[Lowfer] newbie questions

[Peter Barick]

Hi Tom,

So far I've seen posts from two highly active LowFERS and R-75 users on
your quest. Most here will acknowledge they are in the forefront of this
game, others too.

I'm much different and likely closer to a newbie, such as you. I use a
Drake R-8 and find it adequate for this game and have no complaints
either. I don't worry about warm-up drift as listening times on LF are
sooooo long using a DSP program for QRSS-30 sigs and a PC, that I don't
have "cold start-ups," hence issues w/ drift.

Further I find equal importance should be directed to the antenna and
pre-amp or filtering than only the rx. One must have a adequate antenna
to hear the distant 1-watt LowFERS, and then only when band conditions
permit, usually winter nighttime hours--lots of hours. And there are a
scarce few of them, more on the northeast coast than other places.

Here as a starter an outdoors, say, 6-foot loop that's not too high but
in the clear, and a indoors pre-amp will offer something for an rx to
pick up and maybe hear. (Ha, of course  the term "hear" is used in a
figurative sense as our receptions are all on ARGO-like pc screens.)

If you haven't checked out our umbrella organization, LWCA, that's
where I'd recommend you to start looking for good pointers on modern day
LowFERing.

Peter -- LowFER and LWCA member