Radiosports: the REALLY Good

W2CRS at aol.com W2CRS at aol.com
Thu Feb 22 22:38:10 EST 1996


Bravo Trey, but you leave out the most important quality, one that is VERY
difficult to teach or to learn because it is a personality trait and not
knowledge, data, or information.  In all sports, the desire to win is very
important. 

The desire to prepare to win is MUCH more important.  Most of us have the
former.  Few of us, REALLY, have the latter because it requires such  focus,
dedication, hard work, and sacrifice that the means becomes too difficult,
too time consuming, too tiring, too stressful.  For those who love the game,
the stress is mainly eu-stress, but stress nonetheless.  For the rest of us,
it becomes dis-stress.  

To use just one of Trey's examples- "Know the code.  50 WPM conversational is
a nice milestone --"    And the example of myself- Yes, I'd like to be a
major league CW contester, and I probably have the ability to know the code
at 50 WPM.  Do I have the motivation to practice, practice, practice...   No!

I've been good enough, but never world class, in foot races, cross country
ski   competition, coaching, birding, poetry, and radiosports, good enough
that is, to meet and rub shoulders with some of the best. There's not much
difference between the world class chess player, marathon runner, or
radiosport, to use just three examples.   The territory is different, but not
the personal qualities required to master the territory.
The reason there are no secrets is because expertise is far more experiential
than intellectual.  Or as we say, the map is not the territory.

 As a coach, in my attempt to facilitate "desire", I often quote a famous
athlete, "There are two kinds of athletes, those who make committments and
those who make excuses.  Which are you?"  For 10 years I was pretty darn
close to the committed athlete, and it's an exhilarating experience, but also
a limiting one.  This is one reason why many of us choose (or at least
rationalize) to not make the commitment.    Also, this commitment is, by
definition, a selfish experience (selling fish is not a negative, just a
another example of limitation).  

Becoming world class starts with a love affair.  Joseph Campell exorted us
all to-
"follow your bliss."  Some few who do become the heros or sheros that inspire
us all.  

Excuse my incoherance tonight. I'm tired. Like most of us, I have a split
commitment.  Today, I ran 15 miles so that I'd meet my training objective and
still be able to devote my exercise-free weekend to the 160M contest if I can
find the commitment to stay up all night two nights in a row.  For the world
class, there would be no "if."

73,  Doug  W2CRS  Colorado



>From jbmitch at vt.edu (John Mitchell)  Thu Feb 22 04:17:03 1996
From: jbmitch at vt.edu (John Mitchell) (John Mitchell)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 23:17:03 -0500
Subject: Summary of mail on IC-775DSP Failures
Message-ID: <199602230419.XAA01755 at sable.cc.vt.edu>

Herewith, largely unedited is the e-mail received in response to my query on
the unusual IC-775DSP failures noted during recent winter storms (snow
static induced transceive failures)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
During a high wind snow storm in 1980 a fellow ham at my shack was sent
flying across the room after touching the center conductor of my 160 ant
pl259. The high voltage discharge could be affecting the high swr shutdown
curcuit. or back biasing the TR relay possibly. In either case the rig
is not transmitting. On any large 160 antenna I recommend a very large RF
choke to ground to bias off static buildup. This choke could be made of
a ferite rod and lots of turns. Remember it is going to explode with a
lightning strike. A vertical also needs a spark gap that will dissipate
the lightning after the choke explodes. The choke needs to have enough
reactance at 160. and you should not hear a difference in recieve when
installed. On high static days it may actually quiet recieve/rain/snow static.
Good luck and high B+        Bob k0DD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
I have a 775 and just wanted to let you know that not all of them are 
suffering the same problems.  We have has several bad storms here and I 
operated right through them with no problems.  It may have something to 
do with the specific installation and design of the antennas.  All of 
mine are Beta or Gamma matched and there is little chance of static 
charge building up on the center conductor, since the elements are all at 
ground potential.

Will be interested to see your summary.
BTW, I love my 775!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
ICOMs are delicate radios.  K4VUD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Let me tell you how delicate I think Icom are:

A year or two ago, my friend was over here with a beta version of the 
Icom 736.  We were fooling around with it, just for fun, trying to see 
how it performed.  I unscrewed the coax from the back of my tuner and 
placed it on the 736 (I thought!)  We even decided to listen to the audio 
of the 736 on my IC-781.  I figured that since the antenna was 
disconnected from the tuner (which was connected to my 781), AND since I 
cranked-in 30 db of attenuation, I should be safe.  Well, the audio 
sounded good, and I headed out to McDonald's for a couple of sandwiched 
while my friend tried a few CQ's on the 736.  He noted that it hadn't 
autotuned easily on the normal mode, so he had taken off the bottom panel 
and set the tuner to "WIDE", which fixed the problem.  We figured it was 
just sensitive to my 160 meter loop.  He got full 100 watts out, and 
started on his mission as I left.

A short time later, I returned to find him standing in the driveway 
looking like a "beat dog"!  I knew something was wrong, but would  never 
have guessed the problem.

He explained in his "sickliest" voice that we had unplugged the wrong 
coax cable from the back of the tuner, and had instead plugged the 
transmit output of the 736 DIRECTLY into the receive jack of my 781!
Well, SHIT HAPPENS, and I told him to not worry about it, and I even 
found my idiocy somewhat humorous.  We went inside and checked the 781 
for performance.  Believe it or not, it worked VERY WELL indeed, and even 
surpassed the 736 on an A-B receive test.  I had already invited a bunch 
of young hams over for a fun (learning experience) SSB multi-op effort, 
so we went ahead with the contest all night.  We did as well as we 
expected to do, and the radio performed well.

That was possibly the most expensive dummy load ever used by an amateur. 
I'm only glad that my friend was getting many responses to his CQ's, 
because he may have worked dozens of 'em, shooting a hundred watts of RF 
right into the innards of Nellie Belle.

It was time for Nellie's tune-up anyway, so I boxed her up and sent her 
to Icom in Bellevue to my favorite tune-up man, Charles Rocha. (I see now 
that the repair date was 3/14/94.)  They "located and resoldered cracked 
and overheated joints on reg. unit.  Located and replaced burned 
components on RF and AT unit.  Repaired burned foil traces on RF unit.  
Replaced open pilot lamp.  Complete check-out and alignment as needed."  
>From my viewpoint, my 781 took a lickin' and kept on tickin'.  This 
places it in a catagory far from "DELICATE".  I hear lots of pros and 
cons about radios, but I LOVE MINE!  It's the "Daddy". (Whoops..."Momma")!

I've had a Kenwood TS-440SAT which played good but quit bigtime in the 
middle of Field Day in '90 or '91.  I've had the 765, with which I had no 
problems, and the 781 has served me well for years.  It is a tank.

Just one man's opinions.  (Not a very smart one, at that!)

Steve Sample / AA9AX  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
I have an IC-775DSP which I think is a tremendous radio.  The only problems I
have had are:

1.  The tuning knob (binds up after the radio gets very hot, like after 24
hours of use).  Icom says they will fix this, has to do with the lubricant of
the optical encoder.

2. One time I had a problem such as you report.  I cleaned the screen of my
computer CRT, and then touched the radio.  Must have transferred some static
charge.  The radio went blank (could not receive anything, nor tune
anything.)  I turned the radio off and on, and the problem went away and has
not returned.  I wonder if your problem was fixed by this "reset" method ?

73, Joe N7XX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------

Joe, the radios in question belonged to friends, and, as far as I know, all
went back to ICOM.

I've certainly learned a lesson:  use an rf choke!!  Snow static is for mi
da' ble.

73 to all

John WD4MUR


>From David & Barbara Leeson <0005543629 at mcimail.com>  Fri Feb 23 04:53:00 1996
From: David & Barbara Leeson <0005543629 at mcimail.com> (David & Barbara Leeson)
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 23:53 EST
Subject: Rotator Pots
Message-ID: <24960223045342/0005543629DC2EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

In the last year or so, someone pointed out that the direction pots in
rotators are vulnerable to RF, since they have a wonderfully long antenna
in the control cable wires.  It was suggested that ferrite beads on the
pot leads would prevent RF burning of the pot.

I notice that the new HyGain rotators advertise this feature, so it
can't hurt.  Bypassing capacitors just don't have the same effect, in
my experience.  Use a few #43 beads on each lead of the pot, and put
bypass caps at the pot side just for good measure.  Can't hurt, might
help.  Ferrite is somewhat conductive, so don't expect the beads to be
insulators.

73 de Dave, W6QHS


>From nortonr at mrd.srl.dsto.defence.gov.au (Norton, Richard)  Fri Feb 23 13:47:00 1996
From: nortonr at mrd.srl.dsto.defence.gov.au (Norton, Richard) (Norton, Richard)
Date: 23 Feb 1996 14:47 +0100
Subject: How to Find E-mail Addresses Without Ask
Message-ID: <199602230506.PAA16016 at fang.dsto.defence.gov.au>


Here is a method I often use to get the E-mail address of contesters:

1) Send an E-mail message to:  CQ-Contest-Request at TGV.COM

The Message Subject Box doesn't matter. Leave it blank or put anything in 
it.

In the text, put the single word:
REVIEW

2) You will receive a list of the subscribers of the CQ-Contest Reflector. 
It contains many contesters.

View the list with a wordprocessor. I use X-Tree Gold.

3)Ask the word processor to look for (in order):

the call
the guy's last name
the first few characters of the last name if it is long
the first name if it is unusual

Not everybody subscribes to this reflector.  Not all subscribers are 
identifiable. However, many times desired E-mail addresses can be obtained 
this way.

73,

Dick Norton, N6AA/VK5

> Does anyone know how to contact   XY3ZYX (fellow CONTESTer) via e-mail? 
 >Also does CQ have an e-mail address?
> Is there an up-to-date directory available somewhere (WWW maybe?) that 
list
> everyone's Internet e-mail address regardless of what on-line service 
(AOL,
> Compuserve, Interpath, etc.) they use?


>From marcelo at ax.ibase.org.br (Marcelo Gomes da Silva)  Fri Feb 23 03:24:47 1996
From: marcelo at ax.ibase.org.br (Marcelo Gomes da Silva) (Marcelo Gomes da Silva)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 00:24:47 -0300
Subject: Stations from DC in ARRL DX?
Message-ID: <199602230324.AAA03568 at ax.ibase.br>

>I'm putting together a list of stations in DC (District of Columbia)  
>who were on for the ARRL DX contest.  
>
>So far I have W3HQU, W3EVB and myself (thanks, Tree!)
>
Where were you folks? Could not find any, and I did look for you!

  My numbers: 514 Q's x 54 states/prov. = 83,268 Single Band 15m / Low PWR

        73's de PY1KN


>From HLYF37A at prodigy.com (MR ROBERT J RUVOLO)  Fri Feb 23 05:51:11 1996
From: HLYF37A at prodigy.com (MR ROBERT J RUVOLO) (MR ROBERT J RUVOLO)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 00:51:11 EST
Subject: Antenna Upgrade Advice
Message-ID: <096.01884623.HLYF37A at prodigy.com>

Looking for some advice/comments/suggestions on upgrading my antenna 
system.

My current antenna system consists of a Cushcraft A3 with the 40 
meter add-on kit (essentially a rotatable dipole) mounted on a 56 
foot medium duty tower and a W9INN 40-80-160 meter half-sloper 
(approximately 70 feet in length), tower fed at about 50 feet. The 
sloper runs from the tower down to a pine tree in my front yard with 
the end of the sloper about 15 feet above ground.

I am contemplating the replacement of the A3 with a Force 12 antenna. 
Models I am considering are the C3 and the C4S. The factors that 
limit my antenna set-up are:

	1. The medium duty tower is only rated for 6 sq feet of antenna      
       windload (C3 is 5.6 and the C4S is 5.7, unfortunately the C4   
         is 6.4) guying the tower to increase wind load capacity is 
out            of the question.

	2. My lot is so small that an effective radial system for 40 -       
     160 is basically  out of the question, (this is already          
  effecting the  half-sloper 160 meter performance).

Other factors/considerations:

	1. With my current set-up the A3 add-on output performs the          
  sloper on  40 meters, that is why I am considering the C4S as       
     I know it will  most likely outperform the sloper om 40 as       
     well.

	2. The sloper, as it is set-up currently, is pretty stealthy, the    
        XYL and the neighbors like that.


Questions:

	1. Should I replace the A3 (with add-on) with the C4S, using the     
       current sloper exclusively for 80/160 or possibly replacing it 
          with something better also?

	2. Should I buy a C3 and and look into acquiring a better 40-160     
       antenna taking into consideration that I do not have room for  
          anything elaborate or large including radials and that I 
would            like the sloper replacement to be another 40-160 
antenna if I            purchase a C3? Note: I am  satified with the 
W9INN sloper                performance on 160 (even though I can't 
hear much DX, I never            expected to), it leaves alot to be 
desired on 80 in my opinion            but local noise is also a 
problem for me on that band so the            antenna is not entirely 
to blame for my poor performance on            80. I do not use the 
half-sloper on 40 meters as the A3 out            performs it (didn't 
 know that would happen when I ordered the            sloper 
otherwise would  have looked at a 80-160 meter antenna)

        3. Will I notice a significant performance difference between 
a            C4S and an A3 with the 40 meter add-on?

	4. Is there a significant performance difference on 10-15-20         
   between the C4S and the C3? I've read the spec sheets, they        
    indicate a .1  or .2 db (when measure at 74 feet)  degradation    
        by going with the C4S, doesn't sound like much of a 
difference            to me. (The reduction in 10 meter bandwidth is 
not a concern            as I generally do not participate in phone 
contests, the            antenna would be tuned to the low end of the 
band.) Does this            difference justify using a C3 for 20-10 
and something that may            sacrifice performance on 40 versus 
using the C4S for 40            meters?

	5. Should I leave the system as is, (i.e. no significant            
performance difference is acheivable)?

I am particularly interested in hearing from those of you who have 
switched from the traditional trapped tri-bander to a Force 12 C3 or 
C4S, those who have discovered a good 40-160 or 80-160 antenna that 
can fit on a small city lot and anyone else who can offer some advice.
 I am currently leaning towards purchasing the C4S but would like to 
be convince that I am actually gaining something by replacing the A3 
with add-on. I know what Force 12 claims wrt their improvement over 
trapped antennas such as the A3, and I believe these claims make 
sense, just looking for some third party confirmation. What to do 
with the sloper? well I'm really undecided at this point.  

Any advice that can help me make an intelligent decision in this 
regard is greatly appreciated. To save bandwidth you can e-mail me 
direct at HLYF37A at prodigy.com

73 de Bob (VE6KRR)


>From richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey)  Fri Feb 23 10:42:11 1996
From: richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey) (dfrey)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 05:42:11 -0500
Subject: radio /9A :  Active
Message-ID: <12d575a0 at maila.harris.com>

     Shameless self-promotion:
     
     I just spent a cold and snowy afternoon installing a 30M high  
     inverted L with eight semi-elevated radials at a very quiet site in 
     the country outside Zagreb where there were already Beverages for JA 
     and USA.  The rig will be a TS950SDX w/voice keyer plus an AL1200.  
     With reasonable conditions, we should be audible even in the US of A.  
     Look for me this weekend between 1832 and 1835, the newly designed 9A 
     SSB sub-band (honest!), as 9A/K4XU.
     
     Dick    ...in beautiful downtown Croatia.
     
     
     ps: If you agree these new 160M SSB rules for Croatian amateurs are 
     impractical, write a certified letter to the Ministry of 
     Communications in Zagreb and let them know.  Please be factual, 
     courteous, and to the point.  It would really help the cause here. 
     Their address is:
     
     Ministarstvo Pomorstva, Promets I Vesa 
     attn:  D. Filipovic
     Prisvalje 14
     10 000  Zagreb
     Croatia

>From David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com  Fri Feb 23 06:10:00 1996
From: David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com (David R. Siddall)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 96 01:10 EST
Subject: W3USS D.C.
Message-ID: <32960223061023/0006358668DC2EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

I surveyed the station yesterday to see if enough is working to activate it
for the ARRL DX SSB.  Its been 4 years since I operated there -- and two
since a guest op. did a contest single band from there.  No antenna working
correctly so quite a bit to do, but can be done (I think).   So JA1NBN and I
will be on from W3USS next weekend for DX, hopefully all bands and all
weekend.  

The station tends to be an alligator, especially on the low bands.  From WV
I can work stations on 20 that don't move the "S" meter.  At W3USS with
thousands of computers in the same building, an internal cable TV system
with its headend antennas 200 feet from our TH7, and an AM station antenna
site a few blocks away (behind Union Station) providing music on all bands
(even 2 meters), it is NOISY. 20 meters was a constant S5 today, 160 meters
was S9+10db EVERYWHERE, with AM broadcasts audible every 5 or so kHz.  The
problems are compunded by thousands of rectification points formed by the
solid copper roof on the building.  But we still will work some of the
deserving with the D.C. multiplier in the ARRL DX, 160-10, if everything is
fixed in time.    

I also will be there later today (Friday) starting the repairs, and if I
have something that will radiate on 160, will op a few casual hours Friday
night 1.840-1.890 in CQ 160 test, despite the especially horrible receiving
situation on 160.  The rules seem to miss D.C. (says there are 48 states --
D.C. is not part of any state of the United States, nor a DXCC country), but
I assume I'm allowed to fire up -- and if you work me you can figure out how
to count it, don't ask me! And don't try to argue with me about being in
Maryland or Virginia as some have in years past, please assume I'm capable
of knowing my own QTH, and that will be the U.S. Senate in D.C. if the
callsign is W3USS. (QSL CBA K3ZJ or W3USS, it all eventually comes to the
same place.)  73 Dave K3ZJ (0006358668 at mcimail.com)               


>From David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com  Fri Feb 23 06:11:00 1996
From: David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com (David R. Siddall)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 96 01:11 EST
Subject: Contest Cookbook
Message-ID: <62960223061126/0006358668DC2EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

Couple weeks ago someone asked for copy of the 1970's "Contest Cookbook",
referencing Don Daso, WZ3Q.  Sorry I erased message -- I found copy, please
E-Mail me directly.   Dave K3ZJ   (0006358668 at mcimail.com) 


>From David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com  Fri Feb 23 06:11:00 1996
From: David R. Siddall" <0006358668 at mcimail.com (David R. Siddall)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 96 01:11 EST
Subject: W3USS D.C.
Message-ID: <91960223061119/0006358668DC2EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

I surveyed the station yesterday to see if enough is working to activate it
for the ARRL DX SSB.  Its been 4 years since I operated there -- and two
since a guest op. did a contest single band from there.  No antenna working
correctly so quite a bit to do, but can be done (I think).   So JA1NBN and I
will be on from W3USS next weekend for DX, hopefully all bands and all
weekend.  

The station tends to be an alligator, especially on the low bands.  From WV
I can work stations on 20 that don't move the "S" meter.  At W3USS with
thousands of computers in the same building, an internal cable TV system
with its headend antennas 200 feet from our TH7, and an AM station antenna
site a few blocks away (behind Union Station) providing music on all bands
(even 2 meters), it is NOISY. 20 meters was a constant S5 today, 160 meters
was S9+10db EVERYWHERE, with AM broadcasts audible every 5 or so kHz.  The
problems are compunded by thousands of rectification points formed by the
solid copper roof on the building.  But we still will work some of the
deserving with the D.C. multiplier in the ARRL DX, 160-10, if everything is
fixed in time.    

I also will be there later today (Friday) starting the repairs, and if I
have something that will radiate on 160, will op a few casual hours Friday
night 1.840-1.890 in CQ 160 test, despite the especially horrible receiving
situation on 160.  The rules seem to miss D.C. (says there are 48 states --
D.C. is not part of any state of the United States, nor a DXCC country), but
I assume I'm allowed to fire up -- and if you work me you can figure out how
to count it, don't ask me! And don't try to argue with me about being in
Maryland or Virginia as some have in years past, please assume I'm capable
of knowing my own QTH, and that will be the U.S. Senate in D.C. if the
callsign is W3USS. (QSL CBA K3ZJ or W3USS, it all eventually comes to the
same place.)  73 Dave K3ZJ (0006358668 at mcimail.com)               


>From patd at eskimo.com (Patrick Dayshaw)  Fri Feb 23 06:12:48 1996
From: patd at eskimo.com (Patrick Dayshaw) (Patrick Dayshaw)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 06:12:48 +0000
Subject: What REALLY makes you good?
Message-ID: <199602230612.WAA22431 at mail.eskimo.com>

Kris I. Mraz wrote (in part)

>Here are the secrets of the REALLY major-league contesters who are
>too modest to talk about themselves. No names will be used.
>
>Top Ten Secrets of the Big Time Contesters
>

Numbers 10 and 9 deleted.

>8. Attend the "Seven Habits of Successful People" seminar.

Numbers 7 through 1 deleted.

For clarification I believe Kris is refering to the program/concepts
documented by
Steven R. Covey in books, audio tapes, seminars, and videos.

Covey's books include (but are not limited to) "The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People", "Principle Centered Leadership", and "First Things First"
(co-authored).

Interesting stuff on personal strength, focused goals, etc.  Covey's
approach is based
on long ago documented "principles" with one emphasis on "Beginning with the
end in mind".
(For Covey fans/devotees; Yes, I know I'm over simplifying but it's email on
the Contest
Reflector).

First reference I've seen to using these concepts/ideas in something like
Contesting, but it's interesting stuff that's worth investigating (no, it's
not New Age
by any means).  Damn, now  I upset the New Agers.  You just can't win in this
Politically Correct world.







 
Patrick,   WA7VNI........    patd at eskimo.com


>From kf3p at cais.cais.com (Tyler Stewart)  Fri Feb 23 06:53:59 1996
From: kf3p at cais.cais.com (Tyler Stewart) (Tyler Stewart)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 01:53:59 -0500
Subject: KT-34A
Message-ID: <199602230653.BAA13492 at cais.cais.com>

>
>On Mon, 19 Feb 1996, Jay wrote:
>
>> Hello Everyone,
>> I am considering A KLM KT-34A tribander and would like your input.
>> I live in a rural township where we have wind gusts at or above 
>> 50 mph a few times a year.
>> I am concerned about wind survival and performance at 50 ft.
>> 
>> TU/73
>> Jay Sturtevant  AA2IX
>> d7507 at microagewny.com
>-----------------------
>Jay - 
>   I've had two Kt34's, one a kt-34XA. I just love these antennas. In 
>particular, the "XA" will give you the flattest SWR you will ever see 
>across every band from top to bottom (and then some), and just abt the 
>best gain (and best ears, too) available in a tribander. Less performance 
>is available in the plain kt34 (but very FB considering its small size).
>
>   These antennas are not plagued by traps or coils, and are electrically 
>similar to other antennas using capacitative or linear type loading to 
>achieve a good match. They are NOT lossy, and are - mechanically - extremely 
>strong. I just lost the top of my 60' aluminum tower and the KT34XA came 
>to earth via a 70' drop. With the exception of 3 element halves which got 
>destroyed, the antenna unscathed (really)! They are VERY strong. The 
>down side of this is that they are HEAVY and carry a rather fair 
>windload. At this station we refer to it as "The Beast."
>
>   There are other antennas, such as Force 12, which are touted to be 
>spectacular performers while being lightweight, but in my opinion, they 
>haven't been in service nearly long enough to truly tell the whole story. 
>KLM has been around forever, and when you get all your parts (prepare to 
>spend at least twice the time they claim to put it together), ALL the 
>parts are correct, and ALL the instructions are crystal clear and 
>complete. I have seen Mosley stuff, and cushcraft stuff, and they just 
>don't compare in this way. The Force 12 package often arrives incomplete 
>or some parts are incorrectly sized, due to their sudden "popularity." 
>This doesn't make them poor performers, just niggling friends.
>
>   Many ops claim the KLMs need a great deal of regular maintenance. I 
>have never found this to be the case, but see what the others can tell 
>you. Soon I will be replacing the tower. I will order a new kt-34XA to 
>put up at abt 72'and winds here also get over 50 mph. Not to worry. Just 
>make sure your setup can hold her.
>
>Good Luck!
>
>73 de Jeff WA2SYN
>wa2syn at li.net


Well, I dont know if I'd defend KLM too hard...they've had some QC
problems since they were sold the last time, however I'll reserve judgement
since they seem to be making some improvements.

I agree that IMHO, KLM's KT34XA is the best performing tribander I've used.
No, I havent used any of the larger F12 multibanders.  KLM's overall gain
is very good...it's pattern is not so good, but tolerable for a tribander.
They take forever to put together... and all the aluminum straps loosen up
in a short period of time.  My last one, I put SS sheet metal screws thru
ALL clamping points (except, of course, the one on the cap tube), and an 
extra one thru the element to boom strap.  Of course, use lots of conductive
grease on everything.

F12's are very good antennas....they are not magic, but extremely efficient
as stated by others here...but an 8 or 12 foot boom and 2 elements only
goes so far (C3).

73, Tyler kf3p at cais.com


>From kf3p at cais.cais.com (Tyler Stewart)  Fri Feb 23 07:34:10 1996
From: kf3p at cais.cais.com (Tyler Stewart) (Tyler Stewart)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 02:34:10 -0500
Subject: What REALLY makes you good? de WN4KKN
Message-ID: <199602230734.CAA16299 at cais.cais.com>

>
>I really hate "Ya, me too messages.", but if you are trying to come up in 
>the contesting ranks....  Save Trey's message.  Read it often. I can add 
>nothing to it to help an up and coming contester.
>
>
>               "There are no secrets!" 
> 
>"It turns out, as with most things is life, that skill and hard work
>pay the most reliable dividends in the long run."
>
>-Trey Garlough, Feb 1996
>


Yeah, me too!  


Winning contests also requires a winning 'tude, Dude!

You will never win anything without it.  NEVER give up!

73, Tyler kf3p at cais.com


>From a0378 at freenet.uni-bayreuth.de (Karl-Heinz Merscher)  Fri Feb 23 06:59:52 1996
From: a0378 at freenet.uni-bayreuth.de (Karl-Heinz Merscher) (Karl-Heinz Merscher)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 07:59:52 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Ameritron AL-800 and AL-800 H
Message-ID: <199602230659.HAA02555 at btr0x7.hrz.uni-bayreuth.de>



Hi contesters:

Anybody out therre who is driving the new Ameritron AL-800 or AL-800 H???
Did CQ or QST magazine review these amplifiers?
Any experiences from users?? How much output in CW (cont. carrier)??
Is the cooling ventilation very loud??

Thanks for your comments!!

73's de DL6RDE/AA1KD, Charlie



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