ok eric, well you should be able to make the antenna work in the 
environment its in.  thats where rob and i could help you.  i bet we 
could get you on the air, with a decent swr.  i thought that was the 
problem, well with a working ant you can get out with a qrp 
setup.  especially on the higher freq.  are you on the top floor or 
you on the grouned?  take care, c u mike



At 05:27 AM 6/13/2012, you wrote:
>HI Mike
>Rob is an amazing guy.
>
>I think I enjoy qrp because I like CW and frankly in one of the garden
>apartments in the Capitol Towers I don't want to run high power so as not to
>interfere with my neighbors.
>
>I persist and I'm sure I'll make an HF contact eventually.
>
>I also own a Kenwood TS480s which can run 100 watts or lower  power levels.
>
>I have tried two of the shortened high-power dipoles for 20 meters on my
>balcony but again they are virtually worthless.
>
>The Kenwood keeps giving me high swr readings on those antennas. Probably
>they are too close to objects.
>
>I don't want to be restricted to just 2 meters.
>
>Have a great rest of the week.
>
>73,
>
>Eric
>KU3I