Re:W8JX
   The sad fact is that it will never end as long as humans and ANY type weapon exist.It all started when Neanderthal man figured out what lethal damage a rock or sharpened stick could do.Modern day man has only(supposedly) improved on these basic weapons.

  Just ideas that others have done with same mag mount antenna: Feed line from shack to roof of car/truck if near enough to house same to METAL hood of lawn/garden tractor,,old style metal patio table,top of outside heat pump/AC enclosure.I've even seen one on top of a bullet shape propane tank??,last time I went by his house it(house) was still standing. 

 Great topic: I'm always interested in what the other boys are using and results from their FD antennas.I mostly operate QRP/CW portable so mostly everyday is basically a field day for me.For the past 4 years I have built and experimented with all the basic wire antenna types and configurations. My priorities are quick set up,directional ability,light weight/small size,no tuning or SWR meters and good performance on 40,30 and 20M,the only bands I'm interested in. For the past year I have settled on MY own "ultimate" FD/portable antenna which best suits my needs in the New England environment for the following reasons.It is the simple inverted Vee with the legs also in a sloping Vee and a 28 ft. length of light 8X coax with a simple CVC plumbing tee for the center connector and wing nut conections for my 3 sets of radiator wires.The radiators are precut and tuned at the home QTH for each band to a 1.5:1 SWR at a 12-15 ft. height,in the field this gives me a SWR range between 1.2:1up to 3:1 depending on different ground conditions with no negative effect on my QRP rigs.Mast or center supports are no problem,plenty of trees and 20 ft.deadfall fir or spruce saplings for a a quick tripod mast lashed together at top with an old military web belt I carry for just such a purpose.For a while I carried a Cabela's 16 ft. crappie pole around for a center mast it was a PITA and found it was not needed.Antenna is easily rotated for direction on interest by moviing the sloping Vee legs.Mostly I use it mono band but sometimes use it as a type of fan Vee for two bands with no interaction problems.With this set up I get my fill of CONUS stations on 20m during the day and the usual morning/nite grey line DX on 30M.Works for me.

Re:AC4RD
    Your unfortunate paddle fiasco reminds me of my first outside QRP trip after returning to the hobby,I was using my old Bencher BY-1  paddles and due to the proliferation of the spring blackflies and mosquitoes my springs and contact points were soon a mash of squished goo and useless.Ever since then when I go portable I use my great grandad's 100+ year old Signal Electric straight key and never have a problem,apparently the various flying insects don't  like the chemical smell of the old green verdigris on the brass.

Re:K8AXW

      Just saw on the news this morning the new Dick Tracey wrist watch rig called the "Pebble"probably with future cw,Morse decoder and ssb options.As with the TS-130 the now current FT-3000,Omni V11 and KX3 rigs in 3 or 4 years may also just be a fading memory. As far as I could tell this Pebble is all VOX control and the demonstrator did'nt have a manual anywhere in sight.

  Yesterday was a beautiful spring day in Maine,I spent the morning at the picnic table cobbling together a 30m 2 watt cw transceiver from two defunct QRP rigs and spare parts then spent 5 minutes putting up a 12 ft.high inverted V cut for 30m, 28 ft. coax feed line,no tuner,connected the 12v jump start battery and called CQ with no idea of SWR or power output (probably 1-1/12 W).The Gods were happy and the planets were aligned,I got an immediate response from Jim (K2TTP) in N.Y ,a 20 min. QSO at 579.Went on for several more contacts as far as OH. and NC usually wiped out by QRM,a great time until company showed up.Who ever said QRP is a challenge must lead an easy life.

Re:K8AXW
   Over 50?? Hell,if she had offered me that deal 41 years ago and knowing what I know now I would have taken it and run.

 My XYL has been reading these posts with great interest,she now figures she knows enough about calibers ,speed loaders,ballistics,trigger flinch,politics of supply and demand etc.to now qualify for her concealed weapons permit without shelling out $80.00 for the NRA sanctioned course.She has her eye on one of my 22 cal.revolvers with an ample supply of rat shot shells and wants me to trade even for her can of mace,helluva deal I think.

Been there,after 45 years QRT I too jumped from an ARC-5 and 6L6 homebrew xtmr. into the modern age.After much research and hands on try outs I bought an IC-7200 which is almost intuitive to operate out of box and very easy with the manual.Easy to set up for your operating preferences then forget,no bells and whistles.

 I guess the best way to avoid an ammo shortage is to become a government agent.

Re: KK4APV
    "Why are they shooting hollow rounds?"  Hollow points will flatten on  impact so once the resulting sharp edge pancake like object penetrates the body cavity(man or beast)it will ricochet off bones and hard cartilage tearing through vital organs and arteries which is much more lethal than a solid bullet which may just lodge in muscle tissue or possibly stop inside or pass straight through without hitting a vital organ. You're right, solid rounds are for target practice thus the buy up and hoarding of hollow point ammo by all concerned parties.

 

   Does anybody wonder why homeowners will pay a $100.00 or more on home security devices or $500.00 or more on their automobile anti theft /security systems but balk at the possibility of having to pay an extra $15.00-20.00 a year real estate tax for extra school security for their children?A sad commentary on priorities.

  Actually O'Drama Rama is a pretty slick dude,he not only can appease the anti gun faction with his rhetoric and attempts at anti gun legislation but at the same same time gives the economy a boost with increased gun/ammo sales and providing more jobs in the firearms industry,a win win situation for the guy.

  I'm still waiting for an automatic SSB translator to come out so I can figure out the purpose of whats being said other than 5 by 9 or WX reports.

Re: KA1VF
      Collect all the BBs you can,there excellent reloads for 20 ga. shot gun shells which are very effective at close range.