Well, it'll sure be fun to try, and now that I figured out that the RFI 
was with the carbon monoxide detector, maybe I'll just unplug that for the 
net.

Or, maybe, if I get that ground rod in! .......  (smile)

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: some thoughts on 17 meters for next week's net


After the 20 meter net I went up to 17 meters.   Could copy Gerry in CO
talking to someone I couldn't hear very well.  Maybe Betsy?   Then Tom came
up and had a fair copy on him.  When Tom cut the amp off due to RF problems,
he dropped way down, but still  readable.    I think Gerry may have also
gone barefoot at some point and he also dropped down but still  readable.
With even the slightest QRM or QRN, I would not have been able to copy
either one of you, even with power.

I called a few times and Gerry said he heard someone, but couldn't copy.
Running 80 watts to  elevated vertical.   Didn't have enough time to try
tuning the low band dipole with the manual tuner.  My AL 80B doesn't do very
well on 17 without some tweaking, which I have never done.   Maybe next week
I'll have the THP SS amp in line to give me 750 watts on that band.

73, Steve KW3A
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 6:20 PM
Subject: some thoughts on 17 meters for next week's net


> Hi, all.
>
> Well, the net was its usual success on 20 meters today, despite some very
> anoying QRM, and despite the fact that the band started to give out for
> our
> East Coast folks toward the end of the hour.
>
> Shortly after the net, a couple of us agreed to go up to 17 meters, and
> see
> what it was like up there.
>
> I never heard Kevin (K7RX), but did hear Betsey (K1EIC), and Gerry
> (WB6IVF).
> If anyone else was in there, I did not hear you, so I apologize.  Please
> don't think I was ignoring you (grin).
>
> I was able to tune my Ameritron AL811H amplifier on 17 meters, and
> actually
> got good signal reports from Gerry and Betsey.  However, for some reason,
> running 500 watts or so on 17 meters creates RFI problems by setting off
> several smoke detectors, so I probably shouldn't volunteer to be net
> control
> for next week-end's net, if we decide to try 17 meters.  I certainly can
> serve as a relay station, though, and will contribute whatever else I can
> to
> the net, even if I have to run 100 watts.  (Yeah, I know, Kevin, that
> ground
> rod will really help!  (smile)
>
> Given that 18.1575 is the HF backpackers' standard calling frequency, we
> probably would be best off going to 18.160.
>
> How does this all sound as a plan?
>
> P.S.  Toward the beginning of today's net, Steve (WA1RTB), Howard
> (WA9TOP),
> and Steve (KW3A) were louder than I have ever heard them, so 20 meters is
> definitely my  band of choice for any future nets beyond next Sunday, at
> least for a while.)
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ, Louisville, CO
>