I think one of Bob's most important, and overlooked, ideas is NVIS. Those of us not taking to the high seas are going to want reports from the field; reliable reports, not what the gov't wants us to know. NVIS is on my list of things to do....right after getting another radio. When I still had my 897D, I never really tried it like I wanted to.

Thanks for the link, Bob.

So, no 160m. Not a deal breaker. This is VERY interesting to me. Depending on how difficult the mods are, I may be able to do the mods myself. I'll look online to see who sells these.

I saw this a couple weeks ago. It was entertaining, but I wish the guitars hadn't been so....heavy. Have you ever heard YYZ by Rush? Neil Peart does a little CW on a cymbal at the song intro.

If you get on HF on the rig, let me know. I'd like to try and work you. Off topic: Have you returned to Facebook yet?

This is something I've been very interested in ever since I learned about it. I'm in Northwest Arkansas and I'd like to get some hams within a 300 mile radius to try this with. After I get another 80m dipole built, of course. The first one didn't work so well. It was my first attempt, though.

Deer Whisperer....lol. They're bedding down outside our cabin door. I need to get my cameras moved. Glad to see you found the site! I wonder what happened to you every time I eat some crawfish at the Chinese buffet. Once my 897D comes in, I'll have to find time to hook up with you on HF. I upgraded from the Icom 817 to an 897D, then sold it to fund a wood splitter, then decided to use dad's wood splitter so I bought another one. Sheesh. I haven't been on here in quite a while since I don't have a radio.

PuJo, you don't live down south do you? I sold an Arrow antenna to a guy who worked on an oil rig, but he disappeared from Facebook.

Could I get a link to that story? I searched the call on QRZ and it brought up an address, but no bio, no stories, nothing.

That radio with the morse key built into the top of it is clever.

I got the chance to trade for a NIB 897D. So I did. lol

Good luck with your kit. I'm pretty sure I got a bad chip and abandoned mine for the summer to build an electric guitar. Please keep this thread updated and remember: without pics, it didn't happen!

Sometimes all it takes is one contact to make it interesting again. After two months of not being on, I turned the radio on yesterday evening and after a few minutes heard S51DX calling. Recognizing the call, I looked him up in my log only to find out it was S57DX that I'd made contact with before. So, I contacted S51DX and learned that he was Janez in Slovenia, brother of S57DX (Slavko)! Two months apart, I make contact with two brothers in Slovenia. That was the kick in the pants I needed to finish up QSL cards and get them in the mail. Made contact today with W6L in San Diego. I enjoy special event stations.

I think it's the same with everyone. Right now I'm attempting to build an electric guitar and also having a metal building put over our travel trailer, although I did make contact with an operator in Spain (forget his call) operating a special event station commemorating the crowning of King Phillip VI of Spain. I need to get my QSL card out to him. Summer's for fun and getting projects done. Winter is for being cooped up in the house messing around with radio when it gets dark at 5pm.

CW is my next big job. I'm getting pretty excited about doing some QRP CW. Sounds like you're having a good time up north!