I've held the same call since about 1980, originally licensed as a General Class, now Advanced Class. When I lived where I could put up antennas I was somewhat active on HF, very active in VHF (at only about 450 feet above sea level, I was still on the highest hill for 10 miles in any direction). My favorite single activity is 10m SSB when the sun was cooperating.

Now I live in an apartment, and I'm not very active from home.

I've recently picked up a Yeasu FT-817, and have been having great fun with it. I'm operating portable and /PM (pedestrian mobile) with it. I've got dipoles and other wire antennas strung up here and there... I have dipoles up at a park near work, at my sister's house, and use a Maldol (and trail a couterpoise wire) for /PM.

I'm having a blast with QRP and simple antennas - mostly on 10, 12, 15 and 17 meters. So far, I've got about 20 countries QRP - mostly Europe - and 2 /PM. (And I just read in December 2001 QST that there is a new ARRL award: QRP DXCC. I might just try for it!) Since the sun has been cooperating, I've been experimenting with SSB on 10m with as little as 0.5 watts - and making DX contacts! (Okay, sometimes I have to crank the power up to 2.5 or even 5 watts to make it.)

When I get some time to string enough wire in enough high trees at my sister's house, I might even get on "top band" for the first time.

Hope to catch you on the air!

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