This is what I sent a place that wanted an article in exchange for a User

This is what I sent a place that wanted an article in exchange for a User's Manual for my radio.. So this is what I wrote, a story I made up years ago!
Full Wave Modification of a 5/8 Antenna

by John Caldwell KB5TVP

I was driving home after a day at work when I noticed the shadow of my 5/8 antenna quivering in the wind. A QSO had been talking about how to improve our antennas. Then a light came on...not just any ol' light but a bright white L.E.D.

Hey guys I just had an idea how I can make my 5/8 wave into a full wave! I can not say how just yet; I will tell ya'll how it goes.

I went upstairs to my shack and started digging in the kids' toy box. Got what I wanted and took some very strong cement and went to work. Just two fingers stuck together but I had my idea ready to test.

I put the antenna on the car then went for a test drive. I got good signal reports and told my friends that I made the modification without adding height and adding no metal parts. I made no solder joints, but it does indeed work!

This is how I made it. I got a hand off one of the spare doll arms and glued it over the corona ball. I had my compass so I could orientate it with the north star. I donned the aluminum foil beanie I made listening to Coast 2 Coast AM one night. They said it was one like President Bush wears. Off I drove in my VW Thang convertible. I drove towards downtown Dallas. There I could see my idea waving in the breeze. It would go all the way oneway and all the way back...That's a Full Wave for shore!

There ya go a Story/mod..Hi Hi

Is this good enough to get a users manual for my Alinco DR-140?

I am a rag chewer from way back and now I am disabled with MS and found out I can write? That was just a sample. Former mechanic never wrote nothing but did tell some tales on the W5FC repeater. In fact after about 5 years off the radio a few of my old friends did what us Hams do. They got me back on the air. I was given the Alinco to use but came with no manual and the dang thang is not all that easy to program.

I am sure this will be published in the next issue of MSmusings.com

Reach John by email to comment: kb5tvp@hotmail.com

John's in our Gallery!

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