Hey, it's because of Cape Kennedy and NASA and all the alien energy focused 
in that area!  However, you should also be able to do just as well out west 
because you are sort of close to Area 51!  Jim WA6EKS

-----Original Message----- 
From: Colin McDonald
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 11:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Encouragement for apartment dwellers

this is really great stuff.
Nice contacts with that set up.
Sounds like 6M was banging in between FL and the east coast of Canada.
Have you ever operated outside of Florida or the east coast in general?
I've talked to and listened to a few guys talk about the pretty big
differences between operating from florida and operating from say the mid
west, north west or central US.
I wonder if being in, say minnisoda, or the Dacota's the results would be
similar or vastly less effective due to location?
I've operated from the seeing eye W2TSE station in Moristown NJ and found
that propigation over all, on all the bands was far better than from way out
west where I normally operate.
Not to say it isn't still a challenge to work QRP from anywhere, but I think
florida is probably one of the hottest spots in north america to play ham
radio.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 12:11 AM
Subject: Encouragement for apartment dwellers


> Hello ,
>
> In the past, there has been discussion about using hf radio from
> apartments.
> I want to share my radio activities for this evening just to give those of
> you who are feeling like you can't get on the air from your apartment a
> little hope.
>
>
>
> I use an Icom IC-703+, which is a qrp (10 watts maximum output) radio
> which
> is very similar in form and function to the IC-706 line of radios. the
> differences are that the IC-703+ covers only 160-6 meters, has a re-vamped
> receiver and a built in antenna tuner, along with the 10 watt max output.
> The control layout is identical to that of the IC-706.
>
>
>
> My wife and I are staying at a hotel in Melbourne, Florida to celebrate
> our
> 19th anniversary. We requested a room on the highest available floor. the
> hotel is literally right on the beach, so we do have a great view and (for
> radio) a great shot at the horizon over the Atlantic ocean. I used a
> Bluestar Antenna, which one might call a "knock-off" version of the
> SuperAntenna MP1 topped by the MFJ 12 foot telescoping whip extended to
> about 60 inches (the Bluestar comes with a 57 inch whip, but I forgot it
> at
> home but did remember to bring the MFJ whip, doh). I clamped the antenna
> to
> the balcony railing of our eighth floor room and sloppily draped two
> ten-foot radials to either side on top of the metal railing (radials were
> not straight and were kind of thrown onto and over the railings, and may
> not
> really have made much of a difference since the railing itself is metal).
> In
> the space of about 4 hours I worked the stations listed below. There
> aren't
> an awesome number of stations worked, but you've got to admit that they're
> good ones, using only 10 watts and a portable antenna. I probably would
> have
> worked more if I didn't take the time to crack the pile-ups on the dx
> stations I did work on hf. Also, notice that even my 6 meter contacts
> included some dx and, again, I spent a lot of time making myself heard
> amongst the big guns. Apartment dwellers, it is easier with 100 watts and
> a
> fixed, outdoor antenna, but it is possible and fun using only a portable
> antenna erected only as often as you can.
>
>
>
> Times are listed in 24-hour format, z at the end of the time value is a
> reminder to me in my log that I am using zulu (coordinated universal
> time).
> this list is lifted directly from my notes tonight, so it's not pretty
> prose
> and I haven't yet looked up the locations of the stations who didn't
> furnish
> it during the qso.
>
>
>
> 50.11698MHz ve2tzt 0011z. rs57 mrs56. Gil 9 in grid square fn35.
>
>
>
> 50.16MHz ve3bz rs53-7 mrs53 with deep qsb. 0025z He's Near Toronto Canada
> grid square fn04.
>
>
>
> 50.175MHz k2cz rs57 mrs54  0028z. Steve in Binghamton NY. Still very deep
> qsb.
>
>
>
> 50.145MHz rs57 n2kej rs57 mrs53. 30 miles sse of Philadelphia.  0037z
>
>
>
> 18.152MHz kp4dke rs57 mrs57-8 Pedro in Utuado Puerto Rico. 0136z
>
>
>
> 18.15MHz sv3aqr rs56 mrs31 (tough copy for him, I was very weak for him)
> 0147z John in Patra, Greece.
>
> 14.26395MHz ut7uu rs57 mrs55 Bob 0229z.
>
>
>
> 14.20602MHz ux6iz rs59-9+10 mrs59 Vlad in the Ukraine, 0241z.
>
>
>
> 18.14MHz lz2qv rs57 mrs56. ,Miro in Bulgaria 0334z.
>
>
>
> 73
>
>
>
> Ron Miller
>
> N6MSA
>
> Dunedin, Fl.
>
> USA
>
> SKYPE: arjay1
>
>