[Elecraft] As good as it gets...for now?

[Tom Childers, N5GE]

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:27:29 +0000, you wrote:

>On my simple wire doublet antenna (100' long, 30' at the apex) I was 
>hearing South America this morning and worked 3000 miles later in the 
>morning on PSK31 running 25 Watts to the doublet, so while conditions 
>aren't great they are far from flat. Ten Watts and a K2 are fine, the 
>only thing left is that antenna. I don't know what you expect in the way 
>of a reply Rod but antennas count for pretty much everything.
>
>73 Dave, G4AON
>K1 #1154, K2 # 1892, K3 #80
>=============================

IMHO, Just as important as a good antenna is not relying on DX clusters to find
contacts for you.  Tune the bands (slowly) and look for those weak signal
stations.  They are there, and you can't always depend on the other guys to find
them for you.  Nobody else in the whole wide world can hear the signals you hear
at you QTH the same as you do.

Back before clusters we did a lot more QSX than TX, because we were doing a lot
of tuning to find stations to rag chew with.  That made QSOs more pleasurable
when we found them.  Good QSOs are still like good meals.  Rushing through
either, reduces the enjoyment.

Tom, N5GE - SWOT 3537 - Grid EM12jq

They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety.

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.eQSL.cc/Member.cfm?N5GE