[Elecraft] Verticals

[William Levy]

I think some folks misconstrued my Vertical comments.
They work. They load. They radiate.
They worked for me in the circuit I wanted to complete.
Doesn't matter what the other station has.

The first time I was  5Z4PI it was 1973 and I had a Hallicrafters Safari
rig.
Beauty of that rig was built in 12/110 and 240 supplies.
One VFO, long before the dreaded RIT was invented.
Made a trap dipole. Printed 250 qsl cards.

In those days I was running a 100 watts and a dipole.
When the States opened up the guys I worked ran 4 el Hygain 204BA's and KWs.

That isn't the important thing.

Before the states were open I worked everyone else in the world with modest
transceivers and antennas with my dipole and 100 watts. The only reason we
have giant towers and amps today is because everyone else in this wealthy
country does.

But before the band is open to the states all the DX is very happy working
the rest of the world with modest gear.

 The other night I heard a fellow in Pakistan tune and then call CQ on the
frequency my KX3 was tuned to.
KX3 ran 10 watts to a Log Periodic. He barely heard me, said I was in and
out of the noise.
When I powered the baby amp on he could hear me Q5.

Back to my old R5. It worked as good as the trap dipole did 15 years
earlier. Perfect for ragchewing and hamming up.

The rest of the world is very happy playing a different game then us before
the bands open up to the States!
WE are nothing but a wall of noise.

I am glad we have K3's that are bullet proof to adjacent channels and can
tune down to 100 cycles.
It's beautifully made stuff and I wouldn't leave home without one!

73 all, Bill N2WL