How much grid current was showing when it faulted?

That`s a great story Roy. I`d say you did indeed get a visit from your grandfather. I don`t know of any significance of that frequency other than there`s a fishing beacon there(HV8E). Maybe he liked 160m. I`m sure your grandfather is happy you`re using his call. I`d look at it as a good positive thing,as I`m sure that`s what it was intended to be. Thanks for sharing that with us.

I agree there are far too many personal attacks,sometimes about personal issues on that site. I do read the forums over there,and there is lots of useful info,just like here. I like this site the best though.

On thing history has tought us is the F.C.C. has always had trouble making up their mind. If you`ve ever read about the beginning of tv in the 40`s,they were constanly changing rules until finally reaching an agreement on the frequencies/channels/bandwidth used. This is why early tv`s had vfo`s instead of fixed channels. But that`s a whole other story!

Congrats on the basic exam Jim. I still remember my first ever qso as a new novice in May `75. Worked a station in Lancaster,PA,about 100 miles from here on 80m cw. Nervous as hell! Almost couldn`t complete the contact. Our local YMCA had a nice club station,with a separate novice and general station setup. Good luck,and hope to hear you on the bands.

Frank brings up a good point I think more new amp owners should pay attention to. Never adjust the tuning input slugs unless there is an actual problem with them. This is like messing with your car`s alignment when nothing is wrong. The slugs are preset from the factory to cover the bands in use. Even on bands like 10/12,15/17,it isn`t necessary. They are set to cover both bands,and they do. So unless your input swr is way off,please don`t.

Being a new amp the idling hv should be more than 2800 volts,however,that could be the metering resistors giving a lower reading. Running it off a dedicated 20 amp line is very good. I would tune it and find out what your power output is. Ideally the hv under load should be around 2700,and at idle at least 3000-3100. If of course you are getting the rated output on cw then it is ok.

Thanks! Sending a doughnut to your qth...:-)

Does anyone know what is broadcast below 100khz,and from 100-500khz? I know there`s vlf activity for unlicensed,but what about the rest? Do ships at sea still use those frequencies?

Even on a band like 40m,you may find it harder to hear states nearby to you late at night when 40 really opens up. For me in NJ,I might be able to hear PA during the day on 40. At night would be much more difficult,maybe not impossible but they would be weak. 80m is the better band for very local work. Or 2m.

My TS-440S Kenwood will go down to 30khz as well. The last time I listened to that part of the spectrum I just heard lots of noise,as anything electrical will be heard. Not sure if anything is actually used that low. Does anybody know?

I would retweak the plate cap just to be sure. It only takes a second and will give you piece of mind.

How about the dx calling individual states? It would eliminate the problem of a W2 who lives in a different call area. It also would give everyone a fair shot. Sure,it may take longer but you could alternate states quickly. Especially for the real rare entities.

Other than filtering,the only other difference I can think of might be slightly more frequency coverage at the lower end. Not sure if your `718 goes below 500 khz. Most general coverage receivers might start at 100 khz,maybe lower.

I would just call H.R.O. and ask them. If there are wider filters I`m sure they`re still available.