I've said it before and I'll say it again. I really love your videos. anyone who goes to a park and operates has my interest. I like the way you talk to your audience. I really feel like I am there with you, and as a friend. Oh, and your videos have a touch of professional quality about them.👍👍👍
Good video Tom! Yep, that's the Missouri I remember and lived at for 47 years. Frigid cold snow storm one day and sunny and near 70 degrees the next. We used to love that when I was a kid in grade school over 50 years ago! Clever use of the antenna holder under the picnic table leg. How ironic that you were having a CW QSO with a friend and it didn't register until later...cool! 73!
THanks KX4UL. I appreciate that nice comment. I didn't know him well by Gerry .... but he had spotted me on the air then he got on fast and there it was.
I bought a Yaesu FT-891 and the Yaesu FC-50 antenna tuner last week, good little radio. I live at apartment complex here at Ada and have to use the Rain gutter for the antenna.. I need to get the side rails for my 891.
Love the video and the fact that you are using a FT891 with your home brew antenna. Your inverted V has a low angle o propagation and they are generally omni directional and a good general antenna. For your setup to be NVIS you should add a reflector wire under it 5% longer like a 2 element yagi pointed up. Or lower the v to 3 to 6 ft depending on the ground reflectivity that would also help send the signal up to be reflected down to enhance more local comms for less of a skip zone. Try doing it a night with 75 or 80 meters with the reflector wire. I'm working on different ways to enhance covert communication techniques for local communication , to combat HOA'S and local regulations. This is not a critique , just other ideas for you to try. Keep up the good work AA4CP Chuck Port Salerno FL USA
Thanks Chuck for the nice comment. Yes, I completely understand your frustration with HOA's and going stealth. I'm installing a stealthy vertical very soon.
Thumbs up as always. My wife ZS6ESW and myself ZS6MSW enjoyed this one...amazing how many slower ops are out there, that's a good thing because one can grow getting better as a group. 73 Tom regards to your awesome family
I love watching your vids. I rarely ever comment on youtube videos but I do enjoy watching your small adventures into ham radio. It's nice to hear about your struggles and successes with CW as I'm currently tackling learning it. Makes it easier for me to pick myself up from mistakes and mishaps.
Nice attention to detail on the assembling of those antenna legs. That's on par with some of N4CCB's gear. Using the drive over antenna mount under the picnic table was pretty brilliant as well. I pulled out my gear this past weekend because we had some warm weather in MI too. Brutal tease for us portable ops waiting for spring. Keep up the great work and I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. 73
Thank you W8AAR. If I had more time I'd put all 4 legs up...hmmm sounded weird... Making that drive over mount stand still is a matter of creativity. Glad you had good WX in MI. 73 and Merry Christmas.
Hi Tommy, thanks for another great video. I'm busy learning CW (lesson 25 on Koch trainer app!) and really appreciate you decoding the CW contacts. I hope we can have a QSO some day, I also have Yaesu FT891 and plan to go portable in 2020. Merry Christmas, 73
Great content thanks so much. Studying for General ticket now. Might study for Extra too at the same time and just do both tests at once. Bad idea. Subscribed!
You need to post your operating hours and frequency in advance so those of us who watch could participate. POTA does have a mechanism to allow you post your spots and you could do a POTA activation at the same time. Give it some thought. Love your videos. AD0DQ
Thanks... I should do that, usually I go when an opportunity just arises, good weather, Saturday or Sunday only, and kids /XYL are busy. I am not always sure when that will be.
Here’s an idea. Those of us on the other end could video our end of the contact and send it to you. Then you could not only post audio, but video. I would help if we could set it up. But I also understand about scheduling and life. I have a trial upcoming in St. Louis County in March and sometimes even planning out 3 months in advance doesn’t fix the problem. Maybe one day it will just work out. I have a state park 5 miles from me (Chewacla State Park) and did my first POTA 10 days ago. Had a blast!
I really love your videos. I am now starting to learn mores. Just so I to can do what you do. Moore and the way you do it always experimenting I think is just great. And got me thinking I have got to do that. Thank you for the videos and listing all the equipment you use. It really helps. I have a lot of parks near me I southern pa. And I hope to have have a contact with you. Thanks again. Keep up the great work. And have a merry Christmas to you and your family. 73.
Another good video Tom. started following you few video's ago. (last month or so) and enjoy your efforts. I like the CW operations. and the qrp but actually anything in the field is great to watch. thanks again and will look for more. 73 gud dx.
I enjoy your videos. Always like your different activities. I live in Minnesota and I’m thinking trying a Buddipole horizontal dipole on 40 meters up about 8 feet for NVIS. I need to get WI, ND, SD and IA in the log. I figure this setup would get me about 400 miles. MO to MI was a good example. I hope to have similar luck. Merry Christmas. MikeinMinnesota N0WDM
Hi Tommy, Enjoy the videos. FB on the portable setup. You'll eventually get that antenna working. Glad you made some contacts. Happy Holidays to you and the family. 73 WB3BJU
Tom Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful Family. Jesus Christ has born may his light and Love bless you all and thanks for all your amazing and informative Videos! 73
Thanks for sharing. I have a pipe line to the same states as you when using my end fed wire. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a great New Year. KE0RPU
I really love your channel, I hope we can contact CW soon. Have a merry Christmas for you and your family from Spain, Europe, and 73
Hey, Juan! I really love your comments. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!
Thanks for adding the CW-subtitles. It helps with us learning :)
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I really love your videos. anyone who goes to a park and operates has my interest. I like the way you talk to your audience. I really feel like I am there with you, and as a friend. Oh, and your videos have a touch of professional quality about them.👍👍👍
Thanks SO much David. It's my favorite way to operate... outside. Super nice comment I love it.
@@hamradiocq It did come from my heart.
Good video Tom! Yep, that's the Missouri I remember and lived at for 47 years. Frigid cold snow storm one day and sunny and near 70 degrees the next. We used to love that when I was a kid in grade school over 50 years ago! Clever use of the antenna holder under the picnic table leg. How ironic that you were having a CW QSO with a friend and it didn't register until later...cool! 73!
THanks KX4UL. I appreciate that nice comment. I didn't know him well by Gerry .... but he had spotted me on the air then he got on fast and there it was.
I bought a Yaesu FT-891 and the Yaesu FC-50 antenna tuner last week, good little radio. I live at apartment complex here at Ada and have to use the Rain gutter for the antenna.. I need to get the side rails for my 891.
Thanks for sharing
Love the video and the fact that you are using a FT891 with your home brew antenna. Your inverted V has a low angle o propagation and they are generally omni directional and a good general antenna. For your setup to be NVIS you should add a reflector wire under it 5% longer like a 2 element yagi pointed up.
Or lower the v to 3 to 6 ft depending on the ground reflectivity that would also help send the signal up to be reflected down to enhance more local comms for less of a skip zone. Try doing it a night with 75 or 80 meters with the reflector wire. I'm working on different ways to enhance covert communication techniques for local communication , to combat HOA'S and local regulations.
This is not a critique , just other ideas for you to try. Keep up the good work
AA4CP Chuck
Port Salerno FL USA
Thanks Chuck for the nice comment. Yes, I completely understand your frustration with HOA's and going stealth. I'm installing a stealthy vertical very soon.
Much happier in this video! Glad to see it. Happy Holidays and 73s
Ha thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Thumbs up as always. My wife ZS6ESW and myself ZS6MSW enjoyed this one...amazing how many slower ops are out there, that's a good thing because one can grow getting better as a group. 73 Tom regards to your awesome family
Thanks for the comment... yeah I like going 16wpm. It's fun for me. 73 as well.
I love watching your vids. I rarely ever comment on youtube videos but I do enjoy watching your small adventures into ham radio.
It's nice to hear about your struggles and successes with CW as I'm currently tackling learning it. Makes it easier for me to pick myself up from mistakes and mishaps.
Thanks so much potato. Like your name btw. Yeah I include both good and bad. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
One of your better vids. Nice work. Txs. 73.
Thanks so much 73
That looks like a good field day or winter field day operating location for multiple hams.
I was thinking the same thing. Great little spot for shelter.
That's so cool that you had a QSO with Gerry!!
15 degrees F Christmas morning and the 26th. Send your warm temperatures to Downeast Maine, please.
Almost 70 on Christmas day here. What's weird is, all the sudden it will drop to 20. So hard to predict.
it was 71 on Christmas in Missouri
KE0TTG
Crazy eh?
Nice attention to detail on the assembling of those antenna legs. That's on par with some of N4CCB's gear. Using the drive over antenna mount under the picnic table was pretty brilliant as well. I pulled out my gear this past weekend because we had some warm weather in MI too. Brutal tease for us portable ops waiting for spring. Keep up the great work and I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. 73
Thank you W8AAR. If I had more time I'd put all 4 legs up...hmmm sounded weird... Making that drive over mount stand still is a matter of creativity. Glad you had good WX in MI. 73 and Merry Christmas.
Another great video ! Do you remember what your SWR was before you used the tuner on it?
Thank you Don very much for the nice comment. I don't remember SWR it fluctuates wildly.
@@hamradiocq ok, tyvm.
Great video Tom. I love your Channel, no BS, just good stuff. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. 73, George K2WO
Thanks so much K2WO. I like your call sign! 73
Hi Tom,.. thx again for yr videos,..cheers Happy Holidays...
Thanks Tom, great name btw. Happy Holidays.
Antenna worked well, I need to learn CW! Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Did you notice all of my contacts, all of them were NE of St. Louis? Not sure why.
Always enjoy the videos Tom have a good one.
Thanks, Victor you too.
Hi Tommy, thanks for another great video. I'm busy learning CW (lesson 25 on Koch trainer app!) and really appreciate you decoding the CW contacts. I hope we can have a QSO some day, I also have Yaesu FT891 and plan to go portable in 2020. Merry Christmas, 73
Thanks for the nice comment! 73 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Thanks for reply
Great content thanks so much. Studying for General ticket now. Might study for Extra too at the same time and just do both tests at once. Bad idea.
Subscribed!
Thank you so much for the nice comment. I like to show and tell... a story.
I like the setup. Weather is crazy here in OH too. And awesome, my RBN heard you! -K8TSG
That was you! Thanks so much for the RBN node!
You need to post your operating hours and frequency in advance so those of us who watch could participate. POTA does have a mechanism to allow you post your spots and you could do a POTA activation at the same time. Give it some thought. Love your videos. AD0DQ
Thanks... I should do that, usually I go when an opportunity just arises, good weather, Saturday or Sunday only, and kids /XYL are busy. I am not always sure when that will be.
Here’s an idea. Those of us on the other end could video our end of the contact and send it to you. Then you could not only post audio, but video. I would help if we could set it up. But I also understand about scheduling and life. I have a trial upcoming in St. Louis County in March and sometimes even planning out 3 months in advance doesn’t fix the problem. Maybe one day it will just work out. I have a state park 5 miles from me (Chewacla State Park) and did my first POTA 10 days ago. Had a blast!
I really love your videos. I am now starting to learn mores. Just so I to can do what you do. Moore and the way you do it always experimenting I think is just great. And got me thinking I have got to do that. Thank you for the videos and listing all the equipment you use. It really helps. I have a lot of parks near me I southern pa. And I hope to have have a contact with you. Thanks again. Keep up the great work. And have a merry Christmas to you and your family. 73.
Thanks for the lovely comment I appreciate it. Hope to inspire a million people. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
I am enjoying your videos and getting some ideas about how to do portable HF. Happy Holidays.
Thanks so much twwtb. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Another good video Tom. started following you few video's ago. (last month or so) and enjoy your efforts. I like the CW operations. and the qrp but actually anything in the field is great to watch. thanks again and will look for more. 73 gud dx.
I appreciate that Ellis! I'll keep going out and trying different stuff. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
I enjoy your videos. Always like your different activities. I live in Minnesota and I’m thinking trying a Buddipole horizontal dipole on 40 meters up about 8 feet for NVIS. I need to get WI, ND, SD and IA in the log. I figure this setup would get me about 400 miles. MO to MI was a good example. I hope to have similar luck. Merry Christmas. MikeinMinnesota N0WDM
Thanks Mikeinminnesota. Search thru my videos I did one a while back from Minnesota. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Hi Tommy,
Enjoy the videos. FB on the portable setup. You'll eventually get that antenna working. Glad you made some contacts. Happy Holidays to you and the family. 73 WB3BJU
Thanks so much, Don. Merry Christmas to you and yours
Which balun are you using for this antenna?
I'm not sure it came with the NVIS antenna.
What paddle are you using? It's great!
Oops you already replied and said it's the Begali Traveler. I so want a Begali!
Yeah, I bought it from Mr. Begali himself. I have video of it here: ua-cam.com/video/XRw6e4GGz0I/v-deo.html
Nice video, enjoy the weather. What power were you running on CW? Merry Christmas!
Oh, about 60Watts. Merry Christmas to you!
What is the key you are using in this video?
That is the Begali Traveler.
Hi Tom Happy New Year from Thailand. Here 34 C near Cambodia Border enjoy your VDO S. 73 Kurt HS0ZBS
Thanks so much Kurt! Wow Thailand!
Wow! Good~
Thanks!
Tom Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful Family.
Jesus Christ has born may his light and Love bless you all and thanks for all your amazing and informative Videos! 73
So nice of you to comment Eduardo. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Great work Tom, always enjoy the videos. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄73 Glenn ZL1MY
Thanks Kiwi! appreciate the comment. 73 and Merry Christmas to you and yours
Thanks for sharing. I have a pipe line to the same states as you when using my end fed wire. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a great New Year. KE0RPU
Thanks for the nice comment dheller. Weird how all my contacts were to the NE from St. Louis area.
What happened to 'Lil' Tom?' Have you done something horrible to him? I'm calling the authorities for a welfare check! *lol* Merry Christmas!!
He's brewing his anger... coming back soon.... in hiding for now.
@@hamradiocq *lol*