Watch for the "Buddies in the Caribbean"  Feb 2 through Feb 9, 2010.  Nine of us will play radio from St. Lucia.   QSL direct to the op.  

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My main interests include making contacts with my portable station.

My web site at: WWW.QSL.net/w3ff has info on the antennas and the equipment I use for that purpose. My son, Chris, owns Buddipole Antennas, and he produces the antennas he and I design. We have a Buddipole User's Group at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/buddipole. And the commercial site is at this address: www.buddipole.com

In the Fall of 2005, I started using a Yaesu FT-857D for my portable radio. The batteries I am using are the A-123's. Lithium Nano-Phosphate technology.   

I prefer operating HF from my recumbent tricycle. I use half the Buddipole antenna vertically, with the bike frame as a ground. In September of 2004, all the world's continents were worked from the bike in one day with 50 watts. In September of 2005, all the continents except Antartica were worked in a two hour period with the same setup.

In November of 2009,  I added a Metron solid state amp and a large AGM battery to power it.  It's on a very lightweight trailer.

I frequent 18157.5 KHZ and 14270 KHZ. Also on 60 Meters, I like 5371.k KHZ.

Check out this group: HFpack@yahoogroups.com.

Another great site for antenna experimenters is: Live-Wire@Yahoogroups.com.

Portable HF radio is very exciting. Email me at this address if you would like to make a sked for a QSO: W3FF@buddipole.com