Ron,
I must be married to your wife's cousin!  She is a licensed ham, 
although more interested in the computer than the radio nowadays, but 
I always receive encouragement to go to Daytonh, and I am always told 
to bring something home!  But not someone!!
And our anniversary falls on Dayton weekend.  This is 32 years on 
Sunday and I will be home for it.  So ain't we lucky!!
Pat, K9JAUAt 02:46 AM 5/11/2013, you wrote:
>Absolutely Jim!
>She is both a ham and a wonderful wife. The IC-703+ was part of a great
>birthday gift from her one year. Way more of a splurge than I would have
>done, for sure.
>
>Note the times tonight. it was evening, she was reading a book, so I
>"fished" off the balcony. she's great, just cause she's a wonderful wife,
>but her support of radio activity is icing on the cake.
>
>Ron Miller
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
>Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 2:49 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Encouragement for apartment dwellers
>
>That is impressive Ron.  I just hope your wife is a ham or that you turned
>off the rig at a civilized hour and paid attention to your Y L!  Best 73,
>and 88,  Jim WA6EKS
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ron Miller
>Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 11:11 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>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
>
>
>-----
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