Always keep trying. The XYL's antenna restrictions here make an HOA pale by comparison, but my "invisible" EFHW works, but I have dead zones to South America and Japan. I'm reminded of the Japanese QRP-er who used 500 milliwatts to get DXCC. What most people have forgotten, however, it that he was using a dipole draped out of his window on the 66th floor of a high-rise in Tokyo. Still, if you're having fun, who cares?
Jack, W8TEE-
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 12:12:00 PM EDT, Brian KB9BVN via groups.io <kb9bvn@...> wrote:
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
?
On 5/6/2025 9:39 AM, Gerald KI4IO via
groups.io wrote:
There need to be a special place? in heaven for those QRP'ers
who, for whatever reason, must used attic antennas.
jjpurdum