If mounting the antenna on the tailgate is your desire. I would look at getting the Antenna on the top of the gate making sure the gate is directly under the feed point of the antenna. (Proximity of the gate from the antenna? Center conductor to antenna, shield to tailgate.) This will give you some ground plane. The more mass of metal directly under the feed point of the antenna you have, the less ground loss there will be. (It is a long way from antenna, through the spare tire to the tailgate.) Look at Allen's site K0BG. You would do well to spend some time internalizing some of the relevant information you find there, BEFORE making changes. Keep us apprised with your progress. All of us find this interesting.

Good Luck,   Dan KM6CQ

Hello,
You did not mention how it tunned on 20 and above. Or what the overall length from the feed point
to the top of the whip is. (thinking about 6 meters)
I do not see a ground plane under your antenna, Just an antenna mount.
Because of that. I think it has raised the feed point impedance of the antenna.
So I think you are right that you have a lot of ground loss.
If you had a antenna analyser your could barrow, that would be a good place to start.
Looking at the size of your Tarheel from the picture, I would think you should be able to achieve 30 ohms at best on 40 and 80.
Then use a shunt matching coil on 40 meters and below to bring it up an acceptable match.

73,   Dan    KM6CQ

Hello all,
I have some very very nice keys with magnetic tension. However I think I must be use to spring tension since that is what I started with 30 years ago. It was not until about four years ago that I bought some keys with magnetic tension thinking it was a upgrade. I will try explain this. It seems springs have a analog feel to them. And magnetic is more of a digital feel. It is kind of like when I start to press the paddle and it breaks all of the sudden and makes contact. The spring allows me to feel when it is about to break and make contact.
I am not sure magnets are the right way to go for me. Or maybe it is like playing an instrument. You have to train yourself to do it right even when it does not feel right at first.
I wonder what some of your experiences and thoughts are with this?

Thanks,   Dan KM6CQ

I think your right Pat. Interesting enough, I find that once in a while I get nervous still. Because missed something or sent something wrong.
I guess it is in our nature to always want to be our best.

73,    Dan

When you are performing on stage, one thing you do is become the greatest actor. When you make mistake you move on like it never happened, no face, no smile. You keep going. Same with CW, the other guy will know you made a mistake just like musicians who are listening. But most likely he will not really care and want you to move on as well.
Every one else thinks you did well except you. You need to disregard the information for the moment. Then revisit it when you are off the air.
When I make a mistake sending, very seldom do I send a string of dits signalling it. I just move on. The other station always knows what is going on and copy's FB
It's just a fun mode to be enjoyed and not a test.

73,   Dan

I find that CW is similar to bluegrass. A lot of tunes run around 180 BPM's which is like sending code.
I think playing helps my code sending and sending helps my playing. Here are a couple reasons for this.
First, God has blessed us with bluegrass music strait from heaven. CW op's and Bluegrass musicians are part of the chosen few. (well it sounds good)
Secondly, sending perfectly timed characters and spacing is much like playing very quickly.
This requires muscle memory in your fingers, agility, dexterity and the many strange demands we put on our fingers to form unnatural positions and movements,
and the feel of the timing are part of the same skill set needed to do both.
Also there is the practicing it takes to accomplish these task. If you can play a song 500 times perfectly then you can say you have mastered that song.
If you can perform 500 flawless CW QSO's you could say you have mastered CW as well.
CW and Music also share this concept. Perfect practice makes perfect CW, music.
There is continual learning and improvement for both. We are all at a given level and can get better at it. You get out of it what you put into it.
Just as no one is tone deaf, (every one of you can hear the difference between 600 and 700 Hz) no one is without talent for CW and music. We all have a different degree of it within us. Hard work will take you a lot farther then some who appears to be gifted and does not work hard at it. We can all drive, but not all of us can run a 1.5 mile oval track at over 200 mph. I think those boys practice every chance they get right up to their gig (race day)
There are some phrases I have to play hundreds and hundreds of times to play them correctly. (I have a patient xyl)
There are times when accomplishing a higher code speed requires months of immersion.  Training is hard work and deeply satisfying when completed
I wish it came easy for me and I could play and operate CW like those who inspire me. There is just no substitute for hard work and experience.
 

So there are some of my thoughts on the subject and I am sure many of you have a lot more.
May God bless our great hobby and music. And thanks to him for his generosity for sharing and equipping us for it.

73,  Dan  KM6CQ

This is what I can not find in the itunes store. First let me say I have no desire to jailbreak my iphone 4 for multiple reasons.
I would like to see a app in the itunes store that would add a iambic paddle keyboard to the iphone 4
It should be under "settings" on the phone and listed under keyboards.
There should be a key on the regular keyboard or some sort of gesture that would bring
up a set of paddles to type on when ever you are using the keyboard on the phone.
It should work on all apps just like the keyboard does now. 
By the way, the ability to call CQ in CW over Bluetooth would be fun.
Now we just need one of you talented programmers to wright some elegant code.

Thanks,    Dan  KM6CQ

Hi Dave,
I use the High Sierra Side Kick. http://www.hamcq.com/hf-antennas/sidekick-antenna/prod_3.html  This is my third screwdriver and the best I have owned. It is not as good on 75 as a full size one but it is worth the compromise. I can take it off the quick disconnect in seconds and throw it in the cab. I have been using it since 07 without trouble. I use it with the better rf antenna controller.  http://www.betterrf.com/7000-screwdriver.html  The rig is a IC-7000
This combo works with fault. I thought I could do a better job then the automatic controller since I have used screwdrivers for 25 years. But it is faster then me and positions the antenna just as well. If I was to do it again, it would be the same set up. If you use the antenna controller make sure you use RF beads.
Heres the set up.  http://picasaweb.google.com/bakerfreight/HFInstall?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7w7I2U3-6p1wE&feat=directlink

Good luck,    Dan

Thank you all for your input on this subject. I will go with my PO BOX. This way I will not miss any cards that come my way. I know this will be acceptable.

73,   Dan

Hello all,
I have a simple question. What address do you put on your QSL cards. Your PO box or your physical address and why?
This questions arises because my PO box city is different from my home address city.

Best Regards, Dan

Hello all,
I have a Begali Sculpture. So far I have run it as it came out of the box. I have not made any adjustments to it. I will when I get more use to it. For those of you who have one of the Begli's I would like to hear how you have set it up. I also have one of there travel keys with the fold out feet. Nice little key. So your thoughts on setup will be appreciated.

Best Regards,    Dan KM6CQ

Hello all,
well it has been a year almost since I made that post. I backed out of buying the house. I bought a house outside of town that I can put up antennas at. I told the builder why I changed my mind and voted with my feet.
It was just not worth being a frustrated ham, though I passed up a very good deal. But how good was it? I am 47, should I wait until I am 67 for antenna liberty? Thank you all for your input. I am now free with my Antennas and QRO

Best Regards,   Dan  KM6CQ

Long Live Ham Radio and Bluegrass music.
God Bless Nevada.

Hello,
I am starting to put together some of ideas for a HF antenna in a new home on a golf course that does not allow any antennas. I will be living here for the next 5 years. I am thinking of either taking a Long wire and stapling it under the eaves of the house. This is a two story. Or just running a dipole under the eves. I would make each leg as long as I can, they would not be symmetrical. The second option is since I will watch the home being built I will have great access to the attic to install anything. One last thing. My Station will be located on the second level in a spare bedroom. I run a Yaesu HF rig Drake L4B with matching tuner. I am also having 220 wired to the bedroom. How cool is that? This is a new development with baby trees. So that is about it. Thanks for the help,    Dan  KM6CQ

I like 75 for the evening through the morning. And I like 40 for morning through late afternoon. They are reliable.
I think 10 is the easiest when it is in. You can do so much with so little. It is just that you wont be working your regular friends in the region. One hop is a easy 2500 miles. But what other band can you run a full quarter wave on? not counting 6 meters of course.

Best Regards, Dan KM6CQ

Thank you Alan. You have a very nice web site and I appreciate your comments.

Thanks,   Dan KM6CQ