Relax, enjoy, make contacts. Try to keep in mind:

1) CW ops are almsot always friendly and supportive. Tell your contact you are new at this and you will make them HAPPY. They usually want to help and will.

2) Didn't copy perfectly? so what? ask.

3) Didn't send perfectly? so waht? The other guy probably understood you anyway and if not, he/she will ask.

As others ahve suggested, make a cheat sheet. Outline or completely write out the first several exchanges.

I hope to hear you on the air.

Paul  AB0SI

It depends. Auto tuners are nice, but a good manual tuner (such as the Palstar ones) will give you a wider tuning range. If you don't need that extra range, then it is simply deciding if the extra cost versus ease of operation makes the automatic tuner worth the extra dollars.

Paul AB0SI

NOt having tghe radials laided out in a full 360 degrees will change the radiation pattern. Depending on which direction is which , this might even help.

The concrete, per se, would not, I think, cause much change -- good or bad.

The radials do not need to be perfectly straight. Bend them as needed.  Goo dluck

Paul AB0SI

I'm not sure of this, but I think you need the Ship's Master's permission, not the Captain's. This is usually the same, but occasionally different. It is all a technicality, anyway. You seem to have the line's permission, so ask THEM to get the Master's/Captain's permission. Remind them that you will be operating HF (which they do not use any more) and not VHF/UHF (which they use a lot).

I've seen hams operate Marine Mobile from cruise ships in several different ways. The best set up that I've ssen is:
   Rear Cabin with balcony
   Yaesu F100
   Yaesu ATAS 100 (a mini-screwdriver type antenna)
      bolted onto balcony rail
   couterpoise wire attached to metal rail

I've also seen hams operate on open decks with QRP rigs and portable antenna (for example, one guy set up a Buddy Pole antenna)

Paul  AB0SI

I disagree with Nate. I suggest starting with paddles.

Nate is correct -- folks new to Morse using paddles will throw in extra dits and dahs. And, that does make it difficult to copy.

However, I do not think this is particularly important. So your code sending "sucks" when you first stgart? Who cares? The sooner you start using a paddle, the sooner you will become good with it.

GL es 73

Paul AB0SI

I think this depends on what you want.

If you want to send the best code you can off the bat, a straight key is better.

If you want to get your speed up ASAP, a paddle is better.

Paul AB0SI

Maybe thinking of the Cushcraft 8040 vertical?

Paul AB0SI

 N3ZKP mentioned using an external power meter for tuning. I've heard this before and do not understand it. No, this isn't a rant, just a request to know why.

I assume the watt meter on 80B is off by a considerable amount. All that matters, I think (this is where I am probably wrong) is the RELATIVE power. Right? If so, is the metering likely to be so screwed up that even when used to measure relative power from one setting to another it is off?

Thanks

Paul AB0SI

I have a 5-element 6m yagi 8 1/2 feet below my 5-band yagi and have not noticed any interaction between the two (note: the Hexbeam was up for almost a year prior to adding the 6m beam).

FWIW, the Hex does a fairly decent job as a omni-directional 6m antenna.

Paul AB0SI

Others ahve covered this, but let me put it another way:

A "good" SWR does the following for you:
  a) keeps your rig happy. If your rig is happy with 2:1 SWR, it won't be happier with a 1:1 SWR
  b) reduces loss in the coax. The higher the SWR, the greater the loss in the coax. This varies with frequency and type of coax. At 2m, the loss can be significant.

Beyond that, SWR and Gain are two different things.

Paul AB0SI

If the antenna is elevated, you will need to install elevated radials. unlike ground radials, the elevated radials need to be "tuned" to each band you intend to use. A minimum of two tuned radials for each band is a good idea. Adding more radials will imrpove the strength of your signal (and reception, of course) and will lower the angle of the main lobe (improved DX). This will change your SWR somewhat and might require retuning the radiator.

If your primary interest is local communications, may I suggest that you consider a fan dipole or similar mounted low? Resting on or just above the roof. The legs do not need to be straight.

Paul AB0SI

Chuck:

FB (Fine Business) should cover it nicely.

Also, remember that unless you are handling formal traffic, there really isn't a need to worry about bein technically correct regarding sending "R." Sending "R" then asking for a repeat of the QTH or some such would confuse the issue <grin>, but if you are not sure if his dipole is at 85 or 84 feet, "R" will do just nicely.

73

Paul  AB0SI

Update

Much to my surpise, the cover arrived today That's the good news. The bad news: it doesn't fit. I don't mean it isn't perfect, I mean it doesn't fit. The "box" does not fit over the Bencher base, so it is effectively useless.

Ernesto responded to my email thanking him for seding the cover. I told him it didn't fit (with details). He then wrote that if I sent him pictures, he would remake the cover for me.

Paul AB0SI

P.S. I give up; this isn't worth the effort and hassle.

It is a 53-foot tall tower cum antenna from Hygain (MFJ owns them). 10 thru 80 meters, no Warc BANDS. add-on available for 160

http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?prodid=AV-18HT

Paul AB0SI

Well, I am merely a novice with Extra opreating rights. Therefore, I can not help you with this or anything else. After all, it was my fault that the regs changed.

If you run into any Extra Lites who need to study for the Canadian exam, after you are done insulting them, send them to:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/%20en/h_sf05378e.html
and tell them to click on the link near the bottom of the page.

After you give them this inforamtion (you had better keyboard it for them, since they are mere Extra Lites, suggest that they go to:
   http://www.rac.ca/regulatory/examiner.htm
and download the list of Accredited Examiners. This, of course, after you have insulted them again.

Since you certainly do not want these bozos operating in Canads or any place else, I won't give you the link for the Application form(hint: think Industry Canada and/or Radio Amateurs of Canada).

Sorry that I wasn't able to assist, but as you know, I am only an Extra Lite.

By the way, I find the Canadian test a bit more difficult thatn the U.S. and quite a bit better done.

Paul AB0SI (who will add a VE1 call this summer).

Note bene: I have not bothered to proof this note, since I am only an Extra Lite.