it is across town.

The local Utah club meets in the evenings and I work swing shifts, so meetings are out :-(.

The Salt Lake Valley has some pretty good repeaters here in town.

I'm kinda set on 2 meter handi just because of the flexibility, I'll more then likely get a mag-mount for it in the car, and nice whip for regular use.

I'm not very mechanically inclined, so I am hopping to hook up with someone from the club who can help me build an outdoor antenna for 2 meters, or I may buy one from the HAM shop here in town.

Now did I read right that you can hit satellites on 2 meters?  How far does that let you talk? And where is that thread I can't find it!

Also is there such a thing as a 6 meter handi?  

What is SSB and is it only done on 6 meters?

After you pass the test how long do you wait to get your callsign?

I know what 2-meter is but what's 440?

Again thanks for everything,

Rob