• You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.

Advice...

Louisiana Mudd

X Marine Researcher - AUV / ASV Pilot
May 25, 2020
125
158
63
North West Texas
Within the next week or two I will be testing through General. I am open to suggestions in regards to equipment specifically what antennas I should look at so I erect the tower complete the first time.

Also what radios should I look at? I don't mind spending the money on radios so once again I will be good for a while.

Kindest regards,
Mudd
 

The first thing is to figure out what bands you are interested in. I use a doublet antenna, home brew ladder line and homebrew balanced tuner. That's not nearly as difficult as it may sound but will take some effort. It will cover all of the HF bands.

The popular choice these days is the end fed half wave. I don't recommend that unless it's a last resort. There are more HF antenna options than you can shake a stick at. How high your tower is and how long of a dipole can fit on your property is another factor.

There are also vertical antennas but you'll beed radials to get good performance. You can buy one or make one. If you use a dipole it can be fed against some radials. Then you'll have vertical and horizontal.

If you're wanting a new rig the Yaesu ftdx3000 is a nice one. The Icom 7300 is very popular and has a lot of features for the money. With the price of older rigs I would buy a new one unless you are looking for something to work on. Buy an Anan 7000 and never look back. :)

If you're going to work 160, 75 and 40 I would plan on buying an amplifier later. Some purists don't have an amp and don't think anyone else should either but your mileage may vary. Good luck on the test.
 
For first 100-120 DXCC on phone wires and 100W are enough. Next step is Yagi and it's enough for 200-240 DXCC and 100W.
Than amplifier and more/better Yagis will improve.
Biggest improvement is going to CW, no doubt.
Mike
 
  • Like
Reactions: Louisiana Mudd
The first thing is to figure out what bands you are interested in. I use a doublet antenna, home brew ladder line and homebrew balanced tuner. That's not nearly as difficult as it may sound but will take some effort. It will cover all of the HF bands.

The popular choice these days is the end fed half wave. I don't recommend that unless it's a last resort. There are more HF antenna options than you can shake a stick at. How high your tower is and how long of a dipole can fit on your property is another factor.

There are also vertical antennas but you'll beed radials to get good performance. You can buy one or make one. If you use a dipole it can be fed against some radials. Then you'll have vertical and horizontal.

If you're wanting a new rig the Yaesu ftdx3000 is a nice one. The Icom 7300 is very popular and has a lot of features for the money. With the price of older rigs I would buy a new one unless you are looking for something to work on. Buy an Anan 7000 and never look back. :)

If you're going to work 160, 75 and 40 I would plan on buying an amplifier later. Some purists don't have an amp and don't think anyone else should either but your mileage may vary. Good luck on the test.
Thank you my friend!
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • dxBot:
    Tucker442 has left the room.
  • @ BJ radionut:
    LIVE 10:00 AM EST :cool:
  • @ Charles Edwards:
    I'm looking for factory settings 1 through 59 for a AT 5555 n2 or AT500 M2 I only wrote down half the values feel like a idiot I need help will be appreciated