Sounds to me like it's time to move...

Keep in mind that if you do send green stamps overseas, there are a few countries where U.S. currency is illegal to possess! It's always best to check the DX station's QRZ.com profile before QSLing, and when in doubt, use the bureau or skip that card. Except for a handful, most DX stations aren't all that rare. And the rare ones generally make QSLing easy.

As K0RS said, make sure you have some stamped envelopes and/or cash on file with your QSL bureau. You may find some cards already waiting there for you! Also, don't be surprised if it takes a while to get a response from some stations. As I mentioned in another thread I still receive cards through the bureau for contacts I made years ago; in fact, I got a mailing last week that included a card from a CX station for a contact in 2001! My QSL policy is that if I REALLY need a card I will QSL direct (via the method specified by the DX station and always with an SAE and IRC or green stamps), otherwise I'll send it through the bureau. You won't get a 100% rate of return no matter what you do, but as long as you make it as easy as possible for the DX to send you a QSL, you'll end up with a ton of 'em!

I still receive QSLs through the bureau for contacts made many years ago. In fact, I received a bureau mailing last week with a card from a CX station for a contact in 2001. There are probably any number of reasons why they come in late, but I still get a strange thrill when I get a card for a QSO "back in the 20th Century"!

I have a Hustler 6BTV using the metal fence as the counterpoise. It has worked way beyond my expectations! Since April 2009 I have worked all states and over 150 countries, mainly on 40 and 20 meters. There may be some distortion in the radiation pattern (at my antenna the fence runs basically east-west) but I haven't noticed any significant directionality.

I would explain that the FT-90 is a radio transceiver that requires an FCC license to operate, and that you cannot allow them to take possession of it unless they can show proof of being licensed. Might work, might not, but certainly worth a try! (I had a car that was totalled a few years ago, but fortunately the body shop had no problem with me removing the FT-7800 I had installed. I did have to sacrifice the power wires though, since their removal would have been pretty involved!)

I have one and find it to be mechanically strong, but electrically poor. Getting it to tune properly is a nightmare and performance is mediocre at best. A quarter wave whip or the aforementioned Hustler SF-2 will work MUCH better!

Yes the Buckmaster OCF dipole is pricey, but it is very well built and works great. I had one for several years at a QTH where I could only have one antenna, and with 100 watts I worked gobs of DX with it!

The Buckmaster comes in 2 different models - one good for 300 watts, or if you plan to run an amp get the 3kW model (beefier balun.) BTW the balun on the Buckmaster OCF is 6:1.

Thanks to Glenn, AE7AD, who sent me several scans of some old QST ads, I have identified my antenna! It is a Hy-Gain Mini Tribander, ca. 1958. According to a (2-page!) QST ad, it is good for 600 watts AM, with a hot dip galvanized steel (!) boom and 6061-ST6 aluminum elements. And, of course, Hy-Gain's exclusive hermetically sealed "Insu-Traps". MSRP in '58 was $69.50. According to the inflation calculator at dollartimes.com, that's $514.47 in today's dollarettes!

I should be able to glean a lot of helpful information from these ads. Still, I can't help but wonder if there's a copy of the manual for this antenna floating around out there somewhere? Again, many thanks, Glenn!

I was recently given an old 3-element triband HF beam. I was told it's maybe 40-45 years old. It's a Hy-Gain (at least that's what the traps are marked) but the traps are very unusual. They look sort of like Tupperware bowls! I've never seen one like this before. Any ideas on what model it might be? Hopefully someone will know and I can scrounge up a copy of the manual, or at least the proper dimensions to make restoration a bit easier. Thanks!

Here is a website listing several movies and TV shows involving ham radio in some way:

http://en.allexperts.com/e/a/am/amateur_radio_in_popular_culture.htm

KB1NXE, that's almost exactly what I've been wanting to do! I already have a length of 4" PVC and a metal electrical box to mount on the outside wall, but I hadn't considered using the 3/4" conduits inside the 4" pipe. I may just have to steal your idea! :-)

My main issue has been finding someone who can drill a 4" hole through the wall (it's concrete block.) I don't have the nerve (or the tools) to do it myself and no one I've spoken with has the right tools. Anyone have ideas? Thanks!

I have an FT-920 and absolutely love it! Kind of a "poor man's FT-1000MP", and I had one of those too, but I actually like the '920 a little more. The FT-990 is also a fabulous (albeit older) rig, but I've seen some that were well abused so caveat emptor if you go that route.

I have found that I get a much higher response with eQSL than LOTW. I don't get on the air every day, but when I do I upload my logs to both services after going QRT. My return rate on eQSL is about 50%, whereas LOTW is more like 5%. With paper QSLs it's about 25% for direct and about 1% through the bureau. In my opinion, eQSL is the way to go.

I have also enjoyed great success in dealing with R&L. Several years ago I traveled a lot for work and had the chance to stop by R&L several times. I love that store! Always friendly and willing to help. When pricing gear I use their prices as my guideline, and they usually have the best prices. I highly recommend R&L!