WRPL700

I have a Xiegu G90 as well. I have been totally surprised by the performance of this little radio, although my antenna may have something to do with it too (Two Shark 20M hamsticks in a Procomm DP4MFPL dipole mount at 30').

So this weekend was the first time I had really interacted with folks doing POTA. Generally speaking, they were coming in here to Delaware at 5-7 on the S-meter, with periods of QSB. Which is understandable as they were probably operating at around 10-20 watts, I would guess. I had about 20 QSOs with them. BTW, my rig is 20 watts. My question pertains to "Activating". What does that even mean? What are they "activating"? Thanks in advance.

As always.... Thank you for the info. I keep learning more from you guys every week!!!

Yeah, I could not figure out why I could not find it on either ARRL or FCC database:

Were you on 20m? I think I heard you guys. I did reply to a few who had a call signs that I could look up (W0JD, ND9E, NA1KW, W0ZAC, NW0M). Others were using a callsign like "K0R" which I could not look up in the FCC database (not a real callsign?). Anyhow, I had a great weekend on 20M.

I had some questions about POTA, but after giving it some thought, I will start a new thread...

Mark: This is very helpful Thank you. You may not realize it, but you are somewhat responsible for me being a ham now. About a year or so ago you and I talked about using a 102" whip for CB radio DX. I finally converted that into a horizontal dipole with a Procomm dipole mount and another 102" whip. I had to lengthen them a little. Since getting my ham license, I have cut the whips down a little and they work great for 10M and since my radio has a tuner, 12M. So thanks for all the help.

I guess I hit a nerve, huh? I am relatively new at HF ham radio, so this weekend was quite a shock to me.... yes there is always a few contesters here and there, but wow this last weekend was way, way over the top. And yes I did more that sit in the radio room.... I rototilled our garden and cleaned up the yard. Good enough for you???

So, can anybody explain contesting to me??? This weekend 10m and 20m (not sure about 17 or 15) was just plain jammed full of folks contesting. What a zoo, if you ask me. Hard to squeeze in enough space for normal use..... Contesters were stepping all over each other. I did manage some QSOs on 20M and a few on 12M. I guess if a contester wins a new radio, it makes sense...

This is good to know. I will be printing this out and putting it in the box with the manual for future reference.

So, are end fed half waves directive broadside like center fed half waves?

Very nice. Since I am new at this..... these are end fed correct?

That's pretty cool. Is that a BNC connector? This kind of tinkering is beyond my current ability or patience...

Yep, that is what I am using, a G90. Great little radio. Love the tuner.

That is for sure. I am all about home made as much as possible. Attached are a couple of pictures of my 10 meter antenna on a 30' pole. Made from two 102" SS whips cut 2" inches shorter and attached to a Procomm DP4MFPL dipole mount. I have been able to talk to guys in Italy and Germany, all with 20 watts out. This is a great hobby.....

Thanks guys. Very much appreciated.

The hamexam.org flashcards were a really big help to me (I just passed my General class test this Saturday). Thanks for the tip!!!!

Well, After studying my butt off for several weeks, I took the test Saturday for General class and passed (35 out of 35). I do have to say thanks to the guy who gave me the link to hamexam.org where you can do flash cards of the questions, it really helped!!! Now on to new bands... maybe I will try out 17 meters or 20 meters in the coming weeks.

I had a blast this weekend on 10 meter dx. I was able to talk to people in Italy and Bavaria and a lot of contacts to Texas as well. All on 20 watts and a dipole at 30 feet high. What a fun hobby.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words and encouragement. I am studying for the General test and will be checking out the two links provided by you guys. Thanks again!!!

When I passed the Tech test (35 out of 35) they did offer me to take the General test but I chose not to because I had not studied for it.... Kind of wish I had taken it just to see how I would have done.

As I remember it, I was originally an O5B-A4, but then they changed us to 31V??? And then to 18E. We used a lot of wired half-wave dipoles. I still remember using the 468/frequency to get the ball park length. We used metal audio tape reels to roll up the extra wire and parachute cord thrown over a tree limb to lift up each side. The radio was a AN/PRC-74B 15 watt. Good memories.

Hey, thanks. This was a long time in coming....... 40 years ago I was an Army radio operator (18E) so I was pretty good with morse code back then. The guys were always after me to get my Ham license, but I never did. So fast forward: a few years back I got my GMRS license and played with that and then last fall convinced my wife to allow me to try for the Ham license. I still need to work on dusting off my CW skills again. My hand isn't as steady with a straight key as it once was. But this is a lot of fun.

Oops.

Thanks for the HamStudy.org heads-up. I will check it out.