Posted: 10/18/2008 7:05:19 AM EDT
This morning I logged my very first QSO with my good friend and "Elmer" halfway across the country, 1016 miles away, on 20 meters, phone SSB, at 100w. This is me >  I used this distance calculator: jan.ucc.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html Not only did he give excellent guidance throughout my studying for the tests, but even sent me one of his several field radios. The rig, which I'm going to buy from him, consists of: Yaesu FT-897, Yaesu FP-30b built in 110 vac power supply (makes for a very neat, compact package), LDG AT-897 tuner screwed onto the side, LDG big FT-Meter, connected to my 3-band dipole (80m/40m/20m). Yeah, I'm having fun! |
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CONGRATS! I remember my first HF QSO. It was with a ham in PA (have his QSL card hanging up). I was using my old QRP rip (FT-817) and worked him on 1/3 of a Watt. Hell of a first contact :). What a setup your elmer sent you. I really want to pick up an 897 one of these days. Congrats again on your first contact. |
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Thanks, Scott! I just realized, I need to get some real QSL cards printed. Our local club president's business is next to a good printer, who I also know (fellow church member). The printer has done other work for me. They will make sure this gets done well. Something to put on my "to do list" for Monday. 
At first I was a little overwhelmed by the 91 menus. As I looked over them I saw that I only needed to access a few, and that was easy. Enabling Menu 1 gave access to the complete 91 menus. Menu 61 allowed me to switch transmit meter function from Power to SWR and back as needed. Menu 75 allowed me to reduce power from 100 w to 5 w for SWR tests. There are others for CW and other modes I'm not using now. And mic settings, which I will not be adjusting as my contact said I sounded fine. I wish there was a way to easily tap voltage off the FP-31b power supply to light the LDG FT-Meter (a large, separate needle type meter, easier to read than the LCD display's meter). I'll do something about that. But so far, so good. I'm still >
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