Can't comment on any "significantly better choices," but when I used my Ranger on AM back in the 1960's I used a D-104 and a Shure 444, and both sounded absolutely great with the Ranger.  I think the D-104 was a bit "crisper" (more high end) while the 444 was "mellower" (more low end) but used to get great reports with both.  

Never tried anything else!

WB2WIK/6

I, too, have used Craig at "C.A.T.S." for several years as the primary source of supply for my rotators, not just retrofit or improvement kits.

They sell (or at least used to!) CDE/Hy Gain rotator models for about 1/2 the price of "new" ones, and provide them with 100% new hardware, new terminal strips or connectors, new bearing grease, etc -- in other words, "refurbished."  And, I've never had a single problem with any of the used rotators purchased from C.A.T.S.

WB2WIK/6

I certainly feel for those living under CC&Rs prior to becoming hams...how could they know that CC&Rs would restrict their enjoyment of a hobby they didn't have at the time?

However, for already licensed hams who wish to have a home station, if you choose to buy or move into a CC&R property -- why the heck would you do that?

I've lived all over, from coast to coast, and am living in my 14th house (that I have purchased since 1973, when I bought my first one); I correspond regularly on the CC&R subject with hundreds of hams all over the country, and there's little to no evidence that property cannot be purchased _anywhere_, in virtually any county in America, that is not antenna restricted.

Granted, new construction usually is restricted, so that rules out "new construction."  Having the choice of a "new" home, or an "old" home where I can erect antennas of my choice, this is pretty clear-cut.  I like old homes, anyway.

WB2WIK/6

Using great phonetics (if you were operating phone) helps a lot.

I've found that the "American standard" phonetics of alpha, bravo, charlie, delta are not so easily understood by people outside America.  What seems to be better understood by most DX is using popular city or country names like America, Brazil, Canada, etc.  These have more syllables and are less easily confused for other phonetics and the letters they represent.

Of course speaking very clearly with your best possible articulation helps a lot, too.  When I work Americans, I'm pretty lazy and speak very quickly, slur words together, use popular slang, etc, since other Americans will still understand me.  But when working DX, I speak more slowly and distinctly and try to articulate every syllable.  It helps to practice with a tape recorder.  Play yourself back and see how you sound!

One other tip: As you probably know, many (if not most) DXpeditions have an on-line log available so you can check to see if you're in it!  If you are sure you worked the station, check their on line log the next day.  If you're there, great.  If you're not, better work 'em again.

73 de Steve, WB2WIK/6

There's one other reason to turn in your logs, if you can:

The automated (computer) score checking systems employed by the contest committees who have the right to alter entrants' scores, or even disqualify entrants, look for UNIQUE calls.  A unique call is one found in one contester's log but not found in any other logs.  

Years ago, this was difficult to check for, since everything was manual.  Now that the logs are submitted electronically, they're checked that way, too.  It only takes a second for the program to spit out UNIQUES, and if one entrant has too many UNIQUES, his score can be reduced -- and he can even be disqualified -- because it is unbelievable that one station would work so many UNIQUE calls not found in others' logs.

So, it is "kind" to all those you contacted if you send in your log!

Unfortunately, ARRL, CQ, et al no longer accept "paper" logs at all, and any log submitted must be via electronic means in Cabrillo format.  That format is exported by all popular logging software, but if you're not using any (and just a paper and pencil), you can't submit a log, even if you want to.

WB2WIK/6

I worked VK9ML Mellish last night on 28.495 (QSX 28.500-510) very easily, literally first call at about 0130Z.  Excellent operator, excellent operation, was handling the pileup very, very well.

I understand they have a dedicated 6m operator, so might be fun to try that.

Their website and on-line logbook may be found at:

http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml/2002/

73 de Steve, WB2WIK/6

The PJ4/callsign is the norm nowadays.  Reason is, this gives the country/entity _first_, rather than second, to identify the location of the operator first.  The practice is established by the country from which the operation is taking place, however, and may vary.

Normally, a "portable" station's QSL route would be directly to that station's primary address, but not always.  Many contest operations and DXpeditions have specific QSL routes which have nothing to do with their home station address, and many have QSL managers.  It is always best to simply ask "QSL HW?" during the course of the contact, and get a reply.

Major operations usually have a website, and many have their entire log posted on the internet so you can look yourself up and assure that you're in their log, prior to wasting postage, IRCs, etc.  If you do a search using one of the major search engines such as Google, just type the callsign you're looking for and see if it comes up with a site.

73 de Steve, WB2WIK/6

Steve, use your imagination!

http://www.rlselectronics.com

WB2WIK/6

I use ICM xtals all the time, for everything including lots of "boat anchor" tube gear.  I recently purchased a complete set of KWM-2 L.O. crystals (80 through 10m), they delivered in 10 days and the xtals worked perfectly.  What do you mean by the "power in tube gear?"  

FT-243 holders are pretty obsolete, but the pin size and spacing is the same as hermetic varieties which are more modern, so they are drop-in interchangeable.  The difference, of course, is with the hermetically sealed holders it's very difficult to dismantle them and alter anything inside...

WB2WIK/6

I'd never done business with these folks before, but had a singular experience last week, when I inquired via e-mail if they had a certain item in stock.

They replied within minutes that they did, and quoted the price.  I inquired again regarding shipping costs, and again received a response within minutes stating a very conservative freight charge that indicated they were making no profit on that, as their charge was exactly what FedEx quoted me for the same weight and zip codes.

I placed an order to be shipped FedEx Ground, for shipment next day.  It did ship next day, and RLS sent me an e-mail to confirm the FedEx tracking number, which was accurate and stated delivery would occur yesterday, 4/9/02, which it did.

I received the item on time, in perfect condition.

Thumbs up!

WB2WIK/6

6m is "magic," for sure.  As one who's been active on the band for 36 years (since 1966 and the "AM days"), my experience indicates that antenna and location mean _everything_ on this band.  That is, sitting atop the highest mountain for 200 miles in all directions is a good thing, and then equipment and antenna become less critical; however in lieu of that optimum situation, the station antenna is an extremely important contributor to overall success on this band.

Examples:

-Sitting on the porch of the Sky Line Inn atop Mt. Equinox, VT (which is the highest point in the area for many miles, and has a 200 mile view in some directions), running an Icom IC-506 (2W PEP, battery-operated, portable transceiver with built-in 54" telescoping whip antenna), I sat and ran hundreds of stations in the Caribbean, South America and western Europe while all the "locals" in the valleys down below heard nothing and accused me of talking to myself.  This is a common occurrance, when you operate from a great location.

-Sitting right at sea level on Chincoteague Island, VA, but using four stacked 5L yagis (20 elements total) atop a 70' crank-up portable tower, so the top set of beams were almost 90' above ground and the system had >19 dBd gain (including ground gain), I sat and worked 204 grid squares, including all 50 states and several DX countries, in a 36 hour period during the ARRL June VHF QSO Party 1988.  Again, most of the "locals" heard virtually nothing, and had no idea what was going on.  In this case, the antenna, not so much the location, was doing the work.

-Sitting in my home in Los Angeles, I hear many disgruntled 6m would-be DXers proclaim nothing's on the band, they tune from edge to edge and don't hear a single signal.  Then, they come visit my station and the band has activity, including numerous beacon stations that are always there.  The only difference between "them" and "me" is that I have an 18' long yagi up 65' above ground, fed with very low-loss coax.  This is _not_ by any means a great station, but it's better than what they're using.

Simply put, 6 is a great and unpredictable band.  What and where you can work is up to you, but an investment in a good antenna system is very, very worthwhile.  When the band is wide open, you can work "DX" with a few watts and a whip antenna.  But that is not a common occurrance.  What you can work when the band is _not_ open is more important.

WB2WIK/6

Seems reasonable, and I don't know much about Fargo other than evidently it's under several feet of snow all winter (per the movie!), but I wonder why they would limit hams to "one" tower, when some may have sufficient property to support many more than one.

Seems arbitrary to me.  Most big-gun DXers or contesters have several towers, often on residential lots, and have no problems.

WB2WIK/6

Any height will work for this trap-tuned 1/4-wave ground plane antenna.

Normally, "the higher, the better," but with this particular high-Q design, distance from the antenna to surrounding objects to all sides is actually far more critical.  Diamond recommends having nothing within 15 feet of the antenna, in any direction -- that would include walls, chimneys, other antennas, utility wiring, really anything.  And it is fully understandable why they say that.

That is the #1 criteria for success with the CP-6A.

Assuming you can get >15' clearance in all directions, then the next thing to strive for is the highest mounting location possible.

Remember, this is a very high-Q, narrowband tuned structure which requires critical adjustment.  If you install it up out of reach before adjusting it for resonance on each band, you'll have to take it down to make the adjustments.  Thus, it's always nice to install an antenna like this in such a way that you can reach it, or at least reach all the tuned radial elements which assemble at the bottom of the CP-6A.  Tuning this antenna is _extremely_ critical, and vital to its operational success.

WB2WIK/6

There's about a thousand of them for sale, currently, on the internet.  

I just did a quick "Google" search on:

J38+key

And it brought up >10 pages of references, many of which are J38's for sale.

There must have been tons of J38's made, they were the standard for military Morse operations for decades.  All the military-surplus ones are "original, real J-38's" although they need not all be identical or built by the same manufacturer.

I bought my "real, original" J-38 from Fair Radio Sales <http://www.fairradio.com>, a military surplus dealer, years ago for $5.00.

WB2WIK/6

The SX140's actually about 40 years old.

Hallicrafters made quite a lot of them, evidently, as well as the originally matching transmitter, the HT40, back ~ 1960.  I just saw one in "beautiful" condition sell at the TRW Swap Meet (Redondo Beach, CA) on Saturday, 3/30/02, for $50.

If it's in "collector grade" condition, meaning it looks exactly like it's brand new, all knobs and controls tune smoothly, chassis is shiny, and it is fully functional, it should be worth more to a Hallicrafters collector (there are several around).

WB2WIK/6