You might consider a linear-loaded dipole such as that described by K4VX that employed 450 ohm ladder line. I would be roughly 90 feet long. I suspect there would  be less loss than if you employed coils and you would have greater bandwith.  His article appeared in the July, 2002 QST.
de Dick, K8RBW

Thanks Chuck.  Aside from building some gear, working Pitcairn was my number one goal since I was in high school in the 1950s. I was inspired by a picture of Tom Christian in QST back then.  I guess that dates him a bit!  I was starting to think I would be six feet under before I made contact. The fact that VP6PR was able to work so many people under the current propagation screams volumes for CW!

KB9BIT:  Good luck.  I know how rough it was from this neck of the woods.  (I am currently in Wisconsin.)

Vy 73 es great DX to all.

Dick
K8RBW

I worked him tonight on 30 meters with 100 wats and a screwdriver up about 30 feet on a deck looking out over a lake.  He wasn't real strong, but I did mange to copy him through a local S9 noise level.  He has a great ears!
Been trying to work Pitcairn for fifty years and finally worked it on my birhtday.  Thanks Yoshi!

I am a computer novice and have tried to install LoTW, but I have been singularly unsucessful. I have managed to get as far as receiving a password on a postcard through the mail, but I am not able to succesfully load the certificate. I tried to call ARRL, but got nothing more than a recorded message stating that LoTW was in high demand and they were not able to answer calls and that all requests for help should be sent via e-mail.  I sent an e-mail explaining my diffculty and what my computer was saying, but I have received no response.  I asked them, if possible, to call me.  Is anyone willing to attempt to talk me through the installation on the phone.  If so, please provide me with your phone number and I am forever your slave.  Mni tnx.
Dick
K8RBW
K8RBW@arrl.net
Richardjwiltgen@aol.com

I can't recall the number of the filter.  Kenwood is very slow in responding to orders for them and it seemed like I waited ages to receive it.  They don't seem to produce it anymore. According to George, the former owner of INRAD, the filter for the TS-480 can be wired into the TS-50 even though it doesn't fit into the board.  He told me it is a better filter, which comes as no surprise.  In either case, the filter is soldered in. The 480 filter has one more pin that you ignore when installing it in the TS-50.  I got a bad filter when I first ordered it and had to wait severl months for a replacement.
The filter is easy to install.  It is installed in the filter location on the removable board near the left hand front of the radio by the speaker.  You then set the menu, which can be set either wide or narrow, but it is cumbersome shifting back and forth through the menu.
I am sorry I can't provide you with more specifics.  It has been a while since I installed it and don't have the radio or manual with me on vacation.  The manual explains the installation.

I just checked an old AES catalog and the filter number is YK-107C.

Vy 73,

Dick Wiltgen
K8RBW

Don't worry.  I have been a ham since the late 1950's and I still have to ask people to QRS at times.  CW operators are pretty understanding.  Sometimes it is difficult to raise a contact calling CW.  Try finding someone calling CQ at a relatively slow pace or signing with someone else and call them.  Good luck.

73

Dick
K8RBW

I used a ton of RG-11 and RG-59 for dipoles years ago.  It worked great with an excellent SWR. Those were in the days when I had more Real Estate and could put up a flat top, however. Indeed, as an old pack rat, I still have a some of them stored in the rafters of my garage.  Go for it.

de Dick, K8RBW

Phil,

Thank you ever so much. I thoroughly enjoy your articles and have done some of the things you have written about.  I always look for them in every issue of QST and CQ I receive.

73,

Dick
K8RBW

This is starting to get interesting.  I read the comments by KB4EMF with great care and profit.  

Let me go into greater detail about about my dealings with ICOM over the 703.  I actually contacted them TWICE.  The first time was over the telephone after I had read all the horror stories on eham and the Yahoo 703 Group.  At that time, I was told that they knew of NO problems with the 703 and it all came as news to them. That left me breathless and I lost all confidence in ICOM.  Later, I read on the above sources that ICOM recognized the problems and had modifications to deal with them.  Accordingly, I assumed ICOM had a change of heart (policy?) and was now acknowledging the problems with the 703.  I then sent an e-mail to ICOM again stating that I had the units and requested that they do the modifications.  I received a response from a fellow with a W7 call telling me NOT to send them in unless there was a problem with the units---precisely as I posted above.  The e-mail response was in the past year and I was greatly annoyed by it. Their constant stalling had resulted in the expiration of the warranties. I am a professor in the second largest MBA program in the country and had spoken about the matter with someone teaching business ethics.  We had discussed the prospect of contacting corporate headquarters in Japan for further information and using it as a case study for graduate classes. This has now gotten me interested enough to contact ICOM again. What will they say now? I am very attentive to detail and may pursue the ethics route again.

Dick
K8RBW

Bob,

I have both the 703 and 703 Plus.  This is what I was told by ICOM when I contacted them about properly adjusting the drain voltage: Not to send the radios to them unless they malfunction and that, as designed and orginally aligned, they should perform fine, but ICOM will perform modifications as long as the radio is still in production. I read this to state three things: 1) They will work on them all gratis as long they are in production, warranty not withstanding; 2) Their policy is applicable to both the 703 and 703 Plus; 3) Don't send us your radios because we don't want to work on them.  Did anyone else get any communications from ICOM Service?  I would be willing to send them to Burghardt, as was suggested, if ICOM would genuinely honor their repairs and not play gate keeper. I have a great deal of respect for Phil, AD5X, and would align my radios if he thought an old coot with arthritis and nerve damage in his hand would be able to adjust the FET drain voltage.  The keying problem is easy to deal with by yourself. Good luck.

Dick

K8RBW

Congratulations on receiving your ticket and welcome to the fraternity/sorority.  You have joined a great group of people.  Like any group, it isn't perfect and you will find an odd apple here or there.  Just ignore any self-appoined "band police" and enjoy yourself.  You'll meet a great bunch of people.  

Don't worry about making mistakes.  That is how you learn.  I've been licensed since 1958 and I am constantly making mistakes, but other operators kindly ignore them.  It sounds like you are starting out on 2 meters and leaning toward repeaters.  That is kind of unfamiliar territory for me because I have mostly worked CW on 10 throught 40 meters and don't have much experience on 2 meters. Just listen for someone and say "contact" between their transmissions.  That is like saying you would like to join them.  They'll be happy to welcome you and ask your call letters.  If no one is there, just state your call letters and say "monitoring."  On a repeater that is like people down in HF sideband calling CQ.

Under no circumstances should you worry about making mistakes.  I teach in college and I always tell the students when I don't understand something.  I also tell them that I have always learned something new from every introductory class I have taught. (I am still a terrible typist, but I keep on doing it because my handwriting is worse!) Just remember that others went through the same learning process as you. A lot of poor students displayed a great deal of patience while I learned to become an effective teacher. I probably mostly work CW today because I am still a bit shy on phone.

Welcome!

Dick
K8RBW