A random power outage in my apartment allowed me to attempt HF from indoors.  When I have setup previously I can get my antenna (Buddipole) to tune just fine, but there is way too much interference for me to hear anything.  When the power in my area suddenly went out I quickly setup my rig and found out there was no noise floor, and I could easily get my signal out.  I made a few contacts before the power returned, and a power outage has never been so exciting.  If only this happened more often, I will likely be looking into a loop antenna to use from my apartment in the winter, I can get signals out no problem it seems.  It’s just hearing other people that is the problem.

I also went camping in one of my usual spots, Great River Bluffs State Park.  I’ve had plenty of luck on 17-meters there, but since propagation was poor on 17 I tried 20 instead.  I tried the Buddipole both horizontal and vertical and had luck with both configurations.

It was on 20 that I had two of the most unique contacts I’ve had so far.  First I chatted with W8GWP, Shane, who was flying a plane about 8 miles in the air and using the HF radio in the plane over Kansas.  I’ve never had an airborne contact before.   Then I chatted with W3FF, Budd, who had a tricycle-mounted rig with an amp on the trailer from Redding, California.  His signal was booming to me at the state park with this setup.  He’s got a picture of it on his QRZ page.