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EX-WA0MEG here - couldn't afford radios and computers at the same time 20+ years ago, and was living in an apartment building, and my Hustler mobile whip on the balcony didn't work worth a darn. :o)

I can't believe how poor reception is on 40 and 75. I hear guys in the gulf area that should be blasting each other out of their socks on ground wave not being able to hear each other at all. I also hear a lot of "whistlers" on 40 - they are variable frequency warbles that slowly drift up and down the spectrum under the right ionospheric conditions. This is my first solar flare experience, and it's been a real eye opener. The timing of it couldn't be worse.

I hear you there. My rig isn't the best made or newest for that matter lol, but it works. It's an old Icom 745 on a home brew dual band dipole, think I have a total of 400 invested in both radio and antenna.

Ham radio is getting a bit of press here in Oklahoma because of Katrina. The local Red Cross is looking for volunteers to work at Camp Gruber. What I have heard on the news as far as radio goes has been good, maybe this will serve to bring some new blood into the hobby.

One thing I am hoping for is that Americans in general will learn to be more prepared so that when something of this magnitude occurs they won't be caught unprepared.