Pretty much the reason I've gone to mostly CW and RTTY contesting. For the most part, it takes most of us too long to cuss someone out on CW    and most CW ops are more courtious than to stoop that low anyway although in many DX pileups, I do hear a lot of 'UP' 'UP' and occasionally an 'IDIOT' thrown in the mix.

The saying 'ignore them and they go away' usually works to some extent but there are those diehards that will hang around forever to get the last word in no matter what.

73

Gene W5DQ

Not to go into great details but the current from a 1.5VDC alkaline battery, if said battery were somehow contacted directly across your heart, could stop your heart. Of course it have to be subcutaneous and right at the heart muscle but it could possibly happen (at least from the information I have read and a cardiologist friend whom I asked about it). I highly doubt if anyone has or will try it (I certainly hope not from this posting) but the idea I was trying to get across was we should be careful no matter what voltage levels when working on live circuits. Makes for good habits when it really will count!

Although PVC tubing can be cut and drilled to make really handy center insulators or even using a 1" Tee connection works nicely too, one thing to be aware of is long term UV exposure. I live in the Mojave Desert and as such we get an abnormally high UV exposure levels during the summer. Standard white Sch 40 PVC tubing one might use for antennas doesn't last long out here if not protected. Non-protected it will turn deep dark brown in a couple of months and within a year it becomes brittle and will snap into easily. I do use it for some things and when I do, I drill the PVC and prepare it as normally I would and then I take PVC cleaner and give it a good covering. This makes the surface accept PVC 'weld' under normal plumbing use using PVC glue but in my case, after allowed to dry thouroughly, it make spray paint stick adhere very well to the PVC. I usually give the PVC I use at least 2 coats of a non-metallic based spray paint, enamel works well and then hang it up in the world's largest solar oven (outside) for a day in the sun to literally bake on the paint. Once I attach all the wiring, the PVC insulator will last several years with proper paint job.

Just something to consider....

Gene W5DQ

Depends on what you are comparing it too. Compared to older rigs, it is a few generations of bells and whistle better with DSP and all that ilk. I have looked at the FT-2000 and have considered getting one myself. I like a lot of the features HOWEVER according to the reports, it is lacking in the roofing filters abilities for selectivity but there are after market mods (appx $300-500 more) to bring it up to a more decent spec. The one thing that really gets me is the fact the second RX is only in-band with the main RX. It defeats the purpose of having a second RX for anything other than in-band split operation in my book (no watching alternate band for openings or pileup activity with the Ft-2000). If you want true independant dual band RX then get ready to shell out $5K for a FT-5000 or more $$ for Yaesu's higher models.

If you watch and listen carefully you'll hear "OVER AND OUT" used regularly in old black and white movies. Being an old MARS guy myself, I get a bit of a twinge whenever I hear it!

OUT

Gene W5DQ

Dave,

Congrats on #1 DXCC. I'm getting there but still have a ways to go. I know what you mean about 10M. Back when I lived in AR and TX in late 70's, I remember working almost anywhere in the world 24x7 using a CB radio converted to 10M with only about 10-15W output on SSB. In fact my dad (now SK & previous holder of W5DQ) made his 10M DXCC using a similar setup during that same period.

73

Gene W5DQ
Mojave Desert in CA

Not sure if you ever were on the cold side of a soldering iron  but I can attest to the fact that 12V at 75 to 100A required by alot of these new solid state amps, while not lethal in their own right like 3000-5000VDC plate voltage can, can still wreck havoc and cause serious damage and injuries. I've seen the results of what happens when a high current power supply (5V @ 200A) gets shorted across the output by a metal tool. It isn't a pretty sight and usually those in close proximity will need, at a minimum, a clean pair of shorts

Just because something is powered by low voltage (i.e. 12V), we should not lose respect for it's ability to 'bite' you when the hood is lifted!

When a person can be killed with the voltage from a 1.5VDC akaline battery applied correctly, lest one should end up in the QST SK List, whenever working on anything containing live circuits follow proper safety rules.

Gene W5DQ

True, but when you see wall to wall RTTY signals, especially on a weekend, it should not take a degree from MIT to figure out that something quite different is going on and to listen around to see what is happening. I too have no problem working someone and telling them they have stumbled on a contest but the '4' station just said ' HI how are you and then rolled right into his life story' on RTTY with no pause for the poor KP4 station to interject anything. Quite funny if you had seen it unfold.

Gene W5DQ

By golly Jim,

I can't say I ever heard of any of them great circles?  Can I get one a Radio Shack? 

The comment 'across the ENTIRE (did your catch the CAPS in ENTIRE?) country' was a bit of tongue in cheek about distance. I like most hams realize that EU isn't due east of CA just as VK isn't due west of CA. From here EU is NE which does put me between polar and north/NE US influences. Recently conditions have been that I haven't heard too many EUs but then again I am limited to be able to operate in their optimum time window.

1075 miles is quite a ways and can put you short or long of propagation into a specific area very easily but your point is understood.

73,

Gene W5DQ

Congrats Vinnie! Way to go!

My first DXCC certificate (100 confirmed) took me a measly 30 years to complete with college, moving, family, etc. I recieved it in 2006. I now have around 250 worked but still trying to get confirmations. I'm currently at 198 confirmed.

Now you're going to have to think about how to arrange all those certificates on the shack wall 

Congrats again!

Gene W5DQ

I observed a real doozy this weekend in the NAQP RTTY contest. While running S&P, I came across a KP4 station and decided to work him for the points. I called the KP4 and but instead he answered a '4' station. Now here is where the typical contest exchange got really weird. I guess the '4' station didn't work many contest or was unaware of proper protocol for exchanges as the KP4 station gave him name and location of Puerto Rico. The '4' station came back with a macro (or at least appeared as one or he is a really fast typist) that said hello to the KP4 operator name and how are you, etc. Then without a pause, break or anything, rolled right into a BRAGFILE giving everything short of the op's shoe size. It included rig, ant, computer, OS, how much memory in the PC, his age, grid square, GPS coordinates (like someone is going to go and visit him using them), etc., etc. It took a good minute or more to send the complete bragfile and then he handed it back with the standard 'So how copy, KP4 call DE his call K'. I just sat there staring at the screen thinking 'I know I did not see what I thought I just saw?' 

On the handover, the KP4 station just sent his name and 'Puerto Rico' again followed by QRZ. I called him again, he picked me up and we exchanged and I was QSY, all within 10-15 seconds.

The idea of all this is we do need to have new blood in contesting but we also need to explain to the occasional operator the difference between standard rag chewing processes and proper contesting procedures. I have to commend the KP4 station for just waiting out the bragfile and then sending his info if the guy wanted it for the contest or whatever and then continuing on with his run.

See in the 'test,

Gene W5DQ

Possibly. The 50W amp was an optional idea. The one the club member made was very light and compact. I was thinking along the lines of digital / CW modes like only needing 25W or so for solid PSK31 ops. But then having 100W for SSB makes sense but unless you are listening alot and xmitting very little, I think you'll find you're going to need a bigger battery or LARGER solar panel. I have only used a FD setup with solar and it had a large deep cycle marine battery and 100W of solar panels  (2 x 50W large panels) in the bright desert June sun.

PERSONALLY, I never considered the FT-857 because I find it one of the ugliest radios ever concieved. Although I hear good things about it but I just can't get past the myriad of buttons placed willy-nilly all over 'Millenium Falcon looking' face plate. I have the grandfather of the 857, the FT-100D and use it mobile. Nice rig and I'm sure the operation of the 857 is likewise, but to each their own

Christian,

Unless you are a 'must have NEW only' type of equipment shopper, investigate a earlier model of the FT-817 without 60M (the non-ND version??). I have been looking at the prices they are going for and while they are not free by no means, you could save some coin to add the one item I feel that the FT-817 should come stock with and that is the W4RT Speech Processor ('One Big Punch' I think it is called). Like I mentioned I had an FT-817 and curse the day I sold it. I had bigger and better visions then and did a dumb thing and sold my setup. I had integrated the One Big Punch along with the Heil HC-4 and HC-5 mic elements into the stock Yeasu hand mic and what a difference that made in my signal, especially when working DX. Made that little 5W sound like a BIG PISTOL, hihi.

If you haven't played with an FT-817, find someone who has one and see if they'll let you try it out for a day. I think you will find it surprisingly more than most folks give it credit for. One of our club members built a little 50W amp for his FT-817 from a semi-kit he got somewhere (one of the QRP groups I think). Anyway, combined together it made a really effective portable lightweight CW station using a 7A gelcell and a roll up solar panel charger.

Good Luck

Gene W5DQ

Unless you're a brute and want to carry enough batteries and possibly a solar charge system to power a 50-100W rig, you're most likely going to do it QRP. If that is the case, I'd look at the FT-817 from Yeasu. 5W output, can run on internal batteries for limited time and a small 12V gelcell and a small roll up solar panel along with the FT-817 and you can cover all of 6M on SSB, CW, FM, Packet, PSK31, etc. I had one and it was a great little portable rig. Make yourself a roll up 6M vertical or dipole and when the band is open and you're on top of a mountain or high terrain, you should be able to work many stations with 5W. Granted it isn't going to compete with a 100W station driving a 11 element long boom yagi but it will make QSOs.

Good Luck

Gene W5DQ

Same here. Our local ACE Hardware had 30 foot mast (I believe they were Channel master but can't recall) for around $50 plus tax but over a year ago I checked on them and they were now $100 plus tax. Glad I bought a few @ $50 when I needed them a couple of years ago. Still have a couple spare. I remember when I was just starting Jr. College in 1978 and my dad ran a small CB/Stereo/Ham shop in Arkansas. He'd order telescoping masts by the bundle every week or so and could not keep them in stock. Lengths from 20' to 60' and UPS delivered them in their standard panel truck. Shipping costs were hardly anything back then. The driver sure hated when the bundle of 10 to 20 masts came in every week or so. So did I since if I was around I had to help unload them and they were covered in grease and oil. Ruined alot of clothes on those beasts. You can't find masts hardly anywhere anymore since the demise of the local TV/radio shops.

I watch for people who have houses with masts sticking up in the back yard with no antennas or an old broken TV antenna on them. I stop by and offer to take the mast down and haul it off for them for the mast itself. I get a few nice ones doing that.