Here in the Netherlands the VERON (Dutch equivalent of the ARRL) also handle QSL cards for SWL's. I expect the ARRL does the same.

The only thing you need to do is become a member of the ARRL. If you have a couple of QSL cards you want to send, go to your local club and hand them over to the club's QSL manager. The next month you visit your club again, that QSL manager might have some cards for you as well.

Keep in mind, not every ham receives their QSL cards by the buro. Some of them aren't members of a club or live in country where there simply is no QSL buro.
Often you can find QSL information on the station's QRZ.com page. If it says "QSL by the buro" then it isn't a problem. If it says "QSL direct only" then there is no point in sending that station a QSL card via the buro.

As you have figured out by now, SWL's and SWL reports either by email or by QSL card, are greatly appreciated.

73, Maarten PD2R

Been there, done that. When your tired your brain starts messing things up. Asking for the other guy to repeat several time but your just not getting it.
I had a similar thing during last years ARRL 10 meter contest. There was this German station who was equally loud on short path as well as on long path. That caused such an echo effect that I simply could not copy his call. After a couple of tries propagation changed slightly so the echo effect subsided a bit. Finally I was able to copy his callsign correctly.

Well, I think your best chance of running into an Elmer is going to your local club.
I.m.h.o. an Elmer is someone who has been an active ham for a at least a couple of years, is patient, and above all is willing to mentor you.
But really, anyone with more experience in this hobby and who is willing to help out, can be a great Elmer.
Like I said, visit you local club and introduce yourself as a new ham. Ask questions and soon you will be able to tell which of the members are potential Elmer's 

73, Maarten PD2R

Brian WH7DX, please be advised, I think a Spiderbeam is not as strong as a Hexbeam. I own a Hexbeam and together with 2 other hams I also own two Heavy Duty Spiderbeams.
We really love the Spiderbeams for portable use but I don't want to put one on my roof permanently. It's very light weight but it is also pretty large.
In fact, one of our hexbeams was owned by one of our Danish friends who had it installed on a 50 ft tower. It broke one of the fiberglass spreaders during a mild storm. Maybe that particular spreader was flawed to begin with, I don't know.
Now, I'm not saying Spiderbeams are bad, heck we own two of them!. I'm just not sure they are as durable as a Hexbeam.


73, Maarten PD2R/OV2T

Hi Cecil,

I get your point. My fixed endfed works pretty well in most directions which probably has to do with the fact that it is so low to the ground.
The only advantage of having the dipole folded in de Hexbeam is that it would clean up my back yard which would make my wife happy.
To some that my not be a good reason, to others it might be the only reason.
I think I can get away with one wire in the back yard so I'll stick with my end fed wire 

Thanks for help.

Kees and Steve,

Thanks for both of your helpful reply's. it's clear to me now that this isn't worth the effort. I was kind of expecting this before I asked the question. A 7(!) band Hexbeam sounds to good to be true.
There is and old saying that is applicable to this matter: If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is! 

Thanks again, I will stick with my Endfed wire for the time being. Maybe I will put up a free standing vertical in the backyard one of these day's. Putting down enough radial will be a challenge but at least I know it will work.

73, Maarten PD2R

Hi Tim,

As one of the relative newcomers myself (licensed since '07), I have found the following article very useful: http://www.on4ww.be/OperatingPracticeEnglish.html

I was accompanied by one of my Elmers for my first HF QSO's, that too helped a lot.
Furthermore, if you have done your homework then just get on air. If you make a mistake, and you probably will at some point, apologize, learn from it and move on.
What's really the worst thing that can happen?

Hi Cecil,

Thank you for your reply. I actually wouldn't mind if it would do just as well as a rotatable dipole. I never expected "beam" performance. I regularly work with a 4 el yagi for 40 meter on a 100' tower so I know what to expect of a beam. This thing will not even come remotely close.
But like I said, if would play just as well a rotatable dipole, I would be satisfied.

You mentioned that changing the length of the reflector might help? Did you perhaps mean "radiator" instead of "reflector"? Changing the length of the reflector makes no sense to me, but then again, I now very little about antenna systems.

A hexbeam does fit a full size radiator and reflector for 20 meter so in theory it should also fit a full size radiator for 40 meter. The radiator would have a very odd shape though but I wonder if it would work and if so, would it be better then the shortened radiator/reflector design?

Hi David, I can't believe you overlooked the Hexbeam. In this forum, on this page you could find this following thread: http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,87291.0.html

At this moment I'm absolutely positive that the Hexbeam is the best small antenna for you money. Don't take it from me, just look at the reviews on this website of hexbeam manufacturers such as K4KIO, MW0JZE, SP7IDX and others.

5 or sometimes even 6 bands in one antenna. Small, lightweight, strong and durable. You don't need a big heavy tower and dito rotor.
Oh, and its cheaper then the two antenna's you mentioned. What more could you want!

Hope this helps 

I have a 6 band (6-20 meters) hexbeam from Waldi SP7IDX. The antenna is very nicely made and I'm planning to put it on the roof this spring.
Up until now I have been using a 20 meter long end-fed wire (PAR eletronics) for the 40 meter band. It slopes from the roof of my house down to the back of my back yard, Highest point is 11 meters (36') of the ground, lowest point just 2,5 meters (8'2") of the ground. So basically this is an NVIS antenna.
The antenna has served me well, actually better then I expected.
Despite my good results with the end fed wire, I'm thinking of trying something else.

Searching the internet I've found the following shortened 40 meter elements for a standard hexbeam: PDF for shortened 40 meter hexbeam

My question is, will this antenne outperform my end fed wire? Now, I know the shortened 40 meter hex is a BIG compremise antenna since it's elements are only half size and folded into a W shape. It will probably be outperformed by the low wire for the short distance contacts but is it possible to predict how it will perform on longer distance contacts?

The proof of the pudding is in the eating but I plan to put the Hexbeam on top of my roof and leave it their for at least the next 5 to 10 years.
I'm not afraid of heights but climbing on top of a 45 degree angled, 10 meters (32') high roof is not something I would like to do for a hobby so I would like to do it right the first time.
Furthermore, Building the shortened 40 meter hex with quality materials (materials that will last) will also cost around €150,-.
So I'd like to know as much as possible before jumping into this experiment.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions.

On April 30 Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of the Netherlands abdicates in favor of her son Willem Alexander.
Queen Beatrix has been our Queen for 33 years and for the first time in 123 years The Netherlands will have a King again.
This years The Netherlands will also celebrate 200 years Kingdom om the Netherlands.

On behalf of this event the crew of the PI4DX contest station will be operating with a special callsign, PA33KBX, from 26-4 until 23-5-2013.
PA obviously stands for the Netherlands, 33 stands for the number of years Beatrix has been our Queen and KBX stands for Koningin (Dutch for Queen) BeatriX
KBX also happens to be the suffix of the Dutch government aircraft, a Fokker 70 with the registration PH-KBX.
For more information please visit QRZ.com PA33KBX page or the PI4DX website
QSL for PA33KBX via PA0ABM

During April an May there will be many more Dutch Special event calls on air. PA200KING, PB33Q, PA13KING, PA00KING just to name a few.

If you hear us, please give us a shout. We would certainly appreciate it.

73, Maarten PD2R
of the PI4DX crew

Hi Ronald,

Great to hear Ben had such a great time, please forward my congratulations to him for a job well done.
I can still remember my first test in '06 under the supervision of my Elmer, PA0ABM. I can't remember how many Q's I made but can't be more then a couple of hundred. Man, I was proud of my accomplishment.

I myself hope to become someones Elmer one day.

 

Congreatulations! Sounds like you guys did good.

I wonder who the Dutch station was?
One of the best QSO's I ever had was on top band @ PI4DX. It was at the end of the CQWW Phone contest and I saw an Argentinian station spotted on the cluster. I only had a couple of minutes to work him before the end of the contest. I called him a couple of times and with just one minute left on the clock I was able to put him in the log.
I kept listening to him and the pile-up calling him. The pile-up didn't stop after the contest was over. Must have been a new one for a lot of stations calling him.

Try the link below, that one should work on your desktop computer.

The difference between Holland and The Netherlands

The link still works on my iPad

I'll see what I can do on another computer when I have the chance.

In the meantime, you could go to Youtube and search on "Holland vs the Netherlands".

73, Maarten PD2R

@M0WAO: Your absolutely right, Hollanders zijn echter kaaskoppen 

Born in Utrecht and I now live in Zeeland, the old Zeeland