I haven't been able to get on the air much in the last year, but I found a way around it - a 40m hamstick on the car with my K2 at 10 Watts (I figure it's QRP with the hamstick's efficiency) to and from work and occasionally in the evening. Just about everytime I've gotten on the air, I've managed to squeek out a contact. Sunday night was my first contact - California on 40m! Yesterday I had a lunchtime contact with Chicago, and after work - another Chicago. Last night - Missouri. This morning - Minnesota. Just about everyone has given me Q5 copy (I usually report Q3-4 because of engine QRN). Two of them even gave me s7 reports!
This has been a refreshing experience - and a reminder that any antenna is better than no antenna. Oh, and - for what its worth - my hamstick isn't even tuned for 1:1 on the low end of the band (it's more like 4:1 - but I let the KAT2 handle it). So, even after everything that's NOT supposed to help (bad SWR, short radiator, engine noise, sorta-QRP) ... I'm still getting out and having a blast. Sorry - just had to share the renewed enthusiasm for QRP. Oh - and copying in your head isn't easy while driving - but it gives your brain a good work out. 73, Daniel AA0NI/M in OKC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
