To Mike
Now K8MJM.

Good for you Mike.....a well stated posting.....Yep! Running Qrp with a decent beam can break pile-ups often with ease. Put your money well saved into more antennas with higher gains....You've already proven to yourself that you don't really need an amplifier if your antenna is efficient and has good gain.

Enjoy Summer Dxing Mike.
Best regards with many 72...73.
Don sr. -- WA2TPU/Qrp --

To LA9XSA and everyone viewing...
    Its simple....keep it simple.....just add QRP to the end of your call....if you want to add any other designation as to portable or whatever....do so on your Qsl card. To me....stating you are Qrp is enough information unless the party at the other end of the QSO wants to know exactly what you're doing. Its like SOTA....once you mention SOTA....most everyone knows you're on the air atop some summit somewhere.
     Anyway....that's my take on adding more information other than being QRP.
       Enjoy Summer Dxing.
         Best regards with many 72...73.
            Don sr.--WA2TPU/Qrp --

Hi to All.
 This afternoon a one month old ham stopped by at my Qth to look over my antenna farm. He posed an interesting question to me and I pass it along to all viewing this forum. Can a Half Square antenna made for 40 meters be fed with 450 Ohm Ladder-line?? If so, does anyone know what the effects of using 450 Ohm Ladder-line will have on the Half Square. The young lad told me he had a great spot to hang a 40 meter Half Square between 2 big pines but it was quite a distance from his house- he thought over 250 feet minimum to his shack. I told him that all the Half Squares I've ever put-up and used were fed with 50 Ohm coax. I also told him I'd put his question he asked me here on this forum.
Any and ALL thoughts/help  pertaining feeding a Half Square with 450 Ohm Ladder-line would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Best regards with many 72....73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

To W7ASA --

     Ray,
       I never thought about it in that way...but I must conclude you are indeed correct...plus at the extremely low prices you can buy a 2 meter hand-held in today's market...well.....it sure makes sense to me.
        Nice posting Ray.
         Best regards with many 72...73.
            Don sr. --WA2TPU --

The previous posters have given some real good information on how and where to get an idea pertaining to what's going on with 6 meters. Specifically, I use the DX Summit website plus I really like the N3TUQ's DX Map.
Truly 6 Meters is a magical and fickle band with great possibilities of RARE DX. Openings on 6 Meters should be happening much more now as we head towards the peak of this current cycle. Have FUN on 6.
Best regards with many 72...73.
   Don sr. --WA2TPU --

To N2RRA.....
     You know I always look forward to your wonderful videos. I hope you have a good time on whatever peak you're going to in The Land Of Taxes....Good Ole' Upstate NY. I'll be listening for you and hope we can make a contact. Currently, I'm saving for a second KX-3 completely loaded so I can use it as a Rover in the June VHF Contest on 6 meters. I'm that impressed with the KX-3's performance and capabilities. Yup, I still have the Ft-817D but rarely use it now...just on 2 meter FM Simplex and to access a couple local repeaters around here. Once Elecraft comes out with the 2 meter module I will buy one. Then my KX-3 will truly be complete.
     Again, the BEST of fun on your peak -outing this weekend. Hopefully, both the weather and propagation will be decent for you and your fellow peakers.
     Take care....BE WELL...STAY HEALTHY......
       Best regards with many 72,73.
          Don sr. --WA2TPU --

Hi to All.
   I was wondering how many of my fellow Qrp brothers and sisters had an Elmer who was a Qrper?
    I'm not sure if anyone on this Qrp Forum has ever posed or asked this question herein.
So I'm curious to hear from anyone who got started into this wonderful hobby by an Elmer Qrper.
 
I can proudly tell you that my Uncle John -K2TEE( a SK now) was an avid die hard Qrper. He was my Elmer who got me into ham radio using Qrp. I have many, many fond memories of Uncle John.

Best regards and many 72/73.Good DX.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

No, I don't believe my KX-3 is a rig you'd take out into a rain or storm storm without it being protected and covered. Its not water or moisture resistant to the best of my knowledge. Yet, its one FINE RADIO.I'm really REALLY enjoying mine.
Best regards and many72/73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

To AB7KT.......

Congrads on the awards...especially the DXCC in less than TWO MONTHS!! I am honestly impressed with that accomplishment.

Your posting about the KX-3 is DEAD-ON TARGET...Its the best rig I've ever owned on ALL LEVELS in the many decades of being in this wonderful hobby.

Again, Congrads. I tip my hat to you.

Best regards and many 72/73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

To All........
Yes, the TX5K contact was with the BEST transceiver I've ever owned...The Elecraft KX-3 at ONE WATT.
Best regards and many 72/73 to All.
Don sr. --WA2TPU-- SSB QRP HERE!

to N4OI....Many thanks Ken. I had an interesting contact this morning on 40 meters ay 0956 UTC...I heard a very weak station saying "up 5"....when I finally identified who it was- TX5K- The Clipperton Island DX-pedition....I gave him a call at 7184.77 Mhz...I tried 22 times...YES!! 22 times
and finally got TX5K.....with ONE WATT on SSB...And I'm in the TX5K's online log.
Talk about LUCK and the use of a good antenna...No! I'm not bragging....I was totally surprised to even hear TX5K at that time of the day here when conditions have been so poorly.
Best regards and many 72/73.
Don sr. -- WA2TPU -- SSB QRP HERE!!

WB6BYU....Thanks Dale. I'll just have my son help me make a standard Sterba Curtain. I also thought about a Bruce Array on 15 meters but not sure IF the gain will be as much as a Sterba Curtain for the same length....

Again, Thanks so much Dale.
Best regards and many 72/73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

Hi to All.
Last November's flood damage here on my land on Wilkins Brook has been finally cleared away. After looking over the area I now have to use..... I'm considering  putting-up another Sterba Curtain for possibly 20  or maybe 15 meters. I have the room to build a 8 element array on 20....maybe a 12 element on 15 meters.

I was wondering IF...IF anyone out there has ever built a Sterba Curtain using 5/8 wavelength elements(43 feet on 20 meters) instead of the 34 feet long half wavelength elements.

IF so, what was their impressions were... what the radiation patterns might be... the gain And most importantly of all....... Is it worth it to go to the 5/8 wavelength over the half wavelength typical configurations for a regular Sterba Curtain...??

Any and All thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Best regards and many 72/73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

Hi to All.
Last November's flood damage here on my land on Wilkins Brook has been finally clearly. After looking over the area I now have to use I'm thinking about putting-up another Sterba Curtain for possibly 20  or maybe 15 meters. I have the room to build a 8 element array.

I was wondering IF...IF anyone out there has ever built a Sterba Curtain using 5/8 wavelength elements(43 feet on 20 meters) instead of the 34 feet long half wavelength elements.

IF so, what was their impressions were...? the radiation patterns might be...???and most of all is it worth it to go to the 5/8 wavelength over the half wavelength typical configurations for a regular Sterba Curtain...

Any and All thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Best regards and many 72/73.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --

Yup!! I'm one of those KX-3 SSB guys.
I had a blast in the contest over the weekend..especially on 40. A couple shy of 60 countries worked in the contest at 5 watts.
SSB is my main mode now and I really enjoy the KX-3's features on SSB.

Best regards and many 72/73 to all.
Don sr. --WA2TPU --