[Elecraft] [K3] New K3 User and New Ham

[Steve Ellington]

Steve
I got my license at age 15. I read in the ARRL Handbook how to make a 40 
meter dipole. I got mom to take me to an electrical store where I bought 
some wire and RG58 coax. I threw ropes over tree limbs and put up this 
dipole, connected it to my $50 rig and was on the air before the license 
even came. Believe me, I did not have a background in RF engineering and 
antennas nor did I have any money. Hey...I'm not trying to put you down or 
anything but surely this isn't asking too much is it?

I must admit....I did visit a local ham and looked at his 20 meter dipole to 
see how he built it. I think this would be your best bet. You will get too 
many suggestions here. Just go see what others are doing and copy it. If I 
lived near you I would be glad to rush over and help you turn your dead tree 
into an antenna support.

You have the best rig money can buy. Do some self study and by all means 
learn how to make a wire antenna if nothing else.

PS: Don't let any dead limbs fall on your head. Gravity has side effects.

Steve
N4LQ
N4LQ at carolina.rr.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KC2VNI" <steve at smarrano.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 1:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] New K3 User and New Ham


>
>
> Thanks for the many fine comments. I only have the 1 tall tree. It is
> approximately 25-30 feet high. It is dead so there is no way I am going to
> harm it (accordingly, this is not a concern).
>
> Here's the "take-away" I got from reading your many fine suggestions thus
> far:
> - Make sure you do some research on the type of antenna you want to get. 
> (I
> am an electrical engineer by background but RF engineering and antennas is
> NOT my strong suit.)
>
> - Make sure you get some height to your antenna. I purchased the Buddi 
> Pole
> system BUT I understand that any form of antenna like this is NOT going to
> give you good performance.
>
> - It is probably a good idea to use some of the local hams here to get 
> some
> help with the antenna system as they can help out with picking this.
>
> - Battery power may or may not be appropriate for continuous operations of
> the equipment.
>
> - I am not so concerned about getting a "Ferrari" for a radio as my 1st 
> one
> (in lieu of something closer to a Chevy) as I believe that the manual is
> fairly well laid out. The big concern here is context. Example: it's nice 
> to
> know HOW to perform an alignment of the radio BUT the question for the
> beginner is "What does alignment actually do?".
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> View this message in context: 
> http://n2.nabble.com/New-K3-User-and-New-Ham-tp4253024p4256584.html
> Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 
02:35:00