= NOW 35 WPM = TEXT IS FROM JULY 2022 QST PAGE 47 = ORDERING AND SHIPPING FROM POLAND SINCE FEBRUARY 1, 2021, THERE HAS BEEN NO DISTRIBUTOR OR THIS PRODUCT IN THE US, AND I ORDERED MINE IN MARCH OF THAT SAME YEAR. SO, A NEW ISSUE IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED ORDERING EQUIPMENT FROM ABROAD. OTHER HAMS I TALKED TO HAD NOT HAD A PROBLEM, AS THE COMPANY UNTIL THEN HAD A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE WHO HANDLED US ORDERS. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER, HAD TAKEN ORDERING IN HOUSE AND ESTABLISHED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT. THE ORDER WENT SMOOTHLY, BUT WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE SHIPMENT GOT DELAYED AT THE PORT FOR A WEEK. IN 3 WEEKS, TWO LARGE ORANGE CYLINDERS AND A BOX WERE DELIVERED TO MY DRIVEWAY. WHILE I HAD BEEN WAITING ON THE SHIPMENT, WALDEK, SP7GXP, FROM GXP ANTENNAS, HAD SENT AHEAD THE DIRECTIONS MORE ON THIS LATER AND TOLD ME TO REPORT ANY DAMAGE. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE PIPES WOULD BE PACKED INSIDE OF EACH OTHER AND HE RECOMMENDED DOING AN INVENTORY ON ARRIVAL TO CHECK INSIDE THE LARGER TUBES. IN FACT, THEY WERE LARGELY GROUPED BY ELEMENT, MAKING ASSEMBLY THAT MUCH EASIER LATER SEE FIGURE 6. ONE OF THE PACKING TUBES ARRIVED DAMAGED AND HAD BEEN TAPED BACK TOGETHER SEE FIGURE 7. AMAZINGLY, THE TUBING WAS FINE A TESTAMENT TO THE PACKAGING TECHNIQUE AND THE QUALITY OF THE ALUMINUM. ORGANIZING FOR THE BUILD TWO NEW ISSUES AROSE AS I APPROACHED PUTTING THE ANTENNA TOGETHER. FIRST, ALL MEASUREMENTS AND HARDWARE WERE IN METRIC UNITS. I NEEDED A = END OF 35 WPM TEXT = QST DE W1AW <