11/09/2009 | WD5IYT Having just returned from the local VE session where I passed my Extra, I was excited to get on the air.

I had finished building an Elecraft K1 QRP rig last week, but hadn't yet tried it out on the air. Saturday morning I hastily threw up a 40m inverted vee only to discover it was sweepstakes weekend. I figured I'd try a few contacts.

I ran the whole weekend with the rig set up on the kitchen table using a 7AH gel-cell battery for power. I made 106 contacts in between "honey-do's" and had a great time!

Not too bad for 5W and a makeshift antenna. -- WD5IYT