Hello everyone, this is KD4LEI temporary AG

[K0WVM]

Well, I have done it! I have paseed the Element 3 General test and will be awaiting the paperwork with the new license upgrade in the mail soon.

I also want to say how impressed I was with the Ak-Sar-Ben ARC. The three VE's that I met there were some of the nicest and most professional guys I have come across since being in North Carolina. They also helped to break the ice a little bit for some people with test anxiety.

A very big thanks also goes to QRZ.com for their pretesting program on the site and how much it really does work!

[KF4ACB]

Congrats on your upgrade. Look forwarding to hearing you on HF! 73

[KC8QMU]

Congrats!

Got any HF gear yet? I hope to catch you on the bands!

[K0WVM]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC8QMU @ May 25 2004,21:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Congrats&#33;

Got any HF gear yet? I hope to catch you on the bands&#33; [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I am in the midst of deciding if I want to take a risk with used gear on ebay (prefer this site or eham to possibly get used gear from), get a new setup, or go another route. I have a goal of getting a good HF rig and intend to get on the air sometime in the forseeable future.

[K4JSR]

Awright&#33; Congratulations on your successful upgrade.
Keep going while you still have momentum going in your favor.
Hope to catch you on HF also. Certain fellow that I called
&quot;Uncle Curt&quot; got me interested in ham radio over 52 years
ago up there Offut AFB. But that is a long story and I&#39;ll hold it for later. Meanwhile, the good times are ahead&#33;
73, Cal K4JSR

[KC8QMU]

Good luck on your quest for gear. My equipment is almost all used. Check around with folks you already know on the air and see waht they or someone else might want to be selling. Check the hamfests too.

It&#39;s nice to buy new , too, but you can get some good deals on very nice used equipment also, and some of this equipment often has more features than the new stuff you could buy for the same price. All in all, find what you want and go for it&#33; Good luck&#33;

[N8CPA]

Congratulations&#33;

Whatever HF rig you buy, make sure it has a built in General Coverage Receiver. There rest of the HF world beyond the ham bands is fascinating.

[AI4EP]

Congradulations on the upgrade...

So far as buying USED stuff...I personally prefer IN PERSON &#33;

I M H O ( in my hunble opinion ) buying things from e-bay, etc is like buying something BLINDFOLDED...or a &quot; pig-in-a-poke &quot;.
IN PERSON means you get to LOOK at the item ( not a ficticious picture on a computer monitor ); you get to PICK the ITEM UP when in person, you get to possibly HOOK the item up to see it work IN PERSON...you get to chit-chat with the seller in-person.

You get none of those options with e-bay or other systems.

So just be careful, there ARE those who will rip you off ( a lot less likely when dealing IN-PERSON , but some one out there will come up with a story that disagree s )...you might even try a TRADE if you have something you do not need any more ( dog, old p u , lawn mower, shotgun, etc. The main thing is to have FUN with these H F radios while we still can; before BPL ruins it for all of us &#33;&#33;

73

---ai4ep---

[N3IJW]

Congrats Chad&#33;

[K3UD]

Way To GO Chad. Congratulations. Look for you on 40 or 20.

Why not treat yourself a new rig? Some events are worth splurging for.

73
George
K3UD