Welcomed on HF, great weekend

[KI4ODO]

Hello all,
HF is great!!! Both the people and the new opportunities. I felt very welcomed on the bands even with the brand of /AG behind my call. It was great.With the time I had to play radio this weekend I made my first couple of CW contacts, and worked 18 states on SSB. The Kenwood TS930sat and the "newbie" G5RV were doing great. Many compliments on both audio and signal. I am really going to like HF. 95% of the folks I heard on there were very kind and helpful. Thanks to all who gave us a chance, it does not go un-appreciated.
73 Marvin KI4ODO

[KI4ODO]

One note on the G5RV. I have gathered (after I put it up) that it is not the best antenna. I tell you, they advertise these antennas to "newbies" like me and make it sound like the end all, be all of antennas. Oh well, live and learn, and it will make a great backup antenna. However, it is working great now, and if others like a windom are better, I can't wait to see how they will do.
Have a great day, Marvin KI4ODO

[WA7OET]

Nothing wrong with a G5RV... I feed mine with ladder line and it works great.

Welcome to HF... give me a call if you hear me on 40/CW.

[ab8ma]

I had the pleasure of being the first HF contact for a ham this Saturday. I called CQ on 28.400 and he answered me all the way from Canton, MI.

I am in Royal Oak, MI.

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (KI4ODO @ Feb. 26 2007,06:03)]Hello all,
# #HF is great!!! Both the people and the new opportunities. I felt very welcomed on the bands even with the brand of /AG behind my call. It was great.With the time I had to play radio this weekend I made my first couple of CW contacts, and worked 18 states on SSB. The Kenwood TS930sat and the "newbie" G5RV were doing great. Many compliments on both audio and signal. I am really going to like HF. 95% of the folks I heard on there were very kind and helpful. Thanks to all who gave us a chance, it does not go un-appreciated.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 73 #Marvin #KI4ODO
You are also most fortunate to have first gotten on the air when the conditions were the best they've been in AGES. 20 meters was smoking here, as well as 40.

Don't be disappointed if every day isn't like this past weekend...they will come back.

eric

[nx6d]

Quote[/b] (KI4ODO @ Feb. 26 2007,05:03)]Hello all,
# #HF is great!!! Both the people and the new opportunities. I felt very welcomed on the bands even with the brand of /AG behind my call. It was great.With the time I had to play radio this weekend I made my first couple of CW contacts, and worked 18 states on SSB. The Kenwood TS930sat and the "newbie" G5RV were doing great. Many compliments on both audio and signal. I am really going to like HF. 95% of the folks I heard on there were very kind and helpful. Thanks to all who gave us a chance, it does not go un-appreciated.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 73 #Marvin #KI4ODO
Cool.

My first "good" radio was a late serial number TS-930S. I wish I never sold it, that thing screamed with my center fed zepp and my Dentron GLA-1000. I was working "deep Russians" every day from W6!

HF is cool. Don't get discouraged if the bands occassionally suck. Just keep listening...

Dave NX6D
Sonoma County, CA

[ad5qb]

Welcome to HF, Marvin and glad you had a good experience. I think you'll find it's a lot of fun. There will be good days and bad days as far as propagation goes and I think overall you'll meet a bunch of great folks. I operate mostly CW but make the occasional foray into SSB-land so maybe we'll get to chat on one of those modes sometime. Good luck and have fun!

[K2WH]

WOW, your enthusiasm is evident even in your wording. I can tell you are really excited about HF and it reminds me of me. Welcome to the bands and just wait another few years and you will become giddy with the most fabulous propagation you have ever experienced. The return of the Sunspot peak.

K2WH

[N4AUD]

Welcome to HF! Don't worry about the G5RV, I used to have one up and made a LOT of contacts with it, but the sunpspots were cooperating then so it was easier. There isn't any end-all be-all antenna solution. I build a lot of wire antennas and try different things, and read as much as I can from reputable sources about antennas. Anyway, if you are having that much fun now, wait till the sunspots come back! You'll be AMAZED!

[KI4ODO]

Thanks guys,
Last night I checked back into the 75 meter frequency that will more than likely become my "hangout" in the evenings. The guys on there remembered my name, and were all like "hey Marvin, glad you came back" and proceeded to introduce me to others on the frequency. This is fun. Still have a great group of local friends on my local repeater for drive time, a great bunch to hang out with on HF, chasing DX when the bands open, SLOWLY getting better at CW, life is good. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Now if the FCC would just hurry up and let me drop this flippin' /AG ! LOL
73 all Marvin