[AMRadio] Antenna issues.

[rbethman]

Bob,

It appears to be more a regional issue.

I don't have to hang out much of anything for an antenna here on the 
East coast - Virginia, and I can go from band to band and here activity.

You are in an RF hole being tucked away just a bit from the mountains.  
That has to be a big issue for you to overcome.

Plus you have antenna restrictions to boot.

The XYL and I already know pretty well where we are going to move when 
we retire.  We are going back home to Georgia.  I never had any issues 
down there with hearing and/or talking to folks.

Didn't need anything fancy either!

Bob - N0DGN



On 7/8/2014 10:40 AM, K5MYJ wrote:
> In the late 60's, early 70's I live in an apartment where a HF antenna 
> was not possible. But I was able to work 2M AM on a coaxial dipole 
> hung from the second floor rain gutter. It worked well for local 
> activity.
>
> 2M AM is now HISTORY and it seems most 2M FM activity is on the 
> repeaters.
>
> What does a modern ham start with? The cheapest solution is a 2M FM 
> transceiver.
>
> There are no HF transceivers (that I know of) available under $500.
>
> In THE OLD DAYS we would start with a GC receiver and a HB 
> transmitter. We learned our CW that way. As time went on we would 
> upgrade the receiver and the transmitter as funds would allow.
>
> That method of getting started does not seem possible anymore for 
> NEWBIES.
>
> I started with  S-38 ( the original with a REAL BFO) and a HB 6AG7/807 
> transmitter from a mid 50's handbook.
>
> Is HF radio in decline? I don't see much HF activity here in Seattle 
> except on contest days. And I use the Reverse Beacons to monitor CW 
> activity. But they don't work well for AM or SSB.
>
> I'm not the only one in this area that does not see much activity. And 
> I do have some decent receivers.
>
> Bob Macklin
> K5MYJ
> Seattle, Wa.
> "Real Radios Glow In The Dark"