‰  NOW 30 WPM  ‰   TEXT IS FROM JUNE 2014  QST  PAGE 66‰

ARTICLE IS WRITTEN TO SHARE WITH OTHER HAMS THE LESSONS, PAIN, AND AGONY OF
AMATEURS BUILDING AMATEUR ANTENNA SYSTEMS.  IT IS OUR FERVENT HOPE THAT
YOUR PLEASURE WILL GREATLY EXCEED THE PAIN EXPERIENCED IN DESIGNING,
CONSTRUCTING, AND MAINTAINING AN ANTENNA SYSTEM THAT IS AT LEAST 3 DB
BETTER THAN MOST.  THE PASSION SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF WIRELESS, HAMS HAVE
PIONEERED MANY OF THE BREAKTHROUGHS IN RADIO AND ANTENNA DESIGN.  OFTEN,
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE IN SMOKE FILLED MAKESHIFT LABS OR
GARAGES WHERE THE GOAL WAS TO GET THE PROJECT FINISHED NOT NECESSARILY TO
MAKE IT ROBUST.  I LEARNED THE PATIENCE REQUIRED FOR PIONEERING
BREAKTHROUGHS AS A TEENAGER, BUT I ALSO LEARNED PRAGMATISM.  THE MANTRA FOR
MANY YEARS WAS LETS GET IT WORKING.  WE WILL CLEAN IT UP LATER.  THE
SINGULARLY UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE OF MOST MOTIVATED HAMS IS TO EFFECT TWO WAY
COMMUNICATIONS UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.  WE ARE PRACTICED AT HANGING A
WIRE IN A TREE AND CONDUCTING DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS.  THE DOWNSIDE TO
THIS IS THAT MANY OF US APPLY THIS PRACTICAL AND EXPEDIENT APPROACH TO
BUILDING OUR STATIONS.  MY POINT HERE IS THAT WE WILL BENEFIT FROM BEING
‰  END OF 30 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ