Ok so I still get a bunch of cards with my previous call sign and I've been sending a card back with my previous call sign.  But then I realized that I've gotten a couple cards that were not in my log - only to find out that the person sent me their new call sign and not the one I worked.  So have I been doing it wrong?  What's the protocol here?  Should you send a qsl card with the old call sign?  Or do you send a card with the new call as long as you put a note somewhere on the card with the old call sign. 

Curious what others think and what the accepted standard might be regarding this? 
Thanks
Noel   

Unless they've changed them I can tell you that I operated HF mobile from my 2003 mini cooper S for two years without any problems, due to HF that is.  And yes I saw that warning too and ignored it.   Now the car however was another story.  Fun to drive but was not troublefree.  If you'd like my list of issues with it, email me direct and I'll share those too.

Good Luck
Noel
KD6JHV

 Not looking for additional lightening protection but rather a way to drain static electricity from my antennas. I've several antennas that come into my shack to a 4 position antenna switch.  I'm convinced that either the wire antenna or multi element beam builds up static electricity that is not being shunted to ground via my ground system.  So, I'd like to drain or "short the center conductor" at the coax switch, yet not have it affect the SWR of my antennas when in use.  Anyone know of something commercial made or a simple way to do this.  

Noel

K0BG,
I appreciate your reply.  But can you be more specific on the "how" to accomplish the "easy" match.  I've looked at your website and there is a great deal of information there.  What it lacks however are specifics on how to accomplish the impedance matching.
 For example looking at the shunt feed picture under Impedance Matching.  How can I find the correct coil size for my particular installation? I can make a coil that will match each band, but how can I make one that will match 3 bands. Because of my installation I cant easily change coil taps for every band.  Instead I need to make one coil that will give me an acceptable match for 3 bands.  I'd even settle for just 40 and 80 meters.  Is there a way to use the MFJ 259b to find a good compromise coil?

Again specifics please.  For example, you could have just said try a shunt feed coil of 9 turns #14 gauge at the start.

K0BG Thanks for your reply.  Ok it's easy enough to get my hands on a 259B and measure the impedance.   So how would I go about getting the impedance close to 50 ohms.  I"m assuming that's where you're going.

I've been using the hustler resonators for mobile HF for many years with good results on at least 3  vehicles I've owned. Recently, I got a new truck and transferred the hustler, (I use the 4' mast) to a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel pickup. And although my installation works, I've not been able to get as good an SWR match as with previoius installations.  I'm guessing that the location I've chosen is the main culprit of the poor SWR, (right behind the cab) and I'd probably get better results if I moved the antenna to the rear of the bed.  But that's not an option because I pull a goosneck trailer and so the back of the bed is out.  

I'm looking for a way to improve the SWRs for 20 40 and 75 meters in particular. Anyone know of way to improve the SWR of the hustlers?  

Does anyone know of any cases where a ham has successfuly brought a lawsuit against a ham radio  manufacturer because of the company's failure to honor its warranty? For example:
A ham buys a radio from Icom or Yeasu or Kenwoood and the radio turns out be be a lemon.  The radio fails repeatedly for no reaon.  The ham has sent it back for repair/replacement under warranty six or seven times. But for whatever reason the company refuses to replace it.  Now its going on two years and the ham is stuck with a "lemon".  The company has extended the warranty, but after six failures and six attempts to fix it, the ham wants his money back or a new radio.  What's a ham to do?  Anyone?

60 to 100' heavy duty tower
RLP antenna such as http://www.antennaproducts.com/lph1photo.htm.  Nothing like working most of the bands without needing a tuner.  I"d use wire for the top bands. Maybe a rhombic or full size loop assuming you have the acreage. Course you'd probably want a tuner for the wire antennas.  So I'd get a full legal limit autotuner.  Not many to choose from and pricy but hey these are worth it.

Radio of your choice. I don't care for the 10K models no matter how much money I have to spend.  They're just not worth it.  Rather I'd "settle" for the 2 to 3K price range rigs such as the FT 1000s,  Ten Tec, or similiar with their appropriate legal limit amps.  Maybe one of each.  Basically, that's it.

Enjoy.
Noel

I'm curious about Transciever reliability by manufacturer.  So I thought I'd do a quick survey, but the survey section doesn't lend itself to multiple responses by type.  Please list your transciever make and a number to indicate how many times it has needed repair and how long you've owed it would also help.  Doesn't matter if you did the repair yourself or if you sent it back to the factory.  Not throwing stones at any manufacturer here.  Just curious how they stack up and maybe help me determine which manufacturer's equipment requires the least trips back to the factory.   If you'd like to add additional info like model that's fine too.  

Again I'm not asking to start a " this manufacturer is better or worse" thread.  Just trying to collect a snapshot of repairs by manufacturer, length of time owned, model and any other info you'd like to share.

Reading individual equipment reviews is nice.  But a comparision of repairs by manufacturer would show who's equipment has been holding up, for how long etc.  

For example:
Yaesu 757 GXII, 1 repair, 20 years
Kenwood TS 850 0 repairs 6 years

Thanks, Noel

I'm using the Signal Link+ for PSK.  Works great!
Noel