[Elecraft] I am planning

[Stephen W. Kercel]

Gerald:

With Tech Plus privileges you can work 15 meters as well as 10. Admittedly, 
you could work SSB on 10, but are limited to CW on 15. However, if you're 
planning for QRP and simple antennas, you'll probably have more success on 
CW than SSB.

Anyway, you might consider trying to operate on 15 meters instead of (or as 
well as) 10 meters. A half-wave dipole is only about 8 feet longer, and 
during this period of low sunspot activity, 10 meter openings are much less 
common than 15 meter openings. You will meet with far more success, and 
enjoy the experience more on 15, at least for now.

Since you're planning to use QRP, you will probably be a lot more satisfied 
with your results if you use a full size antenna such as a half-wave 
dipole. Full size stealth antennas are easily feasible on both 10 and 15 m.

At what speed are you hitting the code wall? If your proficiency is already 
good enough to pass the 5 WPM exam, you need not worry about it. Once you 
get licensed and on the air, your speed will increase spontaneously in the 
normal course of operating.

For heaven's sake, don't be embarrassed about being slow on the air. QRS is 
a legitimate procedural signal, and it exists for a reason.Nobody will 
think any less of you if operate slowly; we were all beginners once. It is 
the responsibility of the faster operator to go at the speed of the slower 
operator. With the exception of a few lids (who you don't want to talk to 
anyway) everyone will slow down to your speed, and nobody will tease you 
about it.

Don't worry about contests (except maybe "Get Your Feet Wet") right away. 
You need to gain some experience making ordinary QSOs. When you're ready to 
start contesting, you'll know it.

As Elecraft points out, building a K2 is not a timed event. Although you'll 
no doubt enjoy building it, do not expect to get on the air any time soon 
if you go that route.

One suggestion is not to skimp on the antenna. Use good feedline, and 
weather proofing, and make it of quality materials. Stealthy does not mean 
shoddy. For a beginning operator using QRP, you cannot afford to give 
anything away in antenna losses.

One tip I'd pass on is one that was passed on to me when I started out. 
You'd be better off not getting mixed up with 2 meters right away. You'll 
enjoy greater success if you get some HF CW experience under your belt first.

One final tip, if there is any way for you to get on 40 meters, you should 
probably start there first. As a very wise old salt told me about 40 years 
ago, the fewest things seem to go wrong on 40 m. That is what I did 
personally, and several novices have thanked me for passing that advice on 
to them.

Good luck and 73,

Steve
AA4AK

At 01:36 PM 10/16/2005 -0700, Jerry and Sandy Gaule wrote:
>
>Dear ELECRAFT members...
>
>I am working on my TECH W CODE...later GENERAL...I was thinking of going
>10 meters/w QRP...due to limited space and yard...plus nosy
>neighbors....
>
>
>
>my family will be working on theirs later for TECH W/CODE...I am using
>Farnsworth for my CODE..at 5 WPM...for some time I was hitting the CODE
>wall....as well get into contests and so on...I am planning to buy a K2
>ELECRAFT...what would you recommend...tips and ideas....thanks...
>
>
>
>What advice would you have for equipment and set up...I am looking for
>any USED HF/2 meter equipment...thanks 73...Gerald..
>
>
>
>gaules at msn.com
>
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