[Fists] Avalanche of license apps

[Fred Adsit]

Hans, there are no antennas yet at this new location --same general 
territory, different community. And no, even with them, I am not a contester 
... never have been. I either chew the rag or move on. I wrote a really long 
overall response last evening, but as I was about to send it, Windows XP 
announced that it had to close my emailer, and did so unceremoneously, with 
no recovery of what was written. Perhaps that was a good thing?  My station 
is still over where it was when I got active again, but the perfume and 
other fragrances in that house make me and my wife ill, so I go there very 
little nowadays, least of all to spend a few daily hours operating. Such is 
life.

I am trying to figure out how to install a half-decent antenna here for HF. 
There are few viable prospects, and all involve at least one wire or one guy 
that cannot be installed at all. It's a small mobile home park, where we 
rent lots but own the MH's. My lot is almost twice normal size, out front 
where cars on the state highway can readily see it, so I like to keep it as 
attractive as possible. This place has prohibitions against antennas, but 
the CBers got grandfathered in, and when I told them I have been a ham 
operator with emergency communications capabilities since 1948, the 
management said OK, you can have one antenna similar to theirs, if it isn't 
ugly or dangerous to others. In this era, that was a rare concession, and I 
accepted the terms.

My chief concern here is wind. We get a lot of 40-70MPH gusts, based on my 
experience in the overall area, and those really do a number on multi-band 
verticals. So guying is mandatory. Radials will be a problem too, but I have 
ideas. There are lots of trees, mostly in all the wrong places, else I'd 
erect what is at the other place. I don't DX much, so using a vertical will 
be quite a change. Have never - in six decades - had a good property for 
antennas, so this dilemma is not new to me. *sigh*

Good luck in the contest. I miss CW. I miss operating in general. I WILL be 
back. Not with a little mobile whip either. I'm too old to put up with 
mediocrity if I know I can somehow do better. Cost is also a huge 
consideration. In that department, I have no good news to report. Can't take 
$$ with you, but they sure are handy while you're here. *smile*

Fred NY2V

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K0HB" <k-zero-hb at earthlink.net>
To: "FISTS Reflector" <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2007 10:26 AM
Subject: RE: [Fists] Avalanche of license apps
>
> Fred wrote:
>
>> Ham radio has been a large part of my life. That part
>> life is hardly worth bothering with, at this point.
>
> Sorry to hear that Fred.  I've been licensed only 45 years,
> and for me Amateur Radio justs keeps getting better
> and better.
> CU in the contest this weekend?
> 73, de Hans, K0HB