Swiss dipole 20-10 meter antenna won't go below about 3 to 1 with an MFJ Versa Tuner II. Desperatlely trying to work Yemen, but it isn't looking very good. Hurricane Ike destroyed a great gemquad antenna and tower and I've only been able to afford some wire dipoles for the moment. What I want to know is - if I transmit a signal on 21.027 and the swr is 3 to 1 does that mean I'm probably only sending out 10 watts instead of 100? Should I be asking to borrow a club station in Houston so I can get this dxcc? I have three antennas and they are not doing so hot. Any ideas?

fyi I am running 100 watts to a Swiss dipole at about 25 to 30 feet up, for 20-17-15-12 and 10 meters. Also have a 40 meter and 80 meter dipole about same height, so I can't get the contact on a kw signal or big beam but I have learned a few tricks to snag the dx. (I used to have a beautiful gemquad, but then came Hurricane Ike). Trying to study the prop - using W6EL although I heard Yemen strong on 17 meter cw when it was supposed to be a poor or no signal, so I am not so sure about prop charts. I also saw AA5AU post that Yemen was booming on 24.945 and I tuned to that frequency and heard not a peep. He is in Louisiana and I am in Texas, but of course he is a big contester and has a big station. I can only work what I hear.

Anyone know about how long they plan to be there? I have a "little pistol" station and usually have to wait until the spots say "begging." (Sometimes I get lucky on cw though) I hope they don't get shut down.

Just a follow up to my earlier question. Last night I checked into the 3905 Century Club net on 7.2335 and used my tuner to get a 1-1 swr (at least the tuner thought so). I worked several contacts and then for some reason instead of my needle jumping back and forth as it should for talking in ssb, it was pegged all the way to the right. At that point, nobody could hear me. I had to go off frequency, retune and then get back to the net. I was fine after that. Is it possible that after several transmissions, the hidden swr was actually getting so bad it pegged that needle to the right and shut me down? I plan on doing some more tests on 40 meters to see what happens - I may try some digital. I thought about cutting the antenna down to the right size for a regular 40 meter dipole, but I would still have that 72 ohm section. I used to be able to reach the balun I was using and disconnect that piece, but due to Hurricane Ike and other factors I can't reach up there to the pole to take out that section. My other option is to cut all the wires that I can reach and go up and put in a 40 meter dipole (I actually built one today). The only thing is that one leg of the dipole would run north and south and the other east and west, due to me being on a small city lot in Houston. If I had the finances, I would think about some type of vertical without radials and with counterpoise, again due to lack of space. Right now what I have 1005/7 Mhz = 143 feet which was my loop, but it broke so that one section of the ocf dipole is about 40 feet long and the rest is aprox. 103 feet, so if there is a length I could trim it to that might work. Just exploring options. I hope my radio shutting down (needle pegged right) was just a fluke thing.

I had a 40 meter loop in the air, but apparently the wind and tree branches snapped part of it. I have reconfigured it as an off-center fed type dipole. The short end of the wire is about 35 feet or so. I could go up and clip the other part of the wire and make a true 40-meter dipole, but before I do so I wanted to ask if an off-center fed dipole could work 40 plus some other bands. It wouldn't be an exact 40 meter dipole, but with a tuner, I'm guessing I might be able to tune several bands, including 30 meters, which is one band where I don't have any antennas up for that band. Any thoughts? Thanks. (Also with the loop I had a section of 72 ohm coax between the 50 ohm coax and the balun. Since it's no longer a loop, I am curious how that will affect everything).

I have been seeing a few posts for JX9JKA, but mostly spots from Europe. I have tuned to the frequencies posted, but haven't been able to hear anything yet. I am in Houston, Texas. Dipoles and loop at about 30 feet for my antennas. -- Has anyone else had a good copy on this station? If so, what band, your location, your antenna, etc. would be very helpful. -- Also, just curious anyone know about the XZ posts? They say they worked em on psk31. I've not heard of any trips there and the political situation is bad. Bogus spots? Thanks.

I just ran a test with a very old laptop using Digipan and the signals were very weak plus the computer wouldn't transmit. I then switched back to the desktop and the waterfall was 100 times better with more signals and I could transmit. Anyone know why psk31 signals are so bad on laptops? I have told my club I would work some digital for field day but only on desktop. We spent 48 hours on digital last year trying to use a laptopp and made 1 whole contact.

I am still having trouble with LOTW. This evening I sat down and thought I entered 53 records. When I tried signing the file, it said I had entered 38 records. I now have to sit down and re-enter all those records again. Is it better to enter like 10 records, sign them and then upload them and do small increments of 10 records?? I have no idea why it did not take my records. I edited an existing ADIF file and saved the file with all the records I entered, so why did it not take my records after I entered them why I tried to sign the file? If you can't tell, I am really getting frustrated with LOTW.

I am trying to get a laptop computer ready to use with digipan for field day, but the waterfall is way too hot - I can copy psk31 signals, but the field is yellow with red streaks instead of a nice blue waterfall with yellow lines. I have the recording level slider all the way down! I have the af out line going from the af out on my yaesu 747 and the line is going into the mic input on a Compaq presario 2100. Haven't tried transmitting yet, want to see if I can get the waterfall to look right. Thanks.

Does anyone know a way to speed up the logging on contacts in the .adi file in the TQSL software? I was finally able to upload a .TQ8 file today to LOTW, although it was only for 2 contacts. I had to use a different computer because the one I was trying to use turned out to be full of viruses.

Local army surplus carries tripods but not telescoping mast. Home Depot has aluminum poles, different sizes but they are not stackable. Went driving around an industrial part of Houston, but unable to come up with any telescoping masts. Need to get a delta loop up to 40 feet high at the peak, but need to stay within my budget (less than $100). -- the antenna is a 40-10 loop. Previous antenna gemquad and tower both destroyed back in Hurricane Ike. Loop is slanted and only working like NVIS. Want to have a dx antenna with better angle, so need to try and get the loop up vertical. Only have one tree available and it peaks about 25 feet.

My last option may be to buy the S9 LDG 18 vertical for $49.99 and the radial plate.

I am planning a possible presentation for a hamfest (and maybe even an article for QST). What have been some of your favorite presentations at your ham radio club meetings? For example, my club, the Houston ECHO Society, has had presentations such as local weather forecaster who is a ham did a weather presentation, show and tell of everyone's favorite ht, soldering "seminar," slide show from trip to Belize to dx and have other fun, hands-on building dipoles and lots more. Let me know your favorites and also, if possible, what not to do, such as having five straight months of a similar presentation. Thanks.

Anyone have any good ideas on where to find used telescoping masts, flagpoles, etc.?? Looking for something about 40 feet tall.

I have a 40 meter delta loop up, but it is a nearly flat position, so it is far from optimal. I am searching for a telescoping mast to see if I can get the loop up a lot higher in the middle and more vertical. What concerns me is that I used to hear dx stations on this antenna in its present configuration and I now can only hear US stations. I used to be able to hear and work Africa and Europe. I did a test with dx spotters and now I cannot even copy Brazil or the Carribean! I did a visual check of the antenna and it looks fine, but I remember it does have some splices on the wire. But that shouldn't block out everything but the U.S. I am in Houston Texas and about the farthest I have heard is about to Tennessee on 40 meters. I have been checking the dx spots to see who is hearing what and it just hit me today that I have not copied anything outside the U.S. for the last month or so! - So, number one is to check the splices. Second, maybe the balun is no good anymore. What are some other good things to check. This is just weird.

I am looking for ideas on where I could find a used telescoping mast, preferably one that goes to about 40 feet high. I have looked at all the adds and just don't quite have the funds to buy a new one. Maybe at a junkyard? Where could I advertise? Thanks.