now it seems propagation for 20M is bad, and 10M is worse...not like march where it is the peak season for HF.

Hi, i'm new to this forum. and so surprisingly there is a ham radio thread in LYF. Btw HF is fun as you can have chit chat with difference people around the world. For HF communication, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get ur first contact, just a basic transceiver and a simple wire dipole will get u on the air, and if the propagation is good, then ur CQ call might be answered. Then after a while if budget allow, then u may start to buy a better rig, buy a beam antenna, a rotators, and a tower if u have the space. and after awhile, then add some audio processing tool like EQ and amplifier, heil microphone to ur shack. It cannot denies that a big yagi with tall tower will have better performance, but remember, if ur budget and spaces allow, then go ahead. If not, then simple setup is ok. Bellow is some of my QSL card received and it sometime it also come along with personal letters and greeting cards. BTW, if u stay at apartment, do check out the magnetic loop antenna!!!, it is very well perform and easy to build.but the problem is, it is very hard to find the variable air core tuning capacitor. So you have to homebrew one. hihi. Good luck and hope you have a nice contact and enjoy this beautiful hobby. ohh..before i forget, the late His Highness Tunku A. Rahman is also a ham too with the callsign of 9M2TR