For anyone interested, I am finally set up to operate on HF, after being licensed for two years, and an Extra almost that long.

I have the new Icom IC-7000, a BuddiPole, and an MK 31-AGM 105Ah battery, for strictly portable use.

My first contact was with K7HI, a merchant marine on a cargo vessel near Honolulu. He reported my signal as 55.

---Michael, AE6QC