John glad to see another slow-coder out there.  I've been doing CW for about a year and can comfortably send/receive at 12 WPM.  I used numerous ways of learning and I think each one helped.

I think calling CW is very time/location dependent.  I usually am on at night and can call CQ for an hour with no reply.  If I get on in daylight hours it usually takes two or three CQs and I get answered.  I usually hang out on the old novice bands or the SKCC QRS watering holes.  I hope to hear you soon.  PM e-mail me if you want those freqs. 

73
Stan AE7UT

Thanks for the input guys.

The Yo-Yo IS a dipole that can be "reeled" out to any length you want.
It's perfect for multiband use but is a bit time/space intensive.

I have run a wire from the KX3 but I'm often in a cabin/tent/trailer so
a run of coax is usually preferred.

For hiking/snow-shoeing I'm going to try the wire and an EndFedz

Thanks again.
73
Stan AE7UT

I've been using a ZS6BKW, Yo-Yo dipole and an Alpha DX antenna for portable work.
I'd like to try an end fed antenna - I'm happy with all the others but one can never
have too many antennas.  I'm using an Elecraft KX3, CW & SSB.  Usually 5 watts max.
Most of my time is spend on 80/40 CW.

I am looking at the LNR EndFedz and was hoping to get some feed-back from the Guru's.
The choices I have come down to are:
   - EF-10/20/40MKII, 25 watt, 40 ft
   - EF-40/20 , 100 watt, 66 ft

I'm leaning toward the 66ft/100watts just because more wire seems to get more signal and
I might want to run more power but never have.

Or I could build one using the Balun Designs 9:1 Unun and some wire of my own.
This would get me the 80 mtrs I like to hang out on.
http://www.balundesigns.com/servlet/the-102/QRP-9-cln-1-Unun-1.5/Detail
What wire would you recommend for this? 
Anyone have a favorite length of wire?  It looks like 52.5 or 124 ft. are the sweet spots.
Does anyone use a counterpoise with this and what type?
Do you think it would perform as well as the EndFedz?

Thanks for any help you can be.
73
Stan AE7UT

Well being a newbie myself I feel very qualified to help you out!

I've used rigs from a Kenwood TS-830S to an Elecraft K3.
I think the easiest to use and maybe one of the best was the Ten-Tec Eagle.
It has one of the nicest receivers out there and is just plain spartan yet powerful.
It's not cheap but feels bullet-proof.  Nice internal tuner and noise blanker.

73
Stan AE7UT

I'd like the Novice license back also.
I'm a 2 year Extra no code ham.
I'm learning CW and it would be nice to have a bunch
of slow people like me out there practicing.

First I dig the Zombie motif.

Transceivers - K1, KX3 (like a Jeep and a Ferari)
Power source - solar panel into LiFe batteries (AA NiMH back ups)
Antennas - ZS6BKW, Yo-Yo wire antennas, Outbacker Joey (hey it's what I've got)
Pack - My daughters "Ariel" pink backpack.  (no one dares to hit you when wearing this even Zombies)

BTW I'd love to get some 10,000 mAh NiMh "D" cell batteries.
KE4VVF where did you find those?

73
Stan AE7UT

Nice story John.
Thanks.  I'm always amazed at the dedication and caring actions of people during war.
I'm not sure I would ever have that kind of chutzpah.

73
Stan AE7UT

Gelukkige kerstdagen Bob.
Hoop dat je een fantastisch nieuwjaar hebt.

Thanks for all your insight.  You always add great thoughts to
the threads you comment on.

73
Stan

Just want to thank you again for a great experience.
Quite the learning experience for me both about my
operating, antennas and rigs.  As a newbie to DXing
it was quite the thrill to work you.  I only made 2 contacts
but those are priceless.

73
Stan AE7UT

Thanks again for all the replies.

I work during the day and am so busy on the weekends I rarely see my rigs by sun light.
So I'm 99% on 80/75, 40, 30.  I would say roughly 50/50 SSB/CW.  I prefer CW for DX work.

It was during the ZL9HR DXpedition that I really got frustrated with not hearing weak signals.  Also as I do more DX work I'm having trouble with weak signals.  It seems when the band noise clears for a moment or two I can make them out and make the contacts.  I was just hoping a receive antenna would help.  I'm a really new ham so maybe I just don't understand the reality of the situation.  It wouldn't be the first time.

I'm going to measure the exact distances on my fence and see what you think.
I'll get back to you guys ASAP

73
Stan AE7UT

Thanks for the input guys.
I'm going to look into the BOG.

Stan AE7UT

I just built a K3 and am looking for a receiving antenna. Of course this comes with certain caveats.
Mostly my wife is not happy with "Another antenna???"  So aesthetics or stealth are mandatory.   

I'm using an OCFD at 35 ft.  I also have a Zero-five vertical.

I have a rather large back yard to put another antenna in.  It's 120' deep X 180' wide.  Not huge but not postage stamp.  I have a 6' vinyl fence around the yard.  The yard has a huge playset, extensive lighting, a waterfall and stream running through the middle of  it and a very large lit raised deck.  I'm in a pretty new area with no mature trees.  So I'd have to use a support structure for any height.

I've looked at the DX engineering package.
 http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-arav3-2p
Could I put a beverage type wire on top of the fence?
I know neither run is long enough for a "traditional" beverage.

I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something that doesn't work better than just using the vertical on dual receive.

Thanks for any thoughts or help.

73
Stan AE7UT

Today I'm pretty happy.
I finally got a 15 mtr. contact.  YOO HOO.

From my QTH in Utah I can hear them every night and every day.....
Just indiscernible enough to not be workable.  Then last night for just
a moment the heavens cleared and I got him.

I'm very new to DXing so it was very exciting for me.  The interesting
thing is I've been VERY happy with my antennas until DXing.  I'm now
seriously looking at the system and trying to improve it.

73
Stan AE7UT

Nope.  
All with a straight key.
Sorry it's so long.  I can't figure out how to change to a small font

RBN   DX de W4KAZ-#: 7050.0 AE7UT CW 17 dB 10 WPM CQ 0817Z   2012-11-21 08:17:30
RBN   DX de W4KAZ-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 11 dB 11 WPM CQ 0810Z   2012-11-21 08:10:30
RBN   DX de K1TTT-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 14 dB 11 WPM CQ 0810Z   2012-11-21 08:10:27
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 27 dB 11 WPM CQ 0809Z   2012-11-21 08:09:34
RBN   DX de WE4S-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 27 dB 11 WPM CQ 0809Z   2012-11-21 08:09:28
RBN   DX de WA7LNW-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 24 dB 10 WPM CQ 0739Z   2012-11-20 07:39:17
RBN   DX de N6WIN-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 18 dB 11 WPM CQ 0739Z   2012-11-20 07:39:16
RBN   DX de N0TA-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 32 dB 11 WPM CQ 0739Z   2012-11-20 07:39:15
RBN   DX de NQ6N-#: 3552.9 AE7UT CW 14 dB 10 WPM CQ 0739Z   2012-11-20 07:39:10
RBN   DX de W4KAZ-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 21 dB 11 WPM CQ 0732Z   2012-11-20 07:32:50
RBN   DX de WA7LNW-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 29 dB 10 WPM CQ 2335Z   2012-11-18 23:35:38
RBN   DX de KM3T-#: 7053.0 AE7UT CW 15 dB 10 WPM CQ 2335Z   2012-11-18 23:35:36
RBN   DX de NQ6N-#: 7052.9 AE7UT CW 18 dB 10 WPM CQ 2335Z   2012-11-18 23:35:34
RBN   DX de WZ7I-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 10 dB 10 WPM CQ 0750Z   2012-11-15 07:50:28
RBN   DX de WE4S-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 14 dB 10 WPM CQ 0747Z   2012-11-15 07:48:00
RBN   DX de W4KKN-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 11 dB 10 WPM CQ 0747Z   2012-11-15 07:47:53
RBN   DX de NY3A-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 12 dB 10 WPM CQ 0705Z   2012-11-15 07:05:21
RBN   DX de N6NC-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 11 dB 10 WPM CQ 0705Z   2012-11-15 07:05:08
RBN   DX de KH6LC-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 14 dB 10 WPM CQ 0703Z   2012-11-15 07:03:21
RBN   DX de WE4S-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 17 dB 10 WPM CQ 0703Z   2012-11-15 07:03:20
RBN   DX de WZ7I-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 10 dB 10 WPM CQ 0703Z   2012-11-15 07:03:16
RBN   DX de N6WIN-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 28 dB 12 WPM CQ 0558Z   2012-11-14 05:58:29
RBN   DX de N6WIN-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 23 dB 10 WPM CQ 0550Z   2012-11-14 05:50:29
RBN   DX de KQ8M-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 13 dB 10 WPM CQ 0550Z   2012-11-14 05:50:24
RBN   DX de KH6LC-#: 3553.0 AE7UT CW 14 dB 10 WPM CQ 0550Z   2012-11-14 05:50:24
RBN   DX de N7TR-#: 3550.0 AE7UT CW 22 dB 11 WPM CQ 0755Z   2012-11-13 07:55:23
RBN   DX de WZ7I-#: 7044.0 AE7UT CW 10 dB 10 WPM CQ 0729Z   2012-11-13 07:29:06
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 7044.0 AE7UT CW 08 dB 10 WPM CQ 0729Z   2012-11-13 07:29:06
RBN   DX de W4KKN-#: 7044.1 AE7UT CW 10 dB 10 WPM CQ 0729Z   2012-11-13 07:29:03
RBN   DX de KQ8M-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 22 dB 16 WPM CQ 0703Z   2012-11-13 07:03:03
RBN   DX de KQ8M-#: 7052.0 AE7UT CW 16 dB 13 WPM CQ 0624Z   2012-11-13 06:24:03
RBN   DX de KM3T-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 16 dB 10 WPM CQ 0544Z   2012-11-13 05:44:40
RBN   DX de K1TTT-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 22 dB 11 WPM CQ 0544Z   2012-11-13 05:44:39
RBN   DX de WE4S-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 20 dB 11 WPM CQ 0544Z   2012-11-13 05:44:39
RBN   DX de W4KKN-#: 7054.1 AE7UT CW 27 dB 11 WPM CQ 0544Z   2012-11-13 05:44:38
RBN   DX de W3LPL-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 12 dB 11 WPM CQ 0544Z FM19   2012-11-13 05:44:35
RBN   DX de KQ8M-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 10 dB 13 WPM CQ 0543Z   2012-11-13 05:43:53
RBN   DX de WB2LSI-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 15 dB 10 WPM CQ 0543Z   2012-11-13 05:43:08
RBN   DX de VE7AB-#: 18077.9 AE7UT CW 20 dB 13 WPM CQ 1958Z   2012-11-09 19:58:28
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 18078.0 AE7UT CW 19 dB 13 WPM CQ 1958Z   2012-11-09 19:58:27
RBN   DX de W3OA-#: 18078.1 AE7UT CW 11 dB 13 WPM CQ 1958Z   2012-11-09 19:58:21
RBN   DX de KQ8M-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 17 dB 11 WPM CQ 0830Z   2012-11-07 08:30:57
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 7112.0 AE7UT CW 24 dB 11 WPM CQ 0635Z   2012-11-06 06:35:10
RBN   DX de WZ7I-#: 7112.0 AE7UT CW 19 dB 12 WPM CQ 0635Z   2012-11-06 06:35:05
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 10118.0 AE7UT CW 09 dB 10 WPM CQ 0700Z   2012-11-02 07:00:08
RBN   DX de W4KAZ-#: 7114.0 AE7UT CW 12 dB 10 WPM CQ 0729Z   2012-10-26 07:29:43
RBN   DX de K1TTT-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 31 dB 14 WPM CQ 0721Z   2012-10-26 07:21:13
RBN   DX de W2RDX-#: 7054.0 AE7UT CW 19 dB 14 WPM CQ 0721Z   2012-10-26 07:21:11
RBN   DX de W4AX-#: 7050.0 AE7UT CW 07 dB 10 WPM CQ 0808Z   2012-10-15 08:08:29

Just wanted to add a quick thanks.
I'm new to DXing and this was a fun contact.
I only worked them with CW and the OPs were great.

73
Stan AE7UT