Biography

I have been a ham for only 11 years and am very sorry that I missed out on all those years of happy hamming. The Army taught me morse code back in 1956 and I was sent to Ethiopia East Africa for two years using my skills. I did nothing with it until a gang of buddies held a reunion back in 2003 and suggested that I become a ham, a lot of them were.

I now am 100 percent CW(I still have my microphone somewhere so I could do SSB)and am into DX. I spend three or four months each winter in Florida so I have two different sets of antennas. I work basically all bands available to CW. I try to avoid contesting as sometimes the pile ups drive me crazy. DX is my challenge both in Ohio and Florida.

Equipment

Currently I am using an Alinco DX-SR8 at 100 watts. In Ohio I use a vertically trapped antenna 10 thru 40 meters. I also do 2 meters for the local repeater and a 17 meter long wire.

The fun begins in Florida where we rent a condo in Fort Walton Beach(in the Panhandle)on the sixth floor(the top floor since Eglin Air Force base restricts building height)This puts me up at least 70 feet, I have used all kinds of antennas, trying to keep as stealth as possible. Many years were simple hamsticks clamped to the balcony railing, Now I have grown up. I went to Bass Pro Shops and bought telescoping fishing poles and ran wire through them. They actually have a pole that stretches out to 16.5 feet which is perfect for 20 meters. I tape a wire to the outside of it and presto, 17 meters. I then have a smaller pole for 10 and 12 meters and a lone pole for 15 meters. I use counterpoise wire on each band and they tune perfectly. I lean them against the railing when in use, and lay them on the deck when not in use. They cant be seen when not in use. I cant believe the luck I am having with DX from these fishing poles. Japan, Australia, South America, all of Europe, and last year I even worked into the Russian Olympic station.

A screwdriver type antenna may be an improvement but at this time, I don't think the cost would be worth the questionable gain in performance.

Lifew is good.....John B. (Jack) Stahl K8ASA