N0OFR
Yes, you are correct. You can drop the temporary AG once your new license shows up in the FCC database. You do not have to wait for the paper license.
73, Jim, K1PX

I want to thank the team for the splendid job that they did in getting Version 2 of eHam up and running. This is a team of volunteers who devote their energies and time because of their love of the hobby and wanting to see this website make a contribution to amateur radio.

Some were necessarily more involved than others so I would particularly like to thank the Development team which is Garth, KG7GA and Pat, N8VW. Thanks to Bill, W4AN for putting up with my endless e-mails and to Mike, N2MG and Lisa, KA9UQT (now K7UQT)for their fine efforts in the testing phase just before we went live. I sure hope I didn't forget anyone specifically and kudos to the rest of the team managers who helped out in phases and when they could.

Well done !!

Jim, K1PX

Hi Jim:
It took me about two days to build it. The assembly was straight forward and the manual is excellent. The only thing that is a little touchy is the coil that is used to set the VFO for the tuning range that you desire. So, I had to play around a little with the windings on the toroid.

The tuning range is about 75 KHz and mine works from 7.0 to 7.07 with 4.8 watts output.

You probably won't believe it but it worked the first time I turned it on. And, I modified it slightly by installing a LED power on indicator just to the left of the on-off switch.

The receiver is remarkably good and I've easily worked DX with it. It costs just about $100. What a deal !

73, Jim, K1PX

Please feel free to raise a subject here that is not specifically covered by any of the main categories. Or, if you have a question related to amateur radio, it can be posted here or in the Elmer category if you prefer.

Maybe a good subject to consider it the possibility that we will have a new HF band in the future around 5 MHz. It is probably a few years away but an experimental license has been granted and there are test transmissions going on to evaluate propagation. I think this will help the congestion on 40 and 75 meters and cover propagation gaps that might exist between those two bands.

Will your rig transmit on 5 MHz when it is granted and do you have or can you put up an antenna for that band? A half wave antenna for 5.1 Mhz is around 92 feet.

I wonder what methods others use for getting antennas up into trees and have them stay there. My antennas are up to 100' high and have all been installed from the ground. I use a 50 lb bow with fish arrows because they have small weights on the tip. Then, I shoot up fish line into the tree followed by 100lb nylon line and then at least one or maybe two runs of 3/16 double dacron rope. For smaller antennas, I find that if they are near the top of the tree, the smaller limbs act like springs and they stay up for several years. For larger antennas, I use plated springs of various sizes from the local Home Depot with a service loop of dacron just in case the spring breaks. Using insulators stronger then those inexpensive plastic ones is necessary as I've had them break in high winds.

         
There have certainly been a large number of upgrades recently so that amateurs can enjoy new privileges. Are you planning new equipment, antennas or possibly a new call?          

         
Most of the clubs in my area have elmer programs along with classes for upgrading and volunteers to answer specific questions. There is also a team who will go around and assist others putting up antennas and assembling stations. Does your local club offer such programs ?          

         
I find contesting on this band to be a particularly unique challenge. Figuring out stategies and working with various antennas to improve performance are my favorite parts of it. Anyone else find this band interesting for contesting?          

         
I still have my Hallicrafters SX-100 and WRL Globe Champion from the old AM days. I've started a restoration project to bring them up to snuff even though both of them work fairly well. Anyone else doing a restoration on either of these specific rigs?          

A friend recently bought me a Ten Tec 1340 kit as a gift and it has been a lot of fun working 40 meters with it. The rig actually worked the first time I fired it up. It was particularly exciting to work several Europeans the first night. Anyone else have fun building a QRP rig like this?