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Messages - gil

#2791
Good morning gang,

I agree on that too, 30ft is perfect in that case...

Gil.
#2792
Hello Tess,

30m is a great band for CW. Contests are not allowed there, and it's only for digital modes and CW...

Gil.
#2793
Thanks, I think I'll give it a try!
Gil.
#2794
General Discussion / Re: Cabin Shopping list
October 13, 2012, 04:12:52 PM
Very interesting in it's simplicity, thanks.

Gil.
#2795
Licensing / Re: Say hello to a New General!!
October 13, 2012, 12:35:31 PM
Excellent Tim! We'll be able to chat frequently then via VHF/repeaters and of course HF via NVIS  :) Ground waves should actually work in our case... Hopefully you'll have your call sign by Friday... If the VEs send out the paperwork today...

A lot of people stop at Technician, but General opens up a lot of spectrum! No reason not to go as far as you can..

Congratulations!

Gil.
#2796
Tactical Corner / Re: Amateur Radio and Firearms
October 13, 2012, 12:31:10 PM
Sounds great Tess  :) You know, you both might want to look into Yoga. I know, that stuff might look a bit weird at first, maybe because lots of "weird" people practice it, but it really works wonders for the body.

Gil.
#2797
Morse Code / Re: Practice Oscillator
October 13, 2012, 12:00:53 PM
QuoteMaybe come January I can pay you for it.

You already have.

The paddles are not those. They are MFJ paddles, which unfortunately are not good, but they will show you how paddles work. The code oscillator though is great.
You can download the manual here under "Documents." http://k1el.tripod.com/K12.html
It can be used with other paddles of course.

Gil.
#2798
General Discussion / Re: Do YOU Have A Plan?
October 13, 2012, 01:19:39 AM
Thanks Tim, yes, I think I would make it there ;) I don't think I would be a good Morse teacher though :-\ Hand-to-hand combat, certainly, but I know near to nothing about tactics other than what I've learned from books and a few tips from my ex-Spetsnaz instructor.. I wish I had military experience, always can come handy.. Too old for that now. I have a month worth of food, not the appetizing type, and will add more to that very soon. I need a new tent, otherwise I'm set with camping gear. My bug-out bag is 75% done.

I would want to move to the West before any triggering event. After would probably be too late. I think there are many "like-minded" individuals there. I bought a topographic map of Idaho last summer, when the idea germinated in my head. It was August, so of course that helped. Luckily for me (or because I made the right career choice), I can work from anywhere as long as I have Internet. Tough I am getting tired of computers. I like building stuff, designing actually.. Idaho is only an idea so far, but who knows...

I want to learn more about country living. I wished I had hovered around my Grandmother when I was a kid, I would have learned a lot, instead of just eating the stuff! I also want to learn more about Horses... I know just enough about hunting.

Hopefully the National deficit will just evaporate, right?  ::)

Gil.
#2799
General Discussion / Re: Do YOU Have A Plan?
October 12, 2012, 08:55:59 PM
I don't have a plan...

I wish I owned land somewhere isolated, but no... I have no family within reach. So, basically, it's me and that's it.
Everything I read about prepping emphasizes group strength. Something I definitely need to work on.
I have friends, but most of them are certain everything will always be just fine. I am not so sure.
As far as being prepared, I'd say I am half-way there. Emphasis for me, given my predicament, is mobility.
Finding prep per-friends is not easy, because I don't want to draw attention to myself. My few friends who would be good candidates for a prepping group don't have the means to buy any supplies. The wealthy ones don't care, they have their heads in the sand. Isn't that peculiar?

My only possible plan is to move to the American West or somewhere in Asia or South America.. In any case, not inside any large or medium city.
The older I get though, the more important the proximity of a good hospital becomes, just in case...

Ya'll have a great week-end,

Gil.
#2800
Morse Code / Re: Practice Oscillator
October 11, 2012, 11:55:37 PM
Tess, PM me your address, I will send you one I have here which I no longer use..

Gil.
#2801
General Discussion / Re: Contesters.
October 11, 2012, 11:47:50 AM
Hello Pete,

QuoteBecoming an Extra meant a relatively clean 25Khz at the bottom of the bands for CW. Nowadays, most of the CW ops in the Extra portion are a bit more considerate.

Hum, that has not been my experience so far...

Gil.
#2802
Hello Dean,

Look at these then (your license allows you 10m voice ops from 28.3 to 28.5):

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-9410X
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=HTX-10+transceiver&_sacat=0&_from=R40

You can also operate CW on many HF bands with a Tech. license.

Gil.
#2803
Quotethose of us who can't afford an HF rig

It is common belief that HF radios are more expensive than VHF. Many are, because of the features they offer, different modes and more power. It is however not always true. There are HF radios available from $30 in kit form to $300, SSB factory-built single-banders. Ebay is also full of HF radios for around $300 that still work perfectly fine.

I could set-up a digital mode station for $670, including Radio, interface and computer, all brand spanking new... (MFJ-94xx, Signalink USB & cheap laptop). You don't even need the Signalink box. The Fldigi manual has a schematic for a TX interface that costs only a few bucks.

HF on a budget is possible, you won't have as much choice, but it will work as well.

Gil.
#2804
General Discussion / Re: Contesters.
October 11, 2012, 10:52:20 AM
Thanks Bob, I'm going to print that out and keep it handy!

Contesters are like these people who, when behind a wheel, become monsters. They'll trample everyone on the air and after the contest, they retreat back into their little self. For me, they fall into a double category, weird/rude. Some day they'll be on their deathbed, and I wish I'd be there to hand them their latest contest certificate and ask "was it worth 2/7th of your life?" I just hate rude behavior of any kind. It often stems out of deeply rooted self-esteem problems.

They also run a lot of RF power. My puny little 15W can't compete.

Every time I hear a contester monopolizing a QRP calling frequency, I think I am going to email him "The Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide." I suggest everyone do the same. Maybe if these guys get enough emails they'll move to their own calling frequency, wherever that may be.

Gil.
#2805
General Discussion / Re: Contesters.
October 10, 2012, 11:32:15 PM
I'm on 7030, and some ass**le is calling non-stop without pausing for more than 1 second. Just sent him an email too. I don't understand how someone can be so rude. 7030 is a QRP calling frequency, not a contest one. It's the same story almost every week-end and now Wednesday!? Geez!

Gil.