开云体育

Jerry,

I got my ticket in 1987...because I was interested in Packet.? Also the same year eldest son joined the Cub Scouts.? Also the same year my wife and I became Cub Scout leaders...in 1991 my son crossed over to the Boy Scouts.? Wife retired from Cub Scouts, and I became a Boy Scout leader.? In the meantime, ham radio had to take a back seat...between raising kids, working, and scout leading there was not much time for radio.? In 1995 first son earned Eagle, in 1999 other son earned Eagle.? (yes I'm bragging) BUT in late 1998 a buddy stopped by, he had just passed his General and was getting into CW with a Ten Tec Scout.? I was still licensed, and I had passed the 5 wpm test back in 1987...the idea of HF CW seemed like a good thing to do...so I bought a Norcal 40A kit, a ZM-2 tuner, and made a antenna of sorts and got on the air.? QRP seemed less expensive, building my own antenna was cheap, so I went that way.? Put the attic dipole up in 1999 after discussing it with my QRP Elmer Mac AF4PS at length.? He had a pretty successful attic dipole so I followed his plans.? Luckily my house is 58 feet wide in the attic.? So my 40m dipole is up there with 4 feet on each end turned 90 degrees.? That crazy antenna helped me WAS in 1999 on the Norcal 40A.? Insert hook in mouth...QRP CW had me.? It's been up there ever since and when I am operating from home it's usually what I use.?? Most of my operating these days is with my KX-2 and doing POTA.?

Now I will say...1999-2002 or so we had some GREAT band conditions.? It helped.? Attic dipole was installed not because of HOA...but Mrs. BVN said NO WAY to an external antenna in her yard.? We've been married for 46 years this month.? I do have 67 confirmed DXCC entities on that antenna...over 26 years.? May never get to 100.

de KB9BVN
Brian
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72 de KB9BVN