The QRPer Board

Have you seen the $20 telescopic vertical antenna thread on QRZ? It's based on using a 17 - 18-foot frisbee retriever that costs about the same amount. I think the frisbee retriever may be a little more robust than a lot of the antennas on Amazon. I made my version with a 15" diameter cap hat u...

Maybe I'm missing the point - why is it important that both operators get credit for operating the same station? As far as benefiting the hunter with two contacts at once, I would ask if we're so desperate for contacts that we need to get two credits for working literally the same station, essential...

I stand corrected - I'll update my saying!

What you're proposing isn't wrong or illegal or anything like that, but I would find it very confusing, and I'm not a new operator - which I think is kind of the target audience for POTA. Why not just take turns operating? Have one operator get 10 contacts and then turn it over? Or one of you act as...

Jim, I like the clear box idea! I see that you have (several) EFHW antennas in your kit. I always try to have a couple of different type antennas in my kit in case the location doesn't support a certain antenna. For example, I took my magloop to activate a park in Maryland, but the wind was blowing ...

Take a look at some of the designs on QRPGuys.com and QRPBuilder.com. They have designs that use easy to obtain parts and great documentation. You can either buy one of their antenna kits (DS1 at QRPGuys and QX1 at QRPBuilder) or look at their instructions and build your own.

90% of a contact is due to propagation.
9% of a contact is due to your antenna.
1% of a contact is due to your power.

Don,
I'm glad it works!
I bought my coffin bug because I thought it would be more portable than my Vibroplex. It is, but it still weighs more than the rest of the gear in my bag!

73,
Mike, KL7MJ

Before you toss the 1899 in the trash, try tuning it to resonance without a tuner. It's a marginal antenna, so you need as much RF as possible getting out. The ATU is probably consuming your power. I had a successful POTA activation with an 1899 last spring, so I know it can be done. Try it on 20m o...

I bought the same one. It's very nice, but also requires a very light touch. I'm somewhat partial to the hacksaw blade cootie design for now.

73,
Mike, KL7MJ