Good points, thank you..

Gil.

Hello,

Time to show off your installation  8)



I know, i need a new desk! But it has followed me through many moves and I am weirdly attached to it.  Visible on the right is my Elecraft K2 on top of my Icom IC-271A all mode 2m rig. I have never transmitted on the Icom, but I listen to local traffic. On the desk, right side, is my Ham-Key paddle. The Mac mini is running Fldigi.  On top of the K2 is an MFJ-921 VHF tuner. The weird tube thing visible between the radios and the lamp is a Slim Jim 2m antenna I made out of soldered copper tubing. Fountain pen aficionados will appreciate the Mont Blanc pen. The K2 power supply is a small Astron. You can all see that I do have an FCC license, taped to the blinds! Below the license, a list of local repeaters..

My antenna is a PAR end-fed dipole 40/20/10, which goes from ground level up to a tree branch 40ft. up. The K2 ATU tunes it on 80 and 30m, but I get RF back in my room...

Gil.

The problem with these satellites is that you just have enough time to exchange call signs, and what's the use of that...?

Gil.

Hello,

Click on my name, then "send PM".

Gil.

Hello,

I thought this would be a good topic for beginners. I am not so sure myself about nets... Tonight i have the VHF rig on, and heard a regional net. Stations were signing-in, basically giving their call signs one by one and a "good evening." And that's it! The net closed, end of story. What is it good for, and how is the information gathered used? There has to be something else than just a roll call? How does this relate to emergency management? Why would anyone sign-in other than testing their radio?

I understand it is part of the NTS (National Traffic System), but they don't practice passing traffic.. Actually, I've never heard it happen. They even ask if there are any emergencies. Now, I would understand that on a maritime net on HF, but local VHF? They will NEVER have an emergency, so why ask? People grab the phone and call 911, not the Ham radio..

I haven't yet had a phone QSO, ever. I'm not sure I want or need to. So, it there any advantage of checking in a local VHF net?

Gil.

Hi Ray,

At least once you're done, you'll know EXACTLY how it works!

Gil.

First prototype, first draft, VHF antenna.



Can you see the SO-239?

Gil.

Very foolish getting rid of those radio stations...

Gil.

Hello Frosty,

You didn't miss anything better than deer hunting  ;)
As to using Tor, the RadioPreppers server isn't located in Iceland for nothing...
(Just a little extra privacy...)

Gil.

The Fukuoka satellite will be particularly easy to aim your antenna at, due to a faint glow visible with the naked eye...

I wish that was funny, but actually, it's pretty grim humor...

Gil.

Hello,

Thanks guys for the comments. k1oik has informed me that he wished to be removed from the board so i deleted his account. I do not like censoring either. I would not censor someone who's opinion disagrees with mine. In this case, I could see a storm brewing... This is not the place for personal issues.

I don't know when the newbie thing is supposed to change.. There might be a setting somewhere to change it depending on the number of posts, but I haven't stumbled onto it yet.. Soon enough it will change..

The B&LW board membership is not cheap  ;)

Gil.

Attach the guy wires to the mast first, make sure they're long enough, let them dangle as you push the mast up, and then secure them to the ground after the mast is up...

Gil.

Hello Tim,

I would not have tried to walk that up... Rather assemble the elements one by one while pushing the mast straight up, one piece at a time..

Gil.

Oops, we had some issues here between two members of the board... I removed the posts and suggest that you guys simply ignore each other.. I don't want personal issues to be debated here, period. Incident closed.

Gil.