[Elecraft] Very Efficient Ear Buds

[Milt, N5IA]

Same here yesterday when I particpated in a "Show and Tell" for Explorer 
Scouts at a camporee on top of a 10,000 Ft. mountain in AZ.  We really had 
to search to get a couple of signals who were of strength and clarity to 
conduct an open air demonstration of HF communication.

A K3 sitting on the hood of my Suburban running directly connected to the 
battery for power, and connected to a 20 Meter dipole in the clear, strung 
between two fir trees, found VERY few signals on SSB and CW.

The group of ~35 scouts and leaders found it exciting to communicate 
directly via the ether with a station in eastern CO and OH (a 3-way).  Some 
of the scouts were intrigued with the CW demo, and tried their fingers on 
the iambic paddles while listening to the dits and dahs on the K3 monitor. 
Hopefully we set the hook in a couple of them.

This mountain is named Heliograph Peak, and was used in the 1880's by the US 
Calvary for relay communications via Heliographs between forts down on the 
desert floor.  Hence the name Heliograph Peak.  To demonstrate the method of 
communications from 130 years ago, we used mirrors to flash to pre-arranged 
parties in the City of Safford, AZ, 7,000' below and 20 miles away from us.

This mountain top is also a modern communications site and we gave them a 
tour of the towers, buildings and electronic equipment.  We showed them 
amateur VHF and UHF repeaters, IRLP, remote controlled base stations and 
APRS systems that our club has operating at this location.

All in all a great day with a fine group of youth and their leaders.  Just 
needed more signals on 20 Meters.

Milt, N5IA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ussv dharma" <ussvdharma at yahoo.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; <w0yk at msn.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Very Efficient Ear Buds


AH....for the good old days.  When I could tune across twenty meters and 
loads of signals....now, here in kh6, I have to hunt just to find a signal.

Grandmaw Susan