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   FORMAT: flowed   
   -=> Randall Schad wrote to Sean Dennis <=-   
      
    SD> I've dealt with those also.  The Extras I know here are pretty seasoned   
    SD> except for a few new ones we have in my club that did the "three steps   
    SD> in one day:" route who are still getting experience.   
      
    RS> I'm relatively new -- just got my ticket 3 years ago while I was off   
    RS> work for an extended stretch due to surgery -- and this seems to be the   
    RS> norm. It's a "win" to pass all three exams in one sitting, or   
    RS> something.   
      
    RS> I did Tech and General to get started, then got my feet wet for a few   
    RS> months before upgrading to Extra. Even now, I'm still learning A LOT.   
    RS> Massive credit to the welcoming guys in the local club who keep us   
    RS> actively learning and honing skills.   
      
   I did tech with the intention of doing general for HF later, but went   
   ahead and did both the same day. My wife did tech only because her    
   interest is not 'talking' but doing weather. She likes to chase storms,   
   or at least used to... Lots of stormy water under the bridge - medical   
   issues now, with us and her mom, etc.   
      
    SD> I am saving up to buy a Comet CHA-250HD "vertically-oriented dipole" HF   
    SD> antenna.  It uses a big coil to eliminate the need for radials.  It's   
    SD> $479--not cheap when you're on Social Security--but well worth it to get   
    SD> on HF easily.   
      
   That's what I'm looking to LATER after playing with the fan dipole I have   
   now...    
      
    RS> I found a template for a loading coil that I intend to print this   
    RS> weekend. Wrap the coil around that template, wind up another 49:1   
    RS> transformer, and hopefully have a vertical very similar to that Comet   
    RS> to keep in the truck for mobile HF.   
      
   Interesting!!! Let us know how that goes!   
      
      
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