Quote from: RadioRay on April 14, 2013, 05:22:23 PM
Mr. Underhill -

I'd like to olsten to that file, but the link gives me a file not found error.  Are you able to re-check this link, please?  I reeeeeeeeeeeealy like radio!!!   :D


>de RadioRay ..._ ._

I have the file, the link to the sound file never worked correctly, but when it was fresh, I figured out how to get it and did.  JGF never did fix the link, and doesn't use the download service anymore I think, so there that is.

if you PM' me, I can send to those interested.  File is mp3, is 13.4MB in size, and runs for 58 or so minutes.

So I can send to any email that is able to handle a 14MB attachment.  Not sure that it should be attached to our site here, due to copyrite issues, but I dont' think that should apply if i send it via email.

Mr RadioRay, sent you a pm.


Underhill

I haven't participated as much as I would like lately, a family crisis has absorbed me pretty completely.  But I check occasionally and had some thoughts I wanted to share fwiw.  I know, and add 5 bucks and it's worth a cup of coffee, if that ;). 

The Clandestine Radio Operators book, discussed on this forum I found an interesting and enjoyable read, feeding some interesting 'what if' types of thoughts.  It is not, today, of course, ww2 era, and technology marches on, communications 'efficiencies' via microprocessors, or the perceptions of such, have moved far beyond the simple circuitry of a wireless device, such as a Norcal 40, HW8 or a Rockmite.  (And so has the required power requirements!).

I have seen the referenced articles, posted on the survival blog, and john galt fla. in the past, I've seen some inaccuracies in thinking on articles on Survival blog, but I'm sure it's well meaning.  Interesting piece on Cnet, regarding Drones, and the focus on higher than HF freqs. 

If you like his content or viewpoints, JohnGaltFLa published an audio file last October on the value of shortwave and MorseCode and JUST DO IT!  http://johngaltfla.com/wordpress/2012/10/01/guerrilla-radio-listening-and-broadcasting/

He is a strong advocate for having shortwave capabilities, at least.

Recent history seems to still suggest there might be some creative usage for simple ham radios.  During the first Gulf war, for instance, ham radios played some part during the hositlities for the Kuwait resistance, dispite modern dependence on satellite radio communications.
http://www.meforum.org/238/the-kuwaiti-resistance

scroll down for ham radios, and then 9K2DZ about 2/3 into the article, goes into how satellite radio was augmented by ham radio. 

A documentary also exists on 9K2DZ, and mentions the confiscation of ham gear.

Last voice from Kuwait documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjHAEsrkynw

Good for thought if nothing else.  There is not here, and history never repeats in the same way but the memes seem to repeat with annoying regularity.

Thinking on registration and confiscation, at least for myself this well worn anecdote wears true: "if yer not using the gear now, you won't be able to use it when/if you need it".  Don't know how to use it without being registered with a callsign.  Then becoming known as using it. 

Perhaps, as was suggested in an earlier post, a few 'cookies' laying around for "donations" while the good stuff is able to be stashed when needed is not a bad idea, just in case. 

..yeah, and 5 bucks gets ya a cup of coffee ;)

Underhill

K7QO developed a course, based on farnsworth weighting, to walk you thru the learning process, including files on all numbers, letters, some punctuation, qso's, random character files and story text files.  The CD is a collection of MP3 files, so way more densly packed than a standard audio CD

It is now offered thru the F.I.S.T.S morse preservation club.

an earlier version of the course, a Ver1 (I think) iso is available for a download. 
http://www.kkn.net/~k7qo/
Basically same material, just around 131 sessions instead of the 514 sessions available on the Ver 3 CD. 

Ver 3 CD is available from the Fists site:
http://www.fists.org/store.html#codecd

I try to spend 15-30 minutes a day with various files on my cd, over lunchtime, or some other quiet period I can find.   With the recent family crisis, unfortunately, that has slipped a bit, but I'm trying to stick to it best as I can.

My HT also has a code practice mode, sends random settable numbers/letters/punctuation or mixed in standard sized 5 character 'words', which I use at random moments.

I can send just fine, and copy, while not so good, but passable, up until I try to get on the air. Then it starts out ok, then seems to fade away with the first outside distraction :( 

Stickin with it, someday I intend to regain my morse.  Dang, I started as a novice many years back, got my old HW8 rig waiting for me.  It's harder than I remember, but on the other hand, mil school was immersion for more hours daily than I've been spending, they didn't have to deal with commuting, work, and family stuff.  A slight difference in focus, I suppose.

Allan

Quote from: KC9TNH on February 09, 2013, 01:17:57 PM

Quote from: gil on February 09, 2013, 01:37:21 AMSometimes I hear faint CW on the radio. I turn the knob to zero-beat it, and the tone doesn't change.. Because it isn't there!  :o

Whew. Thought it was just me....
:-[

Nope not just you guys.  Maybe code from SK's past still trying to cq to us?

There is a building Here in the LA area, in Hollywood just the fwy, called the Capital Records Tower, with a beacon atop it, that blinks out HOLLYWOOD at about 5WPM or so in morse code.  Been blinking out morse since it was built in the fifty's and is still blinking morse today.

I get a chuckle every time I happen to go by it, not often but happens.

Underhill

For glass mounts, I've considered them myself.  I currently use a magmount dualband Larson which is a 1/2 wave centerloaded on 2M, 5/8 colinear for 440.  A Larson NMO 2/70B, the one with the spring coil in the middle.  Does pretty good.  Have one tucked in each vehicle.

I use a magmount, which is admittedly a compromise mount, considering the capacitive coupling that provides grounding.  Should drill the hole and be done with it, but it's been hard to get to that point on mine, and wife doesn't want a hole on hers, and the magmount does work.  I feed it thru a side door, tucked between the door weatherstrip and body, entering the vehicle fairly low, haven't had any problems with water entry, or pinched coax this way.

Larsen has the same antenna with a glass mount.

Base spec of the antenna:  Gain: 1.6/3.5 dBd

I have seen reports of good results with the thru glass one, I have heard others complain of the thumping and banging when they hit trees.   Dunno.
The larsen thru glass p/n: KG 2/70CXPL
Gain: 0/2dBd

The spec attributed about a 1.5dbd or so drop over the base antenna.  I suspect I get about the same attenuation with the magmount.

I went and did some research, here is an interesting link, that implies no, seems he doesn't like passivated glass as a thru mount.
http://www.k0bg.com/antmount.html#glass

Cost of the thru mount is almost twice what the magmount was.  Probably the main stumble point for me for trying it.

Also, with the magmount, I can use my 2M 5/8 wave antenna, also NMO base.  It loads up on 6Meters also :). 

Or remove the antenna altogether, if I want to escape being noticed.  Or use an antenna on wife's jeep ;)

Not exactly what you asked for, I know, but were points for my consideration, thought I'd share.

Underhill

My condolences to you for your loss

Allan

I would like to wish all a very merry christmas. 

Thanks for the inspirational posts, my renewed cw study is starting to show some satisfactory progress. 

Underhill

Sent a brief email, sent to your winlink address, from my winlink address.  Lets see how this plays out.

73
Allan

Like going through the looking glass, darkly.  Everything is the same, but is no longer the place I once knew. 

I liked that phrase the almost 'humming' numbness that has set in.  Suddenly, the monsters under the bed just might really be real, are those preps stashed away really adequate,  care might really be necessary for what is said or typed.    It just might all be real.

Sort of feels like "the deep breath before the plunge", a phrase from the movie/novel LOTR, return of the king, which was loosly modeled on another time of building crisis, leading to ww2. (parallels?)

I'm not sure if it would have made a lot of difference which side had won, but the speed of the victory was certainly a shock/surprise.  Maybe that's all, the shock of just how it went just hasn't worn off yet.

I had missed my opportunity to sell this place just before things came apart a few years back, and have been in 'holding my breath' mode hoping I can find a break and let it go since, starting to run a bit short of air. so I'm becoming more careful now, re-evaluating my position, and continuing to plod thru the morse alphabet has stepped up as a priority for me.  Have to focus on little bits right now, keep moving forward despite it all, panic is not productive.

Allan

Quote from: gil on November 03, 2012, 07:20:42 PM
It is rumored that Yaesu has a successor in the pipeline... Anyone heard anything about it?

Gil.

I heard that as well on the 817 yahoo group a short while ago, that the design effort had just started, so might be a year or 2 before released. 

WIth the KX3 out now, and the 817 being out since the  early 2000's, without any major changes, probably getting a run for the money.  Interesting to see what develops, but for now, I own this one, don't have to pay more to play.

My 817 kit fits in a maxpedition fatboy, with exception for the antenna and a 12V gel cell.

There is also a nice booklet available http://www.w4rt.com/FT-817-Accessories/Pack-It-Book.htm
if you have 15 bucks to spare (do a google search to see if you can find cheaper),  the yahoo group has a really extensive faq collected in one place on the radio, for free.  Also the previous references to the ka7oei 817 site is an invaluable source as well.

73
Allan

Nice, I have one myself.  Haven't made the mars/wideband mod (yet). 

One item I've found useful is a small tuner, I picked up an Elecraft T1, couple patches of velcro on the radio keep it in place when in use.  Smaller than the  Z11 in your photo, but the z11 is pretty good itself, and capable of higher power than the T1.  mine is QRP capable only.

Allan

So very sorry to hear of this, Tess.  Hang strong, he'll need you. 
You and your husband are in our thoughts and prayers

Allan

While browsing around looking at some old qrp rigs (Norcal sierria, now offered by Wilderness Radio) I came across a link to the old Nor Cal QRPP Journal, now long out of print.

Some great QRP projects, antennas and discussions are contained within these pages.

Thought it might be of interest to the group here.

http://norcalqrp.org/qrpp.htm

Be  sure to read their statement of conditions, this is a treasure, enjoy!

Underhill

Sunflower

A bit of a description can be found here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibroplex

basically a mechanical keyer to automatically generates dit's when the lever is pressed in one direction, dah's when pressed from the other.  No need for electronics to generate the code. 

MFJ, or other, paddles combined with an electronic keyer simulate this with circuitry.

Underhill

Hi, Sunflower

Actually, um,  underhill... I am a bit of a Tolkien fan, and in the lord of the rings, book 1 after leaving the Shire with the Ring, the protagonist, a hobbit named Frodo Baggins, took on the 'traveling name' of Mr. Underhill, as directed by Gandalf the wizard, in an attempt to avoid the Black Riders of Mordor, who were pursuing him in an attempt to take the ring of power from him.   Of course the ruse didn't work very long.

It has a number of allusions that appealed to me.  If I'm using an online alias, might as well have a little fun with it, lol.

Wow, that sounds nerdy! :)

Underhill