WRPL700

Thanks for all the kind words and info from everyone. I have been having a lot of fun since getting my Tech and then General license. Lots of great contacts on 10M, 12M, and 20M. My farthest contact was about 6500 miles to southern Africa (Namibia). Amazing what you can do with 20 watts and a dipole antenna (at 30 ft elevation) when the ionosphere cooperates. Last weekend was a bit frustrating, but I was playing with an Inverted-Vee 10M/12M at about 15 ft. I am going to make it a 10M/12M/15M/17M and then get it up to 30 ft.

Here is the link: https://www.arrl.org/contest-glossary

Okay, found this definition on the ARRL website: Actually, after everything I have read in the ARRL 10M Contest Rules pdf and learned reading other ARRL website stuff, I probably should not have responded to his CQ. I was not in the contest and so would not have submitted a log to ARRL, which they would have compared to his log. So he would have lost the QSO. So this rookie has learned a lot today. Thanks for all the input and help!!!

Which is exactly the how the comm went. I think perhaps (after scanning the ARRL pdf page 3 item number 4.3) looks like a "foreign" DX station is sending some kind of serial number. Perhaps he thought I was in the same boat as he. But we did exchange callsigns, I sent him a 57 and "Delaware USA" as I normally do with a DX station.

Thanks Steve. I will download the pdf and read through it. Good idea to get a definition for serial numbers added, for us newbies.

Thank you. Good info.

Well, he was not forthcoming and I did not press. In retrospect, you are correct. However, I'd still like to know...

So the other day I heard a guy calling CQ CONTEST (10M) and getting no response so I figured I'd give him a shout (the first time I have done so to CQ Contest). He was coming in pretty strong and he gave me a 5/9 which I understand is pretty much standard. So we exchanged info and then as I was going to move on he said "I need your serial number" and "I cannot put you in the logbook without a serial number". Well, I had no idea what he was asking for..... so what serial number was he looking for??? After checking his callsign, he was from Namibia. I measured on Google Earth and that is 6800 miles to the closest part of Namibia.

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!!!!