QSO

Message #2099553623

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:38:51 -0000

Actually i made a bit of an assumption up there, that he bought a *new* one.. which is more fancy than mine. ( mine also does not have the mesh stuff.. ) But the concept still applies, its just an ESP32 devkit with extra stuff, which is useful depending on your use-case.

Message #2099553541

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:13:03 -0000

I have one, tho the model before that so i don't have GPS and i had to buy a case 3rd party.

If you don't use it for the long range stuff, then its just an ESP32 in a fancy case with a keyboard and touch screen, and battery. If you do stuff with ESP32's and want it portable instead of 'embedded', its a nice 'kit'.

Sun Jan 18 2026 17:54:18 UTC from IGnatius T Foobar

Ok, I went through the web site for the T-Deck and I still don't understand what it is. What's the application for this thing?

(I understand the meshtastic version because I understand meshtastic, but what do you do with the regular version?)

Message #2099553039

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:54:18 -0000

Ok, I went through the web site for the T-Deck and I still don't understand what it is. What's the application for this thing?

(I understand the meshtastic version because I understand meshtastic, but what do you do with the regular version?)

Message #2099550331

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 23:30:54 -0000

Ok i'm a moron, i ordered the damned T-Deck. I don't know why. i don't need it. Idiot.

AND i didn't notice it was was shipping from China ( which i have been avoiding due to costs ). I have never ordered anything from Amazon that shipped from there directly.. Am i going to get a bill for tariff, or was it bundled into the cost?

Message #2099549797

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:52 -0000

Had my portable radios out to charge batteries ( and my emergency e-ink device, with survival books ) and was thinking, and once again i almost pushed the buy button on a LILYGO T-Deck, as its so tempting. I do have 2 battery powered lorawan/mesh devices, but they require a phone to actually use them. ( they talk via BT to it ). T-Decks are standalone.

The collapse is coming dont want to be caught with ones pants down for such simple readiness.. But donno if that really would be useful or not, other than in theory. Sure regular radio is valuable, both receive and transmit, for news and to communicate with family members and such, but this? i donno.

And ya, the box they are in, some water resistant solar panels, rated at about 5 watt each. ( anything bigger, wont fit in the box ). Cant say i don't plan ahead ;) Oh, and made in the USA.. so they are what they claim to be.

And related: i really need to find some washers for the antenna on my DX-375 antenna works but it flops around and has to be held upright, but i just cant find anything that works, its soooooo small

The sun is angry

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 23:32:55 -0000

I noticed that my WWVB receiver was getting clean time code in the middle of the day. So I asked a coworker in Nebraska whether he's having a good day DXing , unfortunately he said he always seems to be out doing stuff when these opportunities come up. He did say that we're not done with the current solar event though. Despite the amazingly clear airwaves today, the sun bursts that made the Aurora appear a few days ago are coming back for the next couple of days. He was able to see the last one several nights in Nebraska. Here is[2n New York State we had no such luck.

Message #2099529648

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:47:14 -0000

I have heard of a case for remote security cameras. Didn't look into details.

Sat Aug 02 2025 17:18:08 UTC from IGnatius T Foobar

There's no such thing as IP over Meshtastic, right? Just readable text messages?

Message #2099529516

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 17:18:08 -0000

There's no such thing as IP over Meshtastic, right? Just readable text messages?

Message #2099526940

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:14:45 -0000

Nice timing.

Thu Jul 10 2025 22:13:37 UTC from Nurb432

So seeedstudio has a nifty outdoor lorawan built into a small solar panel, pre-loaded for meshtastic and ready to mount on a pole. Need to get a grant or something, buy 1000s of them and distribute them everywhere.

Message #2099526939

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:13:37 -0000

So seeedstudio has a nifty outdoor lorawan built into a small solar panel, pre-loaded for meshtastic and ready to mount on a pole. Need to get a grant or something, buy 1000s of them and distribute them everywhere.

Retro is the new cool

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:03:43 -0000

>I think that's why all things "retro" are getting so popular >now, even among people too young to have the nostalgia. >Today's tech is too polished, too perfect, too fenced off from >its roots to enjoy the coolness factor of it all. "AI" takes >it even one step further. People want to tinker. When they >can't, they go for the old stuff. > > > I can speak about all the retro hobbyist, but I can tell you my case. Retro in general is cool because it is accessible. It is hard to change the headlights of some modern cars when they get broken; on an old car this is less of an issue. It is cheap to run old games on cheap off-the-shelf hardware; getting into modern gaming is expensive. Specifically regarding software, lots of old machines are well documented and have modern development frameworks. You can develop games for the ZX Spectrum using engines created today. I guess it is not very authentic to code a game on a Linux machine and then record it to the tape you feed your Spectrum, but the point is you can do it with less pain than you used to get. Also regarding games, many people uses retro games as an escape from the predatory practices of the current industry. Many goames today are not designed to be fun, but to bleed you dry of all your worth. I don't feel like buying an xTreme GPU in order to buy xTreme games that force you to pay MTX through the nose in order to keep up, not to mention that modern business practices imply you don't own games you buy. Meanwhile I can play MSDOS and earlier games and have a blast with them for peanuts.

Message #2099517418

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 01:14:28 -0000

I bought a little battery powered multi band receiver, and tiny USB solar panel thing to charge it with, after the last time we were without power for a while and cut-off from the rest of the world. ( Nature was pissed at us i guess, hurricanes are not to be toyed with )

But as of yet not really done anything with it, other than program it to fetch local weather, which it struggles to do out here.

Message #2099517391

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 21:33:05 -0000

A lot of old hobbies got taken down by new ones. In fact, I remember a conversation here (not in this room, but here on Uncensored) probably some 20 years ago where we were talking about how many tech hobbies and other hobbies declined fast once everyone had computers to play with. Things like radio, photography, theater tech, all of the classics. Another generation of that happened once the whole world got onto the Internet (ironically, making some of the classic computer hobbies decline as well).

I think that's why all things "retro" are getting so popular now, even among people too young to have the nostalgia. Today's tech is too polished, too perfect, too fenced off from its roots to enjoy the coolness factor of it all. "AI" takes it even one step further. People want to tinker. When they can't, they go for the old stuff.

Message #2099514083

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:34:16 -0000

Before i got bored and put the new SDR in the closet, about all i could get around here was a religious blip. and even that, wasn't reliable. I think for practical purposes shortwave is dead too. Internet ate it as well.

Of course when AGI takes net down hard here in a couple of years, people will wish they had radio.

Thu Mar 27 2025 13:39:13 UTC from IGnatius T Foobar

If you're looking for something unique you'd probably have more luck with shortwave radio.

Message #2099514072

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:39:13 -0000

>to update seemingly every week to keep up. ( i forget the details on >how he did it, i think it was analog back then? ) To me, not worth the >effort.. but it was his hobby, so i guess effort is relative. It was not too different from having a ham radio hobby. Before the 1980s everything was analog and unscrambled, because the number of consumers who had dishes was vanishingly small the pay-tv people basically ran on the honor system. Then it became popular in the 1980s so the networks all started using VideoCipher II to lock out non-paying consumers. Free-to-air is fun if you want to play around with the equipment. The channels you can receive, however, are all likely to have ways to tune in on the Internet. If you're looking for something unique you'd probably have more luck with

Message #2099513754

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:04:22 -0000

ooo chirp does exist for linux now. Have to see if i can make that work. its python, so it should...

Fri Jan 31 2025 16:26:46 UTC from Nurb432

Darn.

Was going to add some presets to my main BF handheld ( not the 'world is collapsing gotta bug out prepper ones ). Went to install the BT app on my phone ( i got a BT programmer few years ago so i wasn't stuck with windows and a cable .. and so it could be done on the trail in special situations, but replaced the phone since then ). Seems its no longer supported so nothing i have now will let it install. But its still in the store.. ( and no, didn't see it on one of the 3rd party app stores so i could just grab the APK )

Guess i either have to use my windows VM or do it on the keypad, which is painful on these things..

Message #2099512784

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 20:38:27 -0000

I might have mentioned it before, if so, just ignore this..

Few years ago i dabbled in that as i ended up with a free dish and triple LNA when i cancelled my service. They refused to come get it, i refused to climb on my roof just to get it for them. Forced them to refund the deposit under threat of suit of asking to 'put me in peril on the roof', when they installed it. And yes i can get on my roof just fine, it was just their attitude that pissed me off.."we are not coming, you are going to do it or we charge you"

I did turn in their box. Decided i wanted to play, so picked up a pirate receiver, so that i could enter codes for encrypted transmissions. But found out things:

If you cant rotate from your living room, don't bother.
if you have trees, you are stuck with one or two birds
free-to-air, was pretty dismal for content. At least from what i was able to get. YMMV
pirate - unless you just cant do it legally for some reason, not worth the cat-mouse game with the codes. ( its 2025, might as well just torrent it.. )
need to be really into TV.. ( im not )

Now its got one of those powered rotatable broadcast antenna things sticking in the pole. "just in case we lose power.. can still see weather". Came in handy when the tornado came thru and leveled 1/4 of our town, and took out all the power and cell towers for a couple of weeks. Sure i had radio, but visual was a nice option too.

When i was a kid in the late 70s, i had an uncle who was into this sort of thing. Lived in the country ( go figure.. ) and had a couple of 10' dishes out back, on motors.. and a pirate receiver that he had to update seemingly every week to keep up. ( i forget the details on how he did it, i think it was analog back then? ) To me, not worth the effort.. but it was his hobby, so i guess effort is relative.

Sun Mar 09 2025 23:28:09 UTC from IGnatius T Foobar

I know you said you were kidding, but there are actually all sorts of legit uses for parabolic dish antennas

Message #2099511860

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:28:09 -0000

>I got a visit from the feds, asking me about the radio and why i >have an unlicensed dish antenna sitting near the garage ( its I know you said you were kidding, but there are actually all sorts of legit uses for parabolic dish antennas beyond trying to pick up signals not intended for you. Aside from free-to-air satellite transmissions, there are also people who have switched from the old C and Ku band service to the modern Direct Broadcast Satellite (which is also Ku band) and have mounted their LNB on their old "big" dish instead of using the 18" dish that comes with it. This provides ridiculously strong signal even in the worst of conditions. After all, the bigger the dish, the stronger the signal; size *does* matter here. But the last time I looked at it was in 2009 when you could get the entire DirecTV lineup from a single satellite. Now I think you need those oval shape dishes that can pick up multiple birds at the same time. I stopped being interested when I took my dish down and got fiber. Someday when I'm old and bored I might start exploring the airwaves again.

Message #2099506589

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:26:46 -0000

Darn.

Was going to add some presets to my main BF handheld ( not the 'world is collapsing gotta bug out prepper ones ). Went to install the BT app on my phone ( i got a BT programmer few years ago so i wasn't stuck with windows and a cable .. and so it could be done on the trail in special situations, but replaced the phone since then ). Seems its no longer supported so nothing i have now will let it install. But its still in the store.. ( and no, didn't see it on one of the 3rd party app stores so i could just grab the APK )

Guess i either have to use my windows VM or do it on the keypad, which is painful on these things..

Message #2099506114

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:17:43 -0000

nah, my fault for not proof reading before i submitted.

Sad part is it WAS believable.

Mon Jan 27 2025 01:37:13 UTC from zelgomer

Sorry I misunddrstood. You actually had me thinking, "oshit! we're further gone than i thought!"

Message #2099506099

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:37:13 -0000

> 2025-01-25 12:12 from Nurb432 >I was joking. I THOUGHT i had a "lol" a few lines below the rest to >give it away as such. But its not there. ( user error somehow ) > > > >Was meant more as a 'predictive sarcasm' sort of thing. Sorry I misunddrstood. You actually had me thinking, "oshit! we're further gone than i thought!"

Message #2099505992

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 12:12:17 -0000

I was joking. I THOUGHT i had a "lol" a few lines below the rest to give it away as such. But its not there. ( user error somehow )

Was meant more as a 'predictive sarcasm' sort of thing.

Sat Jan 25 2025 03:05:01 UTC from zelgomer

"Unlicensed dish antenna" ??? wtf? you need a license just to own an antenna? Sounds like some BS to me.

Message #2099505971

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 03:05:01 -0000

> 2025-01-23 19:26 from Nurb432 >Well damn. > > > >I got a visit from the feds, asking me about the radio and why i have >an unlicensed dish antenna sitting near the garage ( its not >installed, just laying there ). They forced me to turn them both >in. I didn't mention my ham band transceivers in the closet. > "Unlicensed dish antenna" ??? wtf? you need a license just to own an antenna? Sounds like some BS to me.

Message #2099505775

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 19:26:46 -0000

Well damn.

I got a visit from the feds, asking me about the radio and why i have an unlicensed dish antenna sitting near the garage ( its not installed, just laying there ). They forced me to turn them both in. I didn't mention my ham band transceivers in the closet.

Re: USB SDRs

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 19:14:24 -0000

Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 + some antennas.

Running older software so far. Gqrx. Let it run all last night on a local commercial FM broadcast station to burn it in. There is some scanner script for Gqrx i may try this week. Also want to look into more modern software, but its working...

Mon Jan 20 2025 18:40:11 UTC from fandarel Subject: USB SDRs

which one did you get? I have been curious about a bunch of them but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

ACARS

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:43:33 -0000

Further to my last message, though not really a ham thing, anybody ever tried monitoring and decoding ACARS? i'm on the secondary approach path for 28R at KPIT so lots of aircraft overhead. A little SDR might be an easy way to do that. Have to look and see what decoders are available for linux.

USB SDRs

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:40:11 -0000

>USB SDR showed today. ( receiver only, not going to spend the >$ for a transceiver, i have my handheld HF radios for that ) which one did you get? I have been curious about a bunch of them but haven't pulled the trigger yet. On many of the cheaper ones, sensitivity and selectivity below 30MHz are sub-par, but even with that limitation I'd have a use for one anyway. Mainly looking for something to monitor 2M repeaters and public safety that can be driven by a linux laptop (like my outdated MBP that runs MX or Pop!OS.)

Message #2099505176

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 20:35:40 -0000

USB SDR showed today. ( receiver only, not going to spend the $ for a transceiver, i have my handheld HF radios for that )

New toy to play with and get bored in 10 minutes.

Supposedly the range is 100kHz-1.75GHz

Re: November 12

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 01:23:27 -0000

> I noticed that my WWVB clock was picking up time code at 60 KHz in the >middle of the day. The transmitter is in Colorado and I live in New >York State. So I posted that message on November 12, and there really was good propagation on that day. But I've also recently learned that WWVB was restored to its full transmitting power on October 10, having suffered damage earlier this year and transmtting at reduced power. That explains why I'm seeing that beautiful red indicator on my clock far more often, the one that indicates that the receiver is locked and time code is being acquired.

Re: November 12

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:27:17 -0000

It was slow at work today, so was playing with my that radio i just 'found'. Seems i cant run it off the power pack, too much interference. I don't remember that being a problem in the past. Even local FM broadcast stations go fuzz with it plugged in, and basically wont work unless i hold the cable to absorb the interference. But on battery is fine, so its not the radio.

And the antenna, its loose. really loose. Need to find ( or make ) a couple of microscopic washers for it. As old as it is im afraid of just taking a pair of pliers and squeezing the connector there at the screw a little.

November 12

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:20:44 -0000

The airwaves are really clean today. Check out propagation maps ... very good day for DXing. I noticed that my WWVB clock was picking up time code at 60 KHz in the middle of the day. The transmitter is in Colorado and I live in New York State. Normally I can only pick up the signal late at night.

Message #2099496410

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 13:16:56 -0000

Was digging around in the closet looking for a special power cable for a mini-vac that apparently vanished into that other dimension, along with socks ( special here anyway. a 2 prong *polarized* plug... all the others i have, are not and not feeling like trying to cut a notch in one so it fits ) ran across my old SW receiver.

Radio shack ( remember them? Back in the good days.. ) DX-375. Many an hour on that thing when i was younger.

Message #2099376065

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:54:52 -0000

Any chance you can run off a couple of AA batteries instead? I imagine the draw is relatively small.

It's an LED wall clock that runs 24/7 and is intended to be maintenance-free, so batteries are kind of out of the question.

I'm assuming the power supply is garbage, since it's CheapChinese. I want something cleaner, but I don't know what that would be.

Message #2099375898

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 23:52:16 -0000

Or one of those lipo battery packs..

Wed Feb 21 2024 13:38:44 EST from fandarel

Any chance you can run off a couple of AA batteries instead? I imagine the draw is relatively small.

Message #2099375877

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:38:44 -0000

> What's the deal with RFI on these stupid little power supplies? What >kind of supply are commercially built clocks using that they don't have >this kind of interference problem? Shielding is nonexistent, cheapest of cheap parts sourced from China. Absolute RF nightmare. I see it over and over. Any chance you can run off a couple of AA batteries instead? I imagine the draw is relatively small.

Message #2099375837

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:02:48 -0000

Recently I discovererd that my homemade WWVB clock works a lot better than I thought it did. It turns out, the location and orientation of the stupid little 5 volt USB charger that powers it makes a difference. When I set it with the plug straight up in the air, the receiver locks in the signal HOURS earlier than it would otherwise. Literally a night and day difference. What's the deal with RFI on these stupid little power supplies? What kind of supply are commercially built clocks using that they don't have this kind of interference problem?

Message #2099369695

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:50:43 -0000

ooo ran across my little BT programmer for my baofengs.. forgot i had that. Lets you program the radios via phone if you are out on the road. ( and dont feel like screwing with it by hand )

Supposed to also have a web interface, but never did try it. I should.

Message #2099369580

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:29:42 -0000

err 6 watt not 1..

<- idiot..

Message #2099369579

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:02:07 -0000

time to charge the batteries! ( emergency ham portables, and emergency e-ink reader.. )

Picked up 3 1watt solar panels recently to shove in the box with them. That is as larges as will fit. ( water proof ammo box ) so is a good excuse to charge them :)

Message #2099322356

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:01:33 -0000

Any friends on top the hill? If so, stick a tower in their yard and a repeater.

Tue Jan 10 2023 09:39:34 AM EST from IGnatius T Foobar

We live in a valley so the prospect of ever receiving anything good at home is going to be slim for us. I might try SDR at some point and see what comes in just because it's cheap to get started. But the Uniden is specifically to chase trains around and find out where they are and where they're going.
We have some commuter lines that get an occasional freighter but we have no idea when they're running because they don't post the schedules.

Airport frequencies are interesting too but you can get most of them on liveatc.net without a scanner.

Message #2099322354

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:39:34 -0000

We live in a valley so the prospect of ever receiving anything good at home is going to be slim for us. I might try SDR at some point and see what comes in just because it's cheap to get started. But the Uniden is specifically to chase trains around and find out where they are and where they're going. We have some commuter lines that get an occasional freighter but we have no idea when they're running because they don't post the schedules. Airport frequencies are interesting too but you can get most of them on liveatc.net without a scanner.

Message #2099321307

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:26:47 -0000

>when we go railfanning we can hear the chatter on the railroad >frequencies. I have *no* idea where to get started, though. Around here, most of the railroad activity is on 158-161MHz. My local shortline Union RR is licensee KA5668, on 160.260/500/620/350/395 as channels 1-5. Standard or narrowband FM. There is less chatter than you would expect. I'd just head down to your local observation spot and scan around that range, you'll probably hear them. I have an ICOM R-20 that's on a lot when I'm at home. I scan the local 30-40 repeaters, 6m/2m/70cm, they are all deader than dead. Most of the action here is police, fire, EMS. Pittsburgh is still on UHF simplex, county and most of the municipalities are on a county-owned UHF repeater system. All in the clear still. My goal for the spring is to get an antenna up so I can hear PIT airport. With the whip on the radio, I can hear arriving and departing flights but can't hear the tower, despite being up pretty high. I've got a nice 5/8 wave 2m magmount that should get er done I think.

Message #2099321301

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:06:37 -0000

Railfanning?

Fri Dec 30 2022 12:03:01 PM EST from IGnatius T Foobar

I got my son a Uniden scanner for Christmas, with the intention that when we go railfanning we can hear the chatter on the railroad frequencies. I have *no* idea where to get started, though.

Message #2099321293

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:03:01 -0000

I got my son a Uniden scanner for Christmas, with the intention that when we go railfanning we can hear the chatter on the railroad frequencies. I have *no* idea where to get started, though.

Message #2099311995

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 19:13:38 -0000

I have said that so many times over the decades, i dont even bother lying to myself now :)

Wed Sep 28 2022 07:50:07 PM EDT from Greg Nesbitt

I now have the Tech license manual and the ancient IC-2GAT sitting side by side at my desk. If that's not motivation to get off my rear and get my Tech finally, I'm not sure what is. I was plannig to study up and take Tech & General at the same time, but at this point I just want to get on the air.

Message #2099311920

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:50:07 -0000

I now have the Tech license manual and the ancient IC-2GAT sitting side by side at my desk. If that's not motivation to get off my rear and get my Tech finally, I'm not sure what is. I was plannig to study up and take Tech & General at the same time, but at this point I just want to get on the air.

Message #2099288204

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 17:54:49 -0000

And, out the door they go next week. Selling them. ( got a UV-9S today, so dont need them )

Message #2099287636

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 20:15:17 -0000

Cool 2 new in box, pre-ban, BF UV5R's showed this weekend. And they came with extended batteries and 2 antennas.

Message #2099272866

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 17:54:46 -0000

Couple of things: ( ok 3. )

Looking into low power ( as in electrical ) communications for a robot. Plan is an ESP32 to monitor sensors, and control servos, but have the real processing power off-machine. I want to build a smaller version of 'spot', and figured sticking a Jetson on board for all the AI stuff would raise the power needs greatly. But after messing with it more, it does not have the bandwidth so its back to WIFI.
Be part of a public LoRA mesh network ( there are a couple.. but none quite reach here, yet.
Just screw around with it some, since its cheap. :)

Sun Jul 25 2021 12:07:38 PM EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

What kind of project did you have in mind?

Message #2099272863

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 16:07:38 -0000

What kind of project did you have in mind?

Message #2099266970

Sat, 29 May 2021 21:40:39 -0000

Well no 10 mile range. Not 2 mile range. Driveway...

Have some experimentation to do i think

Message #2099266541

Thu, 27 May 2021 14:43:30 -0000

LoRA boards arrived. Just in time for a 4 day weekend. ( assuming i dont destroy the jeep Saturday morning cutting parts off and spend the rest of the weekend recovering the damage )

Displays are not soldered down. Need to find that stuff out in the garage somewhere.

Message #2099266248

Tue, 25 May 2021 13:27:46 -0000

>Or tear apart an old microwave and point the magnatron downwards. Now that's starting to sound like a RODALCO2007 wasp-exterminating creation.

Message #2099266008

Sat, 22 May 2021 19:28:27 -0000

No LoRA boards yet but just got a super tiny SW receiver in the mail today. RETEKESS V115 was about 15 bucks. Most SW bands, FM and AM broadcast. Records on micro-SD. kind of neat.

not that i needed yet another radio....

Message #2099265160

Sun, 16 May 2021 13:45:11 -0000

Or tear apart an old microwave and point the magnatron downwards.

Message #2099265157

Sun, 16 May 2021 13:38:00 -0000

That is kind of scary. :D

Sat May 15 2021 23:38:32 EDT from ASCII Express

If you mount an antenna for the lower bands like 80 meters too close to the ground, depending on the type of antenna, the radiation will go into the ground. We call it cooking the worms.

Message #2099265116

Sun, 16 May 2021 03:38:32 -0000

If you mount an antenna for the lower bands like 80 meters too close to the ground, depending on the type of antenna, the radiation will go into the ground. We call it cooking the worms.

Message #2099264759

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:44:49 -0000

My last dog and my current dog both consider them sky-popcorn, and love them. It makes the current dog, a little guy, throw up, usually - though.

Which doesn't stop him.

Wed May 12 2021 17:05:39 EDT from Nurb432

They are great toys for the dogs too. Mine wont eat them just hold them in their mouth until they stop buzzing.

( and back On Room Topic. im still waiting for those 2 LoraWAN esp32 boards. may be a while.

Message #2099264672

Wed, 12 May 2021 21:05:39 -0000

They are great toys for the dogs too. Mine wont eat them just hold them in their mouth until they stop buzzing.

( and back On Room Topic. im still waiting for those 2 LoraWAN esp32 boards. may be a while.

Message #2099264664

Wed, 12 May 2021 20:24:26 -0000

I hear if you get them right as they come out of the ground, they're like land shrimp.

Wed May 12 2021 13:53:49 EDT from Nurb432

Its almost cicada time, dont they drown out the signal?

Message #2099264639

Wed, 12 May 2021 17:53:49 -0000

Its almost cicada time, dont they drown out the signal?

Message #2099264539

Wed, 12 May 2021 04:41:17 -0000

I feel like I should say something about ham radio at this point, but can't think of what. We had terrible solar conditions over the weekend, but the sunspot number has climbed a little since then. Come on solar cycle 25!

Message #2099263799

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:50:20 -0000

Most stupid choices should be left to the States. The only thing the Federal government is consistent and efficient at is making the stupidest choice.

Wed May 05 2021 16:19:27 EDT from Nurb432

I agree, it should be a state choice to be stupid or not.

Wed May 05 2021 10:01:45 AM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

I live in Arizona...

I'm assuming this act is Federal?

I'd say it establishes another reason why a strong centralized Government is a bad precedent for liberty. Government is most effective and makes the most sense, in almost all cases, when it is as *immediate* and small as possible.

We've got it backwards right now where the most remote political machines try to make decisions for people they don't know in places they don't live, who they have no personal accountability for.

It has predictable results when we do this.

Message #2099263721

Wed, 05 May 2021 20:19:27 -0000

I agree, it should be a state choice to be stupid or not.

Wed May 05 2021 10:01:45 AM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

I live in Arizona...

I'm assuming this act is Federal?

I'd say it establishes another reason why a strong centralized Government is a bad precedent for liberty. Government is most effective and makes the most sense, in almost all cases, when it is as *immediate* and small as possible.

We've got it backwards right now where the most remote political machines try to make decisions for people they don't know in places they don't live, who they have no personal accountability for.

It has predictable results when we do this.

Message #2099263692

Wed, 05 May 2021 17:39:29 -0000

So, ordered a couple of those lilygo LoRA ESP32 boards.

So i guess a new toy, that ill lose interest with in 5 minutes, is on its way

Message #2099263683

Wed, 05 May 2021 16:21:15 -0000

>The Sunshine Protection Act H.R. 69 seeks to establish a permanent >daylight savings time. I hope it passes. It throws a wrinkle into so >many things, and I prefer the later light. Hmm. From a purely scientific point of view, it would seem to make more sense to make it permanently *not* DST. And yes, the clock was a fun little project. I used a deep picture frame as a case, because I wanted a finished look that still showed off the circuit board. I even added a photocell (connected to an analog input with a voltage divider circuit) to make the display brightness automatically adjust to the ambient light in the room, so it wouldn't be ridiculously bright at night or washed out during the day. The next time I build one it will probably be GPS rather than WWVB. This will require knowledge of DST rules, so I will proably use a Pi Zero instead of an Arduino ... at which point it's trivial to add ethernet and make it an NTP server.

Message #2099263653

Wed, 05 May 2021 14:01:45 -0000

I live in Arizona...

I'm assuming this act is Federal?

I'd say it establishes another reason why a strong centralized Government is a bad precedent for liberty. Government is most effective and makes the most sense, in almost all cases, when it is as *immediate* and small as possible.

We've got it backwards right now where the most remote political machines try to make decisions for people they don't know in places they don't live, who they have no personal accountability for.

It has predictable results when we do this.

Wed May 05 2021 06:37:40 EDT from Nurb432

I prefer darkness.

But i also HATE switching around 2x year. Its stupid. Its not 1900 its 2021. We dont need to do this.

Wed May 05 2021 12:12:52 AM EDT from ASCII Express

The Sunshine Protection Act H.R. 69 seeks to establish a permanent daylight savings time. I hope it passes. It throws a wrinkle into so many things, and I prefer the later light.
It makes the evening gray line happen an hour later, bringing it back to radio.

Message #2099263638

Wed, 05 May 2021 10:37:40 -0000

I prefer darkness.

But i also HATE switching around 2x year. Its stupid. Its not 1900 its 2021. We dont need to do this.

Wed May 05 2021 12:12:52 AM EDT from ASCII Express

The Sunshine Protection Act H.R. 69 seeks to establish a permanent daylight savings time. I hope it passes. It throws a wrinkle into so many things, and I prefer the later light.
It makes the evening gray line happen an hour later, bringing it back to radio.

Message #2099263573

Wed, 05 May 2021 04:12:52 -0000

The Sunshine Protection Act H.R. 69 seeks to establish a permanent daylight savings time. I hope it passes. It throws a wrinkle into so many things, and I prefer the later light. It makes the evening gray line happen an hour later, bringing it back to radio.

Message #2099263571

Wed, 05 May 2021 04:08:31 -0000

Oh, cool clock!

Message #2099262680

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 18:45:07 -0000

Yeah - I mean, think of the roofers out here - and they work well into the summer.

Although - probably a lot of them end up in the ER with heat stroke, too. :)

Thu Apr 29 2021 08:30:35 EDT from Nurb432

I was helping tear out a basement one summer in college for extra cash. Sledgehammer breaking up the floor and carrying it out in buckets. bent over the entire time, plan was to lower the floor about 3" ( other people were tearing out walls and stuff upstairs. new guy got the 'harder' work )

A bit over 100 too, outside. No idea how bad it was inside. I wasn't feeling good around lunch. Sat outside on the step for what little breeze there was, realized i couldn't read the signs on the trucks as they passed. "im done, gotta go". Never went back.

Wed Apr 28 2021 09:37:18 PM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

I almost had heat stroke once, playing baseball, in summer - in BAKERSFIELD, on a 108 degree day.

Then I moved to Ohio, and I was digging a trench, and the guy I was working with stopped me, "Dude, you're about to have a heat stroke..."

Message #2099262598

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:30:35 -0000

I was helping tear out a basement one summer in college for extra cash. Sledgehammer breaking up the floor and carrying it out in buckets. bent over the entire time, plan was to lower the floor about 3" ( other people were tearing out walls and stuff upstairs. new guy got the 'harder' work )

A bit over 100 too, outside. No idea how bad it was inside. I wasn't feeling good around lunch. Sat outside on the step for what little breeze there was, realized i couldn't read the signs on the trucks as they passed. "im done, gotta go". Never went back.

Wed Apr 28 2021 09:37:18 PM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

I almost had heat stroke once, playing baseball, in summer - in BAKERSFIELD, on a 108 degree day.

Then I moved to Ohio, and I was digging a trench, and the guy I was working with stopped me, "Dude, you're about to have a heat stroke..."

Message #2099262528

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 01:37:18 -0000

So... I grew up in Northern California, where it hits at least 102 every summer.

I almost had heat stroke once, playing baseball, in summer - in BAKERSFIELD, on a 108 degree day.

Then I moved to Ohio, and I was digging a trench, and the guy I was working with stopped me, "Dude, you're about to have a heat stroke..."

"No I'm not... it is like 88 degrees..."

"Yeah, in Ohio. It is different than Sacramento. You can have a heat stroke at 88 degrees, here..."

And once I stopped working, I realized, "I'm having a heat stroke..."

So... here... it can hit 118... but if you're in the shade - it is WAY better than 88 degrees in Ohio... The sun is merciless - and you can burn your hand on a West facing door handle - we actually wrap oven-mitt things around handles here...

But... it also isn't as terrible as it sounds, especially in the shade.

Wed Apr 28 2021 14:29:19 EDT from Nurb432

I wasn't dissing the people or way of life ( as i have zero clue ), it woudl be the heat i cant tolerate.

Summers here are really hard on me, i cant imagine it out west where its really hot

Message #2099262483

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:29:19 -0000

I wasn't dissing the people or way of life ( as i have zero clue ), it woudl be the heat i cant tolerate.

Summers here are really hard on me, i cant imagine it out west where its really hot

Message #2099262341

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:58:04 -0000

As a Californian native, I literally considered Arizona a step above moving to Hell at one point. Then I lived in Ohio for about 7 years - and I just wanted to be somewhere in the West.

But it turns out, I like it *better* than California. I think the whole image of trailer parks with guys wearing wife-beaters, bermuda shorts, and white buckle shoes was something carefully crafted by the Arizonians to try and keep people from moving here, discovering how awesome it was, and ruining it.

But eventually Southern California found Scottsdale, and turned it into the new and improved Palms Springs - actually *easier* to get to in their G4s and G5s than navigating LA airspace... and quicker than a drive from Laguna Nigel to Palm Springs in their Bentley.

And, things are just getting worse. The homeless are already starting to follow, and you saw the last election.

Tuscon has been a shithole forever - it is basically the furthest Northern city of Mexico - and Fla

Tue Apr 27 2021 14:59:07 EDT from Nurb432

We used to be one of the few states that had a brain on this. But a governor we got not too long ago actually RAN on it. wtf. "so we can be in sync with the country" umm you are still out of sync with someone dumbass.. And why they chose NYC time instead of Chicago time, ill never know. But he won and they did. Idiots.

He also closed all our state mental hospitals to save money. Countless people died, that no one even knows about. They cant survive in 1/2 way houses or on the street. They needed care.

And he rented out our toll roads for like the next 50 years.. wtf.

Did some other things that were ok, but some big ones like those, i disagreed with.

I could never move to Arizona anyway. My head would explode if i ever went outside.

Mon Apr 26 2021 11:46:39 PM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

Move to Arizona. But not if you vote blue.

Message #2099262189

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:59:07 -0000

We used to be one of the few states that had a brain on this. But a governor we got not too long ago actually RAN on it. wtf. "so we can be in sync with the country" umm you are still out of sync with someone dumbass.. And why they chose NYC time instead of Chicago time, ill never know. But he won and they did. Idiots.

He also closed all our state mental hospitals to save money. Countless people died, that no one even knows about. They cant survive in 1/2 way houses or on the street. They needed care.

And he rented out our toll roads for like the next 50 years.. wtf.

Did some other things that were ok, but some big ones like those, i disagreed with.

I could never move to Arizona anyway. My head would explode if i ever went outside.

Mon Apr 26 2021 11:46:39 PM EDT from ParanoidDelusions

Move to Arizona. But not if you vote blue.

Message #2099262073

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 03:46:39 -0000

Move to Arizona. But not if you vote blue.

Mon Apr 26 2021 19:03:54 EDT from Nurb432

Well you dont *have* to.

I tend to forget how to reset the fancy radio in the jeep with its 500 menus ( all i wanted is something that plays my music, i can turn up and down and that is it. i sort of miss the old one i took out ) and after DST comes / goes its off for a good couple of months until i get tired of it and start poking buttons . The minute is right and i 'know' its not x-o-clock

Sat Apr 24 2021 11:09:03 PM EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

. So you have to either change the hour twice a year,

Message #2099262045

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 23:03:54 -0000

Well you dont *have* to.

I tend to forget how to reset the fancy radio in the jeep with its 500 menus ( all i wanted is something that plays my music, i can turn up and down and that is it. i sort of miss the old one i took out ) and after DST comes / goes its off for a good couple of months until i get tired of it and start poking buttons . The minute is right and i 'know' its not x-o-clock

Sat Apr 24 2021 11:09:03 PM EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

. So you have to either change the hour twice a year,

Message #2099262033

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 21:08:09 -0000

> 2021-04-18 13:01 from ParanoidDelusions >Oh shit... listening to Millennials and Gen Z complaining about >relationships - on places like Reddit, or just the handful of >people/friends I have in these age groups in real life... > >The women are *worse*. It is remarkable how awkward these generations >are when dealing with the opposite sex. > Wait until you see the generations that _follow_. Also, millennials are sourcing their dating advice from the Internet nowadays so every Jack and Joe is using the same set of cheesy dating tactics.

Message #2099261742

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 03:09:03 -0000

Oh, I know plenty about my clock because I designed and built it myself :) This one receives the older style signal (pulse modulation) using a ferrite core antenna, and a receiver module that delivers the received pulses as a single on/off output. That feeds into an Arduino Nano, where I wrote a program [ https://code.citadel.org/?p=the_perfect_clock.git ] to decode the time signal into something usable, and displays the time on an LED readout using I2C. It was a fun little project. I added some bonus features, including a photocell to make the display dim in a dark room and bright in a bright room, so it doesn't blast the room with light during sleeping hours, but it's bright enough to not get washed out in sunlight. And there is no RTC on the board; it keeps time purely in software, and calibrates itself by counting the number of software interrupts between WWVB cycles. I don't know if I'd build it this way again. The signal isn't great here in the northeast and it really only locks onto the signal at night. The other option is GPS, but the GPS time signal doesn't tell you whether daylight savings time is in effect. WWVB does. So you have to either change the hour twice a year, or program the rules into it, and change it when the rules change.

Message #2099261434

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:13:13 -0000

> I don't know what "upgrades" they performed, but I don't like it. Interesting. I just did a little reading about WWVB. It broadcasts on 60 kHz and uses two different formats to encode the time: digital pulse modulation and digital phase modulation. I wonder which your clock uses. What kind of antenna does it have? It never hurts to upgrade the antenna to give it a boost. Good luck. https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-s tation-wwvb

Message #2099261425

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 00:39:12 -0000

> What I hear is it i still worth it. Bonus points because BBS can be >made available over packet radio. Discussing ham radio on a Citadel also made me think of this use case.

Message #2099261424

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 00:37:53 -0000

>So is ham radio still a hobby worth getting into nowadays? Or has it >degraded into trash like everything else? I got back into it in 2019 and feel so glad that I did. It provides a refreshing alternative to social media, much like a BBS. The license requirement means that you will find more people with good critical thinking skills. You will always find factions and debates in any group, but hams try to remain civil over all. The hobby has reciprocity built into it. I say go for it! You can get your tech license remotely and finally real companies have started making affordable HT (walkie-talkie) radios. By real companies I mean Kenwoord, Icom, and Yaesu, as opposed to cheap Chinese knockoffs which the FCC made illegal.

Message #2099260812

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:01:46 -0000

Oh shit... listening to Millennials and Gen Z complaining about relationships - on places like Reddit, or just the handful of people/friends I have in these age groups in real life...

The women are *worse*. It is remarkable how awkward these generations are when dealing with the opposite sex.

Sun Apr 18 2021 09:14:09 EDT from Nurb432

And that is the scariest part..

The women too of course.

Even if we dont totally collapse due to DC , they will take things down with them anyway. They are no match for the evils around the world.

Sun Apr 18 2021 08:08:37 EDT from ParanoidDelusions

And they were all late 30s, early 40s... and I realized... I think of Millennials as kids in their late teens and early 20s. They're not. They *behave* like kids, especially online. But they're actually grown ass adult men.

Message #2099260791

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 13:14:09 -0000

And that is the scariest part..

The women too of course.

Even if we dont totally collapse due to DC , they will take things down with them anyway. They are no match for the evils around the world.

Sun Apr 18 2021 08:08:37 EDT from ParanoidDelusions

And they were all late 30s, early 40s... and I realized... I think of Millennials as kids in their late teens and early 20s. They're not. They *behave* like kids, especially online. But they're actually grown ass adult men.

Message #2099260785

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 12:08:37 -0000

I notice a definite attitude change in almost everything lately. It is like Redditors are taking over the world.

We went to a bar last night, and there were a bunch of bearded, gauged, inked guys standing around wearing lumber jack flannels and skinny jeans BSing - and they were all talking about Reddit.

And they were all late 30s, early 40s... and I realized... I think of Millennials as kids in their late teens and early 20s. They're not. They *behave* like kids, especially online. But they're actually grown ass adult men.

Sat Apr 17 2021 14:49:28 EDT from Nurb432

I think it depends on the area.

Problem is all the old timers are dying off. I have noticed a definite attitude change in that world.

Sat Apr 17 2021 13:59:44 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

So is ham radio still a hobby worth getting into nowadays? Or has it degraded into trash like everything else?

Message #2099260777

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 10:56:13 -0000

> 2021-04-17 13:59 from IGnatius T Foobar >So is ham radio still a hobby worth getting into nowadays? Or has it >degraded into trash like everything else? > > What I hear is it i still worth it. Bonus points because BBS can be made available over packet radio.

Message #2099260727

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 18:49:28 -0000

I think it depends on the area.

Problem is all the old timers are dying off. I have noticed a definite attitude change in that world.

Sat Apr 17 2021 13:59:44 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

So is ham radio still a hobby worth getting into nowadays? Or has it degraded into trash like everything else?

Message #2099260719

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 17:59:44 -0000

So is ham radio still a hobby worth getting into nowadays? Or has it degraded into trash like everything else?

Message #2099260363

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 17:45:16 -0000

A bit of a follow-up on WWVB reception. I had a location for my Arduino WWVB clock on a corner shelf in my bedroom, that had acceptable reception during the "good hours" (overnight), and detectable-but-unusable during the day. There was a spot just a few feet away on my dresser that had excellent reception overnight and pretty good during the day. After the transmitter upgrades, the shelf location remained acceptable at night, but the dresser location became detectable-but-unusable even at night. I don't know what "upgrades" they performed, but I don't like it.

Message #2099259993

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 04:51:45 -0000

World Amateur Radio Day will happen on April 19. Join the fun! By the way, you can go to https://hamstudy.org for free study material. And now, thanks to COVID, you can also take your test remotely from there.

Message #2099259799

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 16:01:13 -0000

Been looking at LoRA a bit lately and ran across this. Plug and play

https://www.meshtastic.org/

Message #2099258902

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:49:52 -0000

Oooh, you're right. Thanks for pointing that out. "The WWVB broadcast system is being upgraded with new equipment to improve the reliability of the signal. In order to install this equipment, beginning on March 9, 2021 the WWVB signal may be operated on a single antenna at approximately 30 kW radiated power for periods up to several days in duration, and may have occasional outages. Periods of reduced power operation lasting longer than 30 minutes will be logged on the WWVB Antenna Configuration and Power web page, and any outage longer than five minutes' duration will be recorded on the WWVB Outage web page. Upgrades are expected to be complete by April 9, 2021." So it looks like I can expect another week of bad reception. My homemade WWVB clock is drifting badly right now because it doesn't have a quartz oscillator on board; it just uses the software clock on the Arduino to keep time between radio synchronizations.

Message #2099258760

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:17:37 -0000

They also had to recently upgrade WWVB, perhaps it relates to that.

Message #2099258453

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 12:48:19 -0000

Bad solar conditions ... that must be why my WWVB clock hasn't synced up in days.

Message #2099258106

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:01:14 -0000

Cool to see a ham radio room. I know we've had terrible solar conditions, but things will improve. I run QRP from Philadelphia. KA3TTT

Re: Wireless Museum

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 01:15:01 -0000

That is cool. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area and you like that sort of thing the Pavek Radio Museum is worth a look.

Wireless Museum

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:14:10 -0000

Neat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkVz1BMLy0A

Message #4371122

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 20:55:37 -0000

I as well. :-(

Message #4364709

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 22:50:41 -0000

*sigh* I miss Vince.

Message #4051273

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:01:33 -0000

I am not writing anything, really. Just recompiling linux with the ax.25 stuff in it. I am really thinking even that will not be needed. By the time packets actually get to the machine the ax.25 headers are already stripped by the TNC. --K2NE

Message #4051190

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:12:51 -0000

Ok, failed to page to the next page. Sorry for missing all of the replies... (walks out of the room)

Tue Apr 12 2016 12:10:59 AM EDT from ax25 @ Uncensored

I will test whatever you want to push our way IG. Vince-q - it sounds like you are also writing a branch, would you be willing to share code based on any of the breakage? Not saying you should, but it might make debugging easier.

Message #4051189

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:10:59 -0000

I will test whatever you want to push our way IG. Vince-q - it sounds like you are also writing a branch, would you be willing to share code based on any of the breakage? Not saying you should, but it might make debugging easier.

Message #4050354

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:31:15 -0000

>Dunno ... maybe it just needs to be restarted. I restart my BBS weekly...I keep having to manually @term on my outbound sessions to Uncensored because I keep getting "Failed to connect" in the long who list.

Message #4050348

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:12:49 -0000

Sat Mar 19 2016 11:47:54 PM EDT from vince-q @ Cascade Lodge BBS

This is an obnoxious test message to see if networking gets this to uncensored. DogpoundII seems to be having issues with uncensored on networking...

CQ DX

Message #4050346

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 03:47:54 -0000

This is an obnoxious test message to see if networking gets this to uncensored. DogpoundII seems to be having issues with uncensored on networking...

Message #4050336

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 02:24:12 -0000

Shouldn't be a big deal, IG. Ham packet is (or it will be for CitaNet access) solely text client. The *,anpr.org will list my ham node (k2ne.ampr.org) as being "landline bbs interface." There's already a shell script over here for ham users, which will be the .ampr.org hand-off point. If I get it configured ok on my end, it *should* be completely transparent to CitaNet text-client networking.

Message #4049730

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 18:25:40 -0000

Fixed. :) If I do that pub/sub rework of the networker I was talking about in the other room, I might need some help from you guys to make sure I do it in a radio-friendly sort of way.

Message #4047296

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:45:22 -0000

Networking uncensored <--> dogpound2 is (once again) not working. PLEASE fix this.

Message #4045042

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 19:34:30 -0000

Absolutely. But until I see a stable networking environment (dogpound2 <-> uncensored) I'm not even going to begin thinking about it.

Message #4044574

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 05:53:17 -0000

Experimentation is part of the hobby. It does expand the boundaries a bit and makes the unknown possible after a few attempts.

Message #4042746

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:44:31 -0000

Dunno ... maybe it just needs to be restarted.

Message #4041952

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:15:40 -0000

Well, let me be gentle here. Netting between uncensored and dogpound2 lately is, precarious. Works for a day, fails for several days thereafter. So - at first - netting will be this room only until I am confident that the hams in my area will handle it responsibly. Ultimately ham access will be to the entire bbs (normal network user). So, IG, just what IS going on between here and dogpound2 ?? --K2NE

Message #4040731

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 18:31:47 -0000

Why only to this room? I'd say let 'em loose. The more the merrier. That kind of thing.

Message #4038420

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 15:11:07 -0000

I am thinking of activating the ax.25 modules at my node (Cascade Lodge) and installing a 2 mtr TNC/Radio combo and letting the local hams on the Citadel system. No networking privs at first, so you won't see any traffic here until all the obvious bugs are tweeked out. And even then, only to this room. Gotta get the 6m antennas up first, though...

Message #3976100

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 04:59:07 -0000

Not quite an accomplishment, but I remember downloading some programs for my Tandy 102 via packet radio (1200 baud on 2m) via a series of node hops (I think it was at least 5 or 6 hops at the time) from west central Minnesota to about the S.E. corner of Minnesota to BBS located there. The only thing that made it interesting is I did it in a boat on a lake outside of town, just because I could. The gear was cumbersome, but manageable at that point (round about 1989 or so). I think I downloaded a couple of songs to play via the pizo speaker and some grid square locater software.

Stupid, yet quite fun at the time.

Not quite the fun of 10m packet pile-ups on chat nodes of the peak of the sun spot cycle of the late 80's, but fun for the feeling of having done something "different" in a stupid sort of way.

This does not fit the room (QSO) as it does not involve another party at the other end (other than a sysop that cared to set things up), so I will leave it at that.

Message #3966673

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 03:05:59 -0000

Ignore the post from 6M (at least that is what I interpret).

Message #3963313

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:39:40 -0000

Ignore what?

Message #3962446

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 05:21:12 -0000

This is a networking test - please ignore.

Message #3951013

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 06:07:44 -0000

> 2015-07-21 14:28 from Animal @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >DMR, anyone? > XPR7550 on its way to me... :O > > Sorry - no DMR capability here. Really (at least for now) concentrating on 6 meters. Large array in the works. 4 element yagis w/ trigonal reflectors. Two will be up and running in about 8 weeks. This will be a "one over the other" stack at about 12' between the antennas, on a rotating mast w/ rotor at the bottom. Eventually another pair, then an H-frame, on the same mast for a total of 16 elements not counting the trigonals (with them the total comes to 24 elements). Most of the pattern compression will be in the H-plane, with total estimated gain of 18 dBd. Front-to-back ratio will be measured once the system is complete, but if my experiences with this type of antenna back East in the 1980s is any indication, the F/B ratio will be very very good. The goal? To be able to work San Diego from my CM99 grid location 24/7 without a band opening. We shall see.... --K2NE

Message #3950720

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 21:28:42 -0000

DMR, anyone? XPR7550 on its way to me... :O

Message #3938118

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 14:55:06 -0000

Message #3938049

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 06:02:21 -0000

Nope. Nevada (home of the HarryReid curmudgeon) is what we in northern California use as an example of "yes, it could be much worse" when folks around here start complaining about the left-lib-commie-idiots in Sacramento. Oh, and everything north of Sacramento is about as conservative as can be - and yes, we know the difference between conservative and RINO.

Message #3937576

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:49:43 -0000

I thought the habitable part of California was called "Nevada"

Message #3936982

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:15:37 -0000

That is REALLY nice.

Message #3936895

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 02:59:47 -0000

Thank you! 1280 miles is not spectaculer. Unless, of course, it is 50Mhz or higher. Even on six meters, it is not spectacular when compared to E-layer or F-layer propagation. What makes this one special is the possibility of it being a fairly regular path. The beacon is "dead on" in the magic direction here on the mountain, and I'm strongly suspecting what, back east, we used to call "extended groundwave." On the HF bands the Mountain shows a different, but equally important advantabe. Absolutely no noise at all until you hit 80m, and even there, not what I used to have back in NJ. Roughly S2 to S3 on 80m, and on the higher frequency bands (40m to 10m), NONE at all. If the S meter moves, it's a stattion, period. Fun!

Message #3936882

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 23:52:11 -0000

That IS nice. I picked up some decent distance stations from Ocean Shores, WA, when I was there recently, using just a portable whip on 20m, but I was unhearable. And then getting rained on. Someday I'll put something up at my house. =)

Message #3936880

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 23:35:59 -0000

Rather neat thing today. Beacon copied: XE2HWB Running about an S1 to S4 w/ QSB. What makes this "neat" you say? SIX METERS (50.007 Mhz - CW). 1,280 miles. He's in La Paz, Mexico - southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. In the "magic direction" for the Mountain (heading 150 degr or SSE). And... I'm only using the OCF inverted vee WIRE thingee! Still no 6m antennas really. Now THAT is neat!! (I love my Mountain!) --K2NE

Message #3917596

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:22:32 -0000

Israeli authorities are looking for Or Asraf who hasn't made contact since the quake. it would be pretty freaky if you were able to find info they can't.

Message #3917021

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 02:03:34 -0000

Recorded a few minutes, starting just after the net control station started explaining. The link points to Soundcloud. http://t.co/4TSBr76U9g

Message #3917011

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:06:07 -0000

Nepal HF emergency net on 14.205 and 14.215. I was able to pick up a fair bit of discussion on .205, passing back and forth contact information and shipping numbers and points of contact for various aid supplies. I'm going to see if I can do better using a webSDR node, since my portable whip isn't exactly the optimal setup.

Message #3916709

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:39:31 -0000

Locator here on the Mountain: CM99du

Message #3916671

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 02:08:39 -0000

Actually that was most likely Harmon Grove Park (on Route 20). I pass that location frequently, usually on an unpredictable Sunday morning on my way home from the Auburn area. Ten meters was quite nice late this afternoon here on the Mountain. Worked a station in Brazil - told me I was "the strongest signal on the band, 40 over S9." Not bad for 100 watts into an off-center-fed inverted vee. I love my mountain! --K2NE http://k2ne.net

Message #3915507

Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:18:17 -0000

Hammon Grove Park, specifically. I recommend it. It was pretty. Pic: https://twitter.com/Sigspace/status/592348335966552064

Message #3915506

Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:10:47 -0000

Locator yesterday was CM99HF; I'm actually in Vince-q's neighborhood. I hadn't realized that. (CA is kind of a mystery to me--there's the habitable part (climactically speaking) around Monterey, and then the rest of it.)

Message #3915423

Sun, 26 Apr 2015 01:37:29 -0000

I'm on Beale AFB teaching a class for a few weeks. I brought my portable gear. Despite only "fair" predictions from the little web-based solar weather widgets this morning, 10-meter was absolutely hopping. It felt like there was a pileup every 5 kilohertz. I was able to pick up stations clearly from Maine, New York, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Florida--but also Japan, New Zealand, and a few others I've forgotten without looking at my notes. That was with a 16ish-foot wire hanging from a tree in the highest ground I could find in a local park. I actually did slightly better with an MFJ multiband whip (the 1899T, I think). Of course, those are pretty limiting when it comes to the Tx end. As is usually the case, no one heard me. You can only do so much with 5w; it's all about the antenna, and I didn't have much of one. Still, an enjoyable afternoon. I need to get serious about picking up Morse; that would be substantially more effective at the low powers I have at my command. When I get back home, I have a 2-day emergency response training and exercise thing, so there's that to look forward to. I got into that a few months ago (sort of sideways, via ham radio).

Message #3892479

Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:44:54 -0000

Bell said to Watson, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" on that inaugural call. It was an anachronistic proposal for an AT&T--IBM merger. Unfortunately, Watson replied, "no, you come here," and hung up. They were never to meet; the golden chance had slipped away.

Message #3890007

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 23:15:15 -0000

"Three days after filing the patent, the telephone carried its first intelligible message - the famous Mr. Watson, come here, I need you - from Bell to his assistant." Not quite... The very first thing Bell heard coming from his newfangled invention was... "I'm sorry, the number you have reached has been disconnected"...

March 07, 1876: Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone

Sat, 07 Mar 2015 05:00:00 -0000

On this day in 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention–the telephone.

The Scottish-born Bell worked in London with his father, Melville Bell, who developed Visible Speech, a written system used to teach speaking to the deaf. In the 1870s, the Bells moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where the younger Bell found work as a teacher at the Pemberton Avenue School for the Deaf. He later married one of his students, Mabel Hubbard.

While in Boston, Bell became very interested in the possibility of transmitting speech over wires. Samuel F.B. Morse’s invention of the telegraph in 1843 had made nearly instantaneous communication possible between two distant points. The drawback of the telegraph, however, was that it still required hand-delivery of messages between telegraph stations and recipients, and only one message could be transmitted at a time. Bell wanted to improve on this by creating a “harmonic telegraph,” a device th http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alexander-graham-bell-patents-the-telephone

Message #3879346

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 10:37:43 -0000

Definitely a good explanation.

Message #3879193

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:45:15 -0000

I'm going to suggest a different reason. When the popularity of lots of hobbies -- ham radio, amateur electronics, photography, stage tech, etc. etc. etc. took a sharp decline in the 1980's, what was it that was sucking all of the hobbyists away? We all know the answer to that ... Computers. Well, here we are decades later, and computers are so capable, so refined, so part of everyday life, that for many people they are now BORING. This leaves a wide opening for people with inquisitive minds and eager hands to take up other hobbies again.

Message #3876509

Fri, 06 Feb 2015 20:25:47 -0000

And cannabalism. Don't forget that. Also, we could use some good old fashion witch burning. Thems a hum dinger.

Message #3876285

Fri, 06 Feb 2015 02:50:45 -0000

Couldn't just shut-up on this one.
Totally agree, it's time for anarchy.

Message #3875607

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 15:49:02 -0000

Ham radio in the US is also growing again. It seems, at least here, to be motivated a bit less by interest in "things technical" and more by an interest in "prepper stuff" - as in, ham radio might be a neat thing to have when the "shit hits the fan" and society vaporizes (which, in many instances, would not be the worst thing "society" could do).

Message #3875255

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:40:55 -0000

The first time in ages the german DARC (german amateur radio club) seems to have a growing member base.

Seems as if makers are keen on learning how to use soldering irons and work with electronics, they find the knowledge there and some stay.

Message #3872933

Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:54:38 -0000

High Latitude Aurora Alert The next couple of nights should present a good chance to work DX on six (and maybe two) meters using auroral propagation. From the east coast, point your beams to the north/northwest; from the west coast, northeast. Because of the distortion that auroral propagation introduces, it is almost mandatory to use CW or one of the newer digital modes. Voice does work, but it requires vast amounts of patience. CW signals will sound "buzzy" but for auroral DX that is still the best way to go. Over the years we've worked many states and Canadian provinces this way. Try it - lots of fun! --K2NE http://k2ne.net Cascade Mountain Contest Station

Message #3868380

Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:17:32 -0000

A fine tropo opening on two meters yesterday afternoon there was!

Message #3860781

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 07:19:11 -0000

Wow!! That's all I can say about what happened here on the Mountain around noon today - on six meters. Wow!! HAWAII !!!!!!!!!! Two of them: WH6XM on sideband. Very nice contact. And then... KH6HI on CW. Again, very nice contact. The only thing puzzling me is whether it was F2 (remember, big solar flare thing in progress), or tropo-ducting. I'm strongly leaning toward F2, but that ducting thing is still a possibility. But... ANY day you work Hawaii on six meters is a good day! --K2NE

Message #3857945

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 18:52:43 -0000

My FT-817ND package came with a nice little magmount paddle. I thought about re-eBaying it, but I figure there's a remote chance I will someday learn Morse.

Message #3857782

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 05:25:20 -0000

I hate to say "google it" but a picture says it all.

Re: Straight Key Night

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:22:28 -0000

>No paddles; no "bugs" or keyers. I know what a keyer is, but what's a paddle?

Message #3853818

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 07:02:00 -0000

> Dec 28 2014 10:14pm from ax25 @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >Little bit late for me to get things together vince-q, but I will >rummage through the bins to see if I can find the mike for my 10m rig >going forward for a future possible qso meet on air. > Depending on band conditions, and (of course) your location, it should be a snap. We've gotten S9+ reports from some of the oddest places (Japan, Israel, Maine, and Brazil all within 15 minutes!). Heck, 10m is *almost* as much fun as six meters! Just let me know. Monday and Tuesday mornings (Pacific time) are best. --Vince (K2NE)

Message #3853816

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:14:19 -0000

Little bit late for me to get things together vince-q, but I will rummage through the bins to see if I can find the mike for my 10m rig going forward for a future possible qso meet on air.

Message #3853800

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:11:39 -0000

We will be active here on the Mountain on Monday morning 29 Dec around 8AM PST (1600 Z) on 10m/20m depending on band conditions. Look for us on USB (28.400 Mhz and/or 14.210 Mhz, all "+/-"). --K2NE

Straight Key Night

Thu, 25 Dec 2014 15:19:52 -0000

Remember - there's something brewing for New Year's Eve...

Yes, it's almost Straight Key Night!!

If you need the specifics (times, etc.) go to www.arrl.org where you'll find everything you need to know.

It's a bit of a contest, but more of a gathering. A time to remember when things were simpler and code speeds were limited by what you could do with that old straight key.

No paddles; no "bugs" or keyers.

Just that simple wrist-breaking straight key.

It will remind you why it's called "pounding the brass!"

Join in. It's fun!!

Message #3850709

Sat, 20 Dec 2014 15:18:25 -0000

When I was in NJ, working the Canary Islands on 20m or 15m was never a big deal. Out here it's about 6,000 miles, so it was just a bit exciting to work EA8OM in the Canary Islands... on 40 meters. Through a pile-up even. I love my Mountain!! --K2NE

Message #3850700

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 20:47:25 -0000

This is a network test message.

Message #3846982

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 06:39:47 -0000

> Dec 16 2014 12:26pm from IGnatius T Foobar @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >Great, but what's the current status of SkyK2NE, in geostationary orbit >over the mountain? > > Actually, we are too busy planning for K2NE/Lunar for the moon base in 2017 just in time for the January VHF Sweepstakes!! ;)

Message #3846375

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 23:07:51 -0000

hm, that actually would be a great idea for a qube-sat!

Message #3846244

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:26:37 -0000

Great, but what's the current status of SkyK2NE, in geostationary orbit over the mountain?

Message #3844073

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:07:56 -0000

Rain here right now. Strong winds as well. In fact, the last time I saw wind like this was back in NJ during any one of many hurricanes. Antennas, so far, holding just fine. And, hopefully, it will stay that way. --K2NE

Message #3843584

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:14:59 -0000

ba, dum, pum...?

Message #3842859

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:40:09 -0000

Sure is quiet around here. Reminds me of 20 meters earlier today. ;)

Message #3842857

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:36:37 -0000

Well, the bands cannot always be hot. Nothing at all 'interesting' today. Must be the weather.... ;) --K2NE

Message #3842223

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:36:42 -0000

A prostitute provided at no charge by the CIA as an incentive to keep further leaks of confidential information from happening?

Message #3841949

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:20:25 -0000

What's a "snow blower"?????

Message #3841742

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 06:20:33 -0000

Will have to do that if I get the chance, but I will "do the needful" in the appropriate room to make sure someone is home. Also I prefer to not come unannounced so as not get killed by laser toting killer robots that are guarding the snow blower(s).

Message #3841712

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 02:07:12 -0000

Sure, drop by and I'll put a fresh batch of cookies in the oven. I love having company. :)

Message #3838173

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:43:24 -0000

IG, gimmie cookie? I think by being a part of Citadel, he has fed me many cookies over the years I have run the software / logged in to Uncensored. :-)

Message #3836790

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 07:20:26 -0000

> Dec 2 2014 7:28pm from ax25 @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >CQD? > WINNER! Now go contact IG for your prize! --K2NE

Message #3836754

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:28:17 -0000

CQD?

Message #3836739

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:06:50 -0000

> Dec 2 2014 5:00pm from Sig @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >I should definitely get around to learning Morse. > > Yes, you should. It really is easy once you learn all the letters, numbers and a few special symbols (. / ? and the 'prosigns' that are sent as one continuous "letter"... AR, SK, and believe it or not SOS) I had one occasion in my entire 48 years as a ham to actually have the need to send SOS "for real." Remember, it is sent as one character, as in "...---,,," and not as "s" "o" "s". Verv very eerie. And absolutely unmistakable. Quiz time: what was the distress call *before* SOS? [A free cookie from IG is the prize!] --K2NE

Message #3836545

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 01:00:00 -0000

I should definitely get around to learning Morse.

Message #3836437

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 18:29:39 -0000

I just remembered the name of that DOS/Packet TCP/IP utility. KA9Q NOS. Quite a neat thingee. It supplied a TCP/IP stack to DOS 3.x, an AX.25 envelope for TCP/IP packets for the "ham side" and, if I recall, a direct interface to the TNC running in 'KISS' mode. Heh. I might even end up building a Truly Junk Computer and installing DOS 3.5 on it along with an ethernet card and just have that "machine" handle the ham-side and communicate with the internet side over ethernet to the server that runs the BBS. That way I won't even have to put the AX.25 stuff on the linux box since it will never "see" the encapsulated stuff. Interesting.... ;) --K2NE

Message #3836427

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 18:04:58 -0000

I would be happy to do packet. Actually the plan is, ultimately, to open a packet interface for the Cascade Lodge Citadel. The BBS machine is in the same room with all the ham gear so it won't be that big of a "deal" to get it running. I guess the first thing to do is contact the .ampr.org folk to get a node name and IP address... ;) I ran k2ne.ampr.org in New Jersey from roughly 1989 to 1992 - but exactly how to tie it all together means a lot of removal of mental cobwebs. Then again, that was using a DOS-based utility and it seems, under linux, to be a ***lot*** easier (and a helluva lot more stable!). We shall see. There's lots of contest station work in progress and that stuff just has to come first. But with patience we'll get to the packet stuff. --K2NE

Message #3836204

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:39:52 -0000

I always figured we had some common ground Vince-q. I have done 1200 baud packet on 2m and have calculated an overall rate of 42 bps, which I figure comes out to 50.4 wpm. Not bad on 2m. By my estimation it should be a bit less than 1/4 (300 baud) on HF - so about 12.6 cps - pitiful, but tireless and will be 100% copy if it does make it :-)

I feel we might be missing some opportunities to communicate (even here in the QSO room on Uncensored and Cascade Lodge), which is sad :-(

If I dig up the old HTX-10, and hook up a paddle, would you hook up a packet rig and do a QSO with me?

And, if so, would you do some 300 / 1200 baud packet with me - and possibly with Sig? -( assuming Sig has a rig with 10m).

Not saying today, not saying tomorrow, but --- sometime. Winters are long sometimes in Minnesota.

Good night Vince and Sig.

Message #3835929

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 00:27:45 -0000

> Dec 1 2014 3:44am from Sig @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >I don't like voice. > > CW is fine by me! On a good day I can do 30 to 35 wpm. Not like like the old days (40+) but getting it back! --K2NE

Message #3835378

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:44:02 -0000

I don't like voice.

Message #3833629

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 05:53:12 -0000

Thu Nov 20 2014 01:28:09 AM ESTfrom vince-q @ Uncensored

eh - I don't do the 'data thing' these days. For me, at least, it loses that feeling of personal involvement. Enough typing on the internet - don't need more of it in my ham shack...

--K2NE

Sorry it feels that way to you. Feel free to contact me if you want to explore it. I am having fun with it, along with some older hams that have hearing loss and would otherwise have given up on the hobby.

Message #3831088

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 07:38:42 -0000

Wheeee! Exciting six meter SSB contacts tonight over a 135 mile path between the Mountain and the Oakland area. What makes this exciting is that the only antenna currently in the air that resonates on the six meter band is the off-center fed inverted vee normally used for HF operations. Yes, it was a 'sked' (scheduled contact for you non hams). He was about an S-3 here, and my report from him was S-5. Considering the "antenna" we were using, that is astounding. Everyone in the Northern California area is anticipating the installation of the "real stuff" antennas for six meters early in the Spring (2015). That will make the signal truly dominating throughout most of California. This *will* be fun! --K2NE

Message #3825037

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:28:09 -0000

eh - I don't do the 'data thing' these days. For me, at least, it loses that feeling of personal involvement. Enough typing on the internet - don't need more of it in my ham shack... --K2NE

Message #3825034

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:10:33 -0000

Both decent data radios :-)

Message #3824956

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 00:09:29 -0000

Lots new going on - come visit!

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:23:13 -0000

We've been making changes, additions, and planning lots of new antennas and other operations.

Come visit and see what's going on up here on the Mountain!

http://k2ne.net

Message #3802455

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:12:07 -0000

The contest station is a multi-operator facility, and SDR is just to "flakey" for that sort of operation. There's lots to be said for simplicity. If they still made them, I'd opt for rigs like the Drake TR6. Single purpose; solid as a rock; and best in class in every way.

Message #3802432

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 04:39:08 -0000

Vince,

What made the decision for you against one of the many SDR rigs out there?

Message #3801384

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:22:03 -0000

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to grab a Yaesu FT-897D. This is an all-mode box (AM, FM, SSB, CW, Digital Modes) that runs 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters and 20 watts on 70 cm (432 to 450 Mhz). For all practical purposes this transceiver will be used on 2 meters and 432 Mhz, mostly SSB and CW, and will be the 2m and 432mhz "anchor" for the contest station here on the Mountain. While there is no such thing as "too much receiver sensitivity" on the VHF/UHF bands for SSB or CW, there's still a plan to put a pre-amp on the rig. It is receiving fine for everyday use, and most likely (borderline) good enough for casual weak signal work. But 'casual' is not in my lexicon where weak-sig and contesting is concerned! Over the coming few weeks, as I learn my way around the menus (extensive) and programming options (equally extensive) for this rig, I'll probably have a bit more to say. For now - if you are looking for a "small but not miniature" rig that will quite literally give you a "hamshack in a box" then I very strongly recommend you give this transceiver a close look. For less than a thousand bucks, you simply cannot find something better. And you'd better snatch one up - now. Yaesu has halted production (but not support!) since they are bringing out their next rig in this operating class, and it will (from what I've been told) run about $400 more. And on this, more later... --K2NE Visit our website for the latest on Happenings at the Mountain! http;//k2ne.net [gotta love that shiney new domain!]

Message #3791570

Sat, 11 Oct 2014 06:36:12 -0000

For updated events here on th Mountain, visit the web page(s): http://www.netk2ne.net/contestbio.html --K2NE

Message #3788957

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 01:35:23 -0000

> Oct 7 2014 5:32pm from IGnatius T Foobar @uncnsrd (Uncensored) > > You really should work on finding a local ham or three. There will > > > ...or better yet, find one within radio distance and talk to them! :) > > > So anyway, what's the origin of the word "ham" in the context of >describing amateur radio operators? > > 1. depending on the band you're using, "radio distance" can be anything from across the street to halfway 'round the planet. :-) But that wasn't the point - the ham friend is for helping with antenna projects, towers, etc. Hard to do that over the radio, and until we actually invent the transporter... 2. the origin of "ham" has been the subject of discussion and debate now for almost a century. The bottom line on this: nobody knows! On a slightly different note, all the gear has been moved from what was the "HF shack" into the office here in the house. This required a major "move around" of the mountains of clutter, books, and other assorted "stuff" that just materializes over the years. That took most of yesterday. Then we moved a table into the room, set up the 2 meter stuff, and made sure all was working. Today I moved the HF/50Mhz rig, the memory keyer, and a couple of power supplies into the room, set everything in its place, and now have a compact, easy to use, and actually rather nice looking ham shack that should double quite nicely as a contest station, at least for starters. Something keeps telling me that we will be back in the other building with some of this stuff, at least for contest weekends. There's simply no real room in here for a pair of kilowatt amplifiers (1 for six meters, the other for two meters). But in this day and age of "solid state" small-sized stuff, who knows? The old original six meter amp (we called it the "Six Appeal II") was about 2 ft square and just under 4 feet tall - a pair of 3-500Z tubes in grounded grid with 3,500 volts on the plates - the power supply was in the bottom of the case, the RF deck at the top, relays on the back, etc. A real monster. But it REALLY did the job!! Two meters was very similar. The pair took up a *lot* of space back in the Chatsworth NJ shack (and also helped heat that end of the house during the January VHF Sweepstakes contest!). While I wouldn't mind using power amplifiers to heat the house in January, space is at a premium in the office, and it just won't work. We shall see... --K2NE

Message #3788765

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:32:33 -0000

> You really should work on finding a local ham or three. There will ...or better yet, find one within radio distance and talk to them! :) So anyway, what's the origin of the word "ham" in the context of describing amateur radio operators?

Message #3787788

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:58:56 -0000

> > The main advantage to YouTube/blogs/etc. is that they are >asynchronous. None of the local clubs meet at times that I can attend. > That is a very valid reason for using the online resources, of which they are many and mostly very good. You really should work on finding a local ham or three. There will come the day when you want to do something related to antennas that absolutely requires "assistance on site" and it really helps to have that helper be someone who knows the difference between a driven element and a soldering gun! And it also helps to know people who are experienced in assembling, erecting, and ***climbing*** towers. If it is even a remote possibility that there is a "tower in your future" find a climber - yesterday!

Message #3787784

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:36:29 -0000

> So go meet hams. > Find a local amateur radio club. Go to a meeting. Introduce yourself. > > You may even enjoy it! > I'm not sure why that would be inherently a more valid way to spread knowledge. The main advantage to YouTube/blogs/etc. is that they are asynchronous. None of the local clubs meet at times that I can attend.

Message #3785687

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 07:05:46 -0000

Well, the first horizontal (SSB/CW) antenna for 2 meters is up in the air. And working. Quite well, thank you very much!! From here, I am copying the 40w CW beacon on Tehachapi Mountain all the time. Before, on the temporary antenna, it was very much hit or miss. For you east coast folk, that's like copying a 40 w beacon in Charleston SC from Philadelphia. The difference out here is that I have this Mountain.... ;) On Sunday afternoon we just might hang trigonal reflectors on the antenna (currently a 10-el Yagi on a, roughly, 13 ft boom). That should add about another 2.5 to 3 db of forward gain and an almost "infinite" front to back ratio. Next project is "beefing up" the vertically polarized 2m antenna. A trigonal reflector pair should to the trick there, as well. Once this stuff is all done, and the inevitable bugs found and fixed, we'll be on to the six meter antenna systems. Now *that* will be a story!

Message #3783502

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 06:27:24 -0000

> Sep 28 2014 9:43pm from Sig @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >And yet without the internet, I wouldn't have ever gotten into it. >Still wouldn't know much of anything about it; I don't know a single >"real" ham operator, but have learned from a lot of them via blog posts >and YouTube videos. > > > So go meet hams. Find a local amateur radio club. Go to a meeting. Introduce yourself. You may even enjoy it!

Message #3783294

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:43:13 -0000

And yet without the internet, I wouldn't have ever gotten into it. Still wouldn't know much of anything about it; I don't know a single "real" ham operator, but have learned from a lot of them via blog posts and YouTube videos.

Message #3782292

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:41:34 -0000

And yet there is still interest in ham radio and new people entering the hobby every day. But it's the age of the newcomers - 40 and up. For that I "blame" (credit?) the "prepper movement." And there's more than a small bit of validity to that. Without getting political, we live in a very troubled society. There is no longer the confidence, here in the United States, that our Way Of Life has permanence, or even a long-term sustainability. That which once seemed permanent is being increasingly viewed as fleeting. As Goethe once put it: "Alles vergaengliche ist nur ein Gleichnis." [Faust II, Final Scene] And as pessimistic as all this may seem at first glance, in the case of Amateur Radio, therein may lie our salvation. Those post-apocalyptic wilderness "off grid" retreats do not come with telephones, or cellphones, or internet access. For even if those amenities exist now, the Prepper operates under the assumption that in the New Way Of Life, they won't be there. But ham radio gear, and ham radio techniques, and the physical "stuff" needed to support those - they *will* exist. Between solar power, wind power, and other ingenious ways of getting ham gear running without a power company the need will be there. In that Mad Max world, the one thing you *won't* need is a ham license. Just the gear, the knowledge required to get it running and keep it running, rudimentary (or better) knowledge of antennas and how to "make an antenna out of almost nothing store-bought," and so on. The way I put it at a recent club meeting, "imagine that every day is Field Day and that you won't ever have to renew your license!" On the surface this may sound pessimistic and dystopian. In the final analysis, it just may represent our best motivation toward growth and survival. Now ain't *that* just "something else" !!! --K2NE

Message #3782275

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:25:09 -0000

> Sep 26 2014 6:14am from ax25 @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >Damn kids these days :-) > Actually, the concept of "internet not helping ham radio" has little to do with day-to-day ham operations and lots to do with getting young people interested in amateur radio as "something they should want to do." "You can talk to people all over the world!" ...but my cell phone already does that. OR ...but internet chats and instant messaging and Facebook already does that. You no longer get "Wow! I want to do that!" as the answer. Maybe rarely, but "back when I was teaching" it was an overwhelming response. No longer. In fact the "no longer" thing was starting to hit during the last five years of my teaching career (which ended with retirement in June 2001). The internet has done to ham radio interest amongst our teens what DSL and other broadband internet technologies have done to the dialup BBS. And unless something can be done to reverse this, soon, ham radio will die off forever once folks like me are all gone. Give it twenty, thirty, forty (at the most) years. Gone. A fond antique memory of days gone past. Like the spark gap radios on the Titanic. Requiem aeternam... --K2NE

Message #3782246

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:14:42 -0000

Damn kids these days :-)

Message #3782161

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:32:56 -0000

Most of the fun and challenge of weak-signal VHF work is using the ears on your head to do the work. Today's software/hardware "enhancements" do absolutely NOTHING to improve the abilities and talents of the license holder. They make things easier, to be sure. And in that, they *fail* amateur radio just as the internet has *failed* amateur radio.

Message #3782152

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 05:39:47 -0000

vince-q, it would be even more fun with SDR, as you could see all the beacons at once and watch them fade in and out in real time. I do understand the fun of scanning as a former and occasional swl'er, but looking at the whole spectrum in a waterfall display all at once is a bit of fun as well.

Message #3782150

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 05:37:27 -0000

Animal, I did not know you "has the bug". Sweet looking SDR, but at the price break for quantity (5) minimum, I think I will pass and stay with the RTL-SDR line. Fragile yes, but at $10-$20 per system, I can burn through a few... Not the same range, but has enough to have fun with (especially with folks much smarter than me hacking at the cheap devices to overcome the limitations). Still fun at FM -> 1 GHz (or so). Please post if you find / or know of some mid range alternatives as I want to play a bit more with this stuff!

781906-01

NI USRP-2920, 50 MHz to 2.2 GHz Software Radio Bundle

5 - 10

$ 2,746.00

Message #3782093

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 23:38:41 -0000

I still contend that copying 10w CW beacons on two meters is more fun. And when one of those beacons is 430 miles from the Mountain, the fun becomes even greater!

Message #3782063

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:26:07 -0000

http://mule.smugmug.com/Work/i-49kVJ7P/0/L/USRP2920-L.jpg :) New toy at work. Recording GPS signals. :evilgrin

Message #3775697

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 08:31:02 -0000

On both six and two meter, I'll stick with the digital mode that I've come to find as absolutely the best for real weak-sig and contest work: CW

Message #3775262

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:52:32 -0000

vince-q,

Yes and no. The DD mode of D-Star is standardized, but the voice codec is proprietary. Other hams have implemented the data side just fine.

Message #3775261

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:46:22 -0000

I agree with you sig. The prorietary nature of the "voice codec" - that is not a part of the digital data mode can die in a car fire. I hate voice modes myself and stick to mostly digital. I am saving up for the next wave of software defined radios to play with as it is just getting interesting in the last year or two.

Message #3775032

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:19:53 -0000

Proprietary digital modes can die in a car fire. I really enjoyed Bruce Perens' rant about digital voice at last year's TAPR conference, and I hope that goes somewhere. Wrote about it hither: http://sigspace.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/tapr-dcc-digital-voice-yaesu-and-bruc e-perens/

Message #3774017

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 06:36:26 -0000

Interesting website but light on "what is D-star and how does it work" stuff. Do I understand this correctly in that D-star is proprietary to Icom equipment?

Message #3773987

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 05:23:49 -0000

Can do. Here is some light reading:

http://14567.org/

A bit on what we have learned progressing and pushing the state of the art from packet to other modes. There is more of course as we had outright failures in the lab, but then again, that is what it is for :-)

Message #3773448

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 06:15:28 -0000

Ah, D-star. To tell the truth, I have absolutely no idea how D-star works in the least. Perhaps you could enlighten me/us?

Message #3773442

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 04:42:49 -0000

Oh, sorry. I meant DD mode D-Star. I don't acknowledge that other patent encumbered thing going on with voice.

Message #3770834

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 05:05:09 -0000

I'll pass on the D-star thing. In fact, I really do not consider contacts that are "assisted" by the internet to be "real." Repeaters have their uses, particularly when you are in the car. But "real QSOs" are made between my radio and the other guy's radio without any "intermediary assistance." That is why I am in "love" with my Mountain!

Message #3770825

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:35:36 -0000

You should try some D-Star on 70cm as well and add an additional 4800 bps to add to your Internet connection bandwidth :-)

Message #3770734

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:45:29 -0000

On the slight chance that someone may be even minutely interested, you can go to the following link if you want the "absolutely latest" on the antenna exploits here on the Mountain. http://www.qrz.com/db/K2NE

Message #3770008

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 05:18:18 -0000

Well, after roughly 4 months the wideband discone antenna is out of service. No, it didn't fall victim to some damaging event, it got replaced with something better. The new antenna is a Cushcraft AR270B Ranger - for 2m and 70cm. Think of it as a two-band "ringo ranger" without the "ringo" part. Instead of the ring at the base of the vertical it has three relatively short "stubby" radials. I mounted this New Thing about 25 ft off the ground - actually about ten feet off the roof of the house. Remember, I'm at 2,600 ft elevation here in the Cascade Mountain foothills. Clear shots to the horizon in almost every direction (including all the directions in which people actually live!). It outperforms the discone in every conceivable way, including roughly 4 dBd gain on 2 meters and about 7 dBd gain on 70 cm. Omnidirectional - it's a vertical. I'm hearing things I wasn't hearing on the other antenna, and working things with 4 watts (Baofeng UV5-R) that formerly required at least 25w with the Kenwood 281A. Even 70cm FM is fun with this thing! Now, on to the next project - the 2m SSB antennas. More on that later. For now, VY 73 DE K2NE --Vince

Message #3744540

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 05:11:12 -0000

But do put up something. It is fun no matter what. When you find that what you put up does not meet your needs, put something else up. My boss found out the wind load of his chimney that way. It was less than he calculated :-)

Message #3733723

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 15:33:01 -0000

You will do MUCH better with a quarter wave vertical if you can set up a counterpoise (radial) system. MUCH lower angle of radiation and MUCH better for working DX on 20m. Yes - it is omnidirectional, but QRM on 20m is not as bad as it was years ago, and the receivers today are infinitely better at handling it. For example, the receive section in my Yaesu 450D absolutely performs any Collins S-Line receiver that I've ever owned (and I've owned most of them over the years) and runs circles around the KWM-2A. And since those have been considered "industry standards" - because of the Collins mechanical filters - for years, that says a *lot* about modern transceivers! --K2NE

Message #3733720

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:40:36 -0000

I'm, um, thinking about putting up a half-wave wire dipole for 20m. Yeah. That's it.

Message #3733676

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 06:45:15 -0000

> Jul 5 2014 4:58pm from ax25 @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >Sounds like fun. Take pictures! > Once we've gotten something meaningful up in the air, photos will follow. Of course, the *real* excitement here on the Mountain is not 2 meters, but 6 (50 Mhz). Six meters up here presents some really unique potential. We have a clear shot to the southwest all the way to the Mexican border at San Diego, a path of approximately 650 miles. The antenna I am designing will be on a fixed heading of 150 degr (south by southeast) and a half-power beamwidth of about 35 degr. The gain of the arrays will be developed by stacking in the vertical direction. When all is done (on paper) I will try to scan some of the sketches to give you a better idea of the final implementation. Right now the plan is for sixteen Moxon antennas, each backed up with a reflector system to emphasize directivity. Four separate "mounting structures" and a phasing system to implement some (very slight) "beam stearing." Estimated forward gain (off the top of my head here) should be somewhere around 17 dBd. Front to back somewhere around 50 dB. Very low noise system - up here that is not really an issue since RF noise is virtually nonexistent, but a low noise-floor never hurts! The two meter antenna system will be rather ordinary and relatively "boring." The six meter system will undoubtedly be in QST - just like most of my other designs over the years. --K2NE

Message #3733666

Sat, 05 Jul 2014 23:58:48 -0000

Sounds like fun. Take pictures!

Message #3733174

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 05:05:54 -0000

Not sure. The sane part of me (quite small) is saying a pair of 7 or 8 element yagis. The insane part of me is saying 3 element yagis each with a pair of trigonal reflectors. How many? Sixteen. The slightly less insane part of me is saying eight 5-el yagix (with trigonal reflectors). And by "2 meters" I mean horizontal polarization for SSB/CW. Where will this actually go? Let you know when we get there! ;)

Message #3733165

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 02:30:54 -0000

What are you thinking of doing for an antenna for 2m?

Message #3733139

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:32:09 -0000

Well, it's on the way and - with some luck - should be here by Monday (July 7). "It" is the IC-211. An Icom. Vintage. 2-meter all mode transceiver. The all-important SSB/CW "foundation" for the 2 meter position in the contest station that I'm putting together. I used to have one of these some years ago, and while they are "old" by today's appearance, they are right there on receiver sensitivity, and that is *all* that matters. On the transmit side, it is a ten watt radio. That's why they make/build RF amplifiers. So now.... on to the antenna(s) for 2 meters. This is starting to become real!

Message #3730330

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:34:38 -0000

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! CONGRATS!!! --K2NE

Message #3729788

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:34:38 -0000

35 out of 35. Celebrated with gelatto. (And then 60 minutes on the elliptical to counteract said gelatto.) The Maryland Mobileers run a monthly test at the National Electronics Museum. They had so many people last night they had to test some of the technicians in waves; they didn't have enough test booklets. Me and one other person testing for general, and one guy testing for extra; everyone else was getting their first license. Maybe 18 people all together; I forgot to count. It was impressive how many people were just starting, and of all ages. We wandered around the museum chatting about radio things while waiting for the paperwork to be finished. I was actually able to contribute meaningfully to the conversation, having a year's experience with the cheap Baofeng handheld that several people were considering. (In my rental car hooked up to a magmount antenna right now, actually.) Fun evening. And through the generosity of the Mobileers, the normal $15 testing fee was waived. Very cool all around. Possibly the most pleasant evening I've ever had that revolved around taking a test.

Message #3727273

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 05:49:59 -0000

So, early evening being clear and rather chilly (believe it or not) I thought to wander across the parking area by the house to the 'ham shack' and fire up the rig. Hearing actual SSB activity on 6 meters (remember, no real 6 meter antenna here - just that bastardized OCF inverted vee thing) I decided to listen a bit more attentively. Before long I was actually working a station in Edmonton (Alberta, as in Canada). No real magic here. "Six" was wide open as it often is this time of year. 40 over S9 reports were exchanged and I switched off the radio dreaming of days to come when I get a *real* antenna array up in the air for 6 meters. And two meters. And 432 Mhz. ...and then we'll entertain the notion of getting back into the VHF contests. And winning!

Message #3727271

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 05:40:09 -0000

Or as a "poet" might say... Damn! Field!! Day again!!!

Message #3727268

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 05:30:25 -0000

Damn, field day again?

Message #3727056

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:58:50 -0000

I dunno if you're still in the area, Sig, but we're due to have a bright, sun-shiny day today. Then, more storms.

Message #3726873

Sun, 15 Jun 2014 06:57:13 -0000

> > Also studying to take my General class license test in a week and a >half or so, the Tuesday before Field Day. Hoping to make contact with >the Radio CLub of Tacoma, one of the longest running clubs on the West >coast, and maybe help out with their activities this year. > > Good luck on the "G" test!!! And have fun on Field Day. I'll be with the W6EK club field day this year, and as soon as I can locate a 2 meter ssb transceiver, starting assembly of the large fixed array on 2m up on the mountain. --K2NE

Message #3726783

Sat, 14 Jun 2014 19:08:15 -0000

National Electronics Museum was kind of neat, though it tended to focus mostly on products developed or built locally in Baltimore (i.e. the things that businesses or people donated), so there were a lot of radars and jamming displays and whatnot, but there was a communications gallery with a very nice amateur radio setup, and a few odds and ends. Took the obligatory picture of their Enigma. I brought all of my gear, but haven't been adventurous enough to take it out. Setup in the hotel room is pretty mediocre in terms of reception (on a half wave wire dipole), of course, but I've ironed out most of the weirdnesses with my Linux Mint laptop, the Signalink USB interface, the CAT interface, and the radio itself (a Yaesu FT-817ND). They all seem to be playing nicely together, finally. Part of the issue is that a) the weather has been very muggy with occasional thunderstorms (albeit usually while I'm at work) and b) I've had a persistent cough/allergies since I arrived 11 days ago. I bought significantly more aggressive OTC medications today and am feeling a heck of a lot better. We'll see how it goes from here. Also studying to take my General class license test in a week and a half or so, the Tuesday before Field Day. Hoping to make contact with the Radio CLub of Tacoma, one of the longest running clubs on the West coast, and maybe help out with their activities this year.

Message #3715109

Thu, 22 May 2014 11:24:23 -0000

Well, we survived the round of Donner Und Blitzen the other night with no problems. Connectivity to the local repeaters (and some not so local) with the BaoFeng UV-5R and the aftermarket 144/450 flexible antenna was easy. From the back deck I can "hit" the NorCal linked-system through the Cohasset Mountain input (34/94 on 2m) and the Marysville repeater, although 50 miles from here, is another easy "hit." Lots of interesting stuff on 450 (70 cm) including the CARLA linked system, but the weather does strangeness on 450. Heck, that band can be strange enough *without* any "help" from the WX... --K2NE

Message #3714528

Tue, 20 May 2014 03:39:44 -0000

Heh - thunderboomers abound. So all the rigs are firmly disconnected from the multitude of antennas and I'm "strictly HT" for the duration. Not too bad - 2m FM and 70 cm FM and a bunch of repeaters in range from here on the Mountain. Gotta love those little BaoFeng toys - especially the $35 to $40 price range for the UV-5R which is the one I have. --K2NE

Message #3713243

Sat, 17 May 2014 04:49:32 -0000

I'm going to MD by myself for work for the first few weeks of June, so I am probably going to bring all of my mobile kit and try again. Also promised myself a visit to the National Electronics Museum. It being June, I have no interest in the capital mall this time, but I'm told there are other things worth seeing in that time zone during my free time.

Message #3709904

Mon, 12 May 2014 03:27:27 -0000

Rangling kids does take a bit of time. Though I would have more as they got older, but alas, not the case. Hobby by the wayside at present.

Message #3707561

Tue, 06 May 2014 19:29:54 -0000

I never did pull the radio out but once. Herding the children, wife, and dog en route there and back took up a lot of energy, and once we were there, we mostly drank a lot of coffee and talked. I did sit on my aunt's back porch and tap into their steel dog run as an antenna; SWR was negligible according to my radio, but I didn't really have the time or energy to really dig into it for more than a few mintues.

Message #3706560

Sat, 03 May 2014 04:06:34 -0000

>We're planning a road trip to South Dakota in the not-too-distant >future. Say hi to Stan Gibilisco for me.

Message #3702521

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 20:00:44 -0000

Thu Apr 24 2014 04:41:36 AM EDTfrom vince-q @ Cascade Lodge BBS

...

Please remember that we are on a 2,600 ft mountain with that wonderful "clear shot" to the SSW direction (optimal for what we want to do on "six").

Fingers are crossed.... ;)

And that would be... interfere with older baby monitors in the SSW part of the US of A :-)

Just kidding of course.

Message #3701863

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 08:41:36 -0000

It looks like we might actually be able to get the first half of the six meter "monster antenna" up in the air and usable by mid-summer. That will be four 3-element yagis in an H-frame configuration with the "center of the H" at roughly 30 ft above ground. Please remember that we are on a 2,600 ft mountain with that wonderful "clear shot" to the SSW direction (optimal for what we want to do on "six"). Fingers are crossed.... ;) --K2NE

Message #3699608

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 04:47:31 -0000

I am copying beacon stations on six meters (low-power CW sigs) and so far the furthest is 180 miles from here. This is not spectacular in and of itself. What *makes* it spectacular is that I am only using my HF off-center fed inverted vee - **not** a six meter antenna. This mountain is absolutely ***magical*** !!! So.... The six meter monster array project is now "on the table" and I've started a few tentative designs. This will be a fixed-direction very high gain array with a wide H-plane pattern and a **lot** of compression in the vertical plane (which is how the system will develop its gain). I'm thinking an array of "many" small yagis, or perhaps a return to the collinear curtain design. The array will be pointed on a heading of (roughly) 185 degr (just slightly to the west of due south). This puts it on line with the San Diego area and into Mexico for weak-signal work (tropo scatter and meteor-burst). Yes. It works. And yes - the distance is attainable. As the saying goes... "been there, done that." --K2NE

Message #3690995

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:13:33 -0000

General class is next on my list after I test for CEH (this week) and Security+ (in a few weeks). I listen on all sorts of bands, transmit relatively rarely.

Message #3690886

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 04:52:49 -0000

Tue Apr 01 2014 09:25:54 PM EDT from Sig @ Uncensored

We're planning a road trip to South Dakota in the not-too-distant future.
Not super excited about spending that much time in the car, but I should be able to find some time to do radio. All of my HF gear fits in a medium-sized camera bag, so I might get in some hiking, too.

Sounds like a QSO Sig. Do you plan on hauling some HF gear? If so, I should bone up on getting my General license so I can talk to you outside of sporadic contacts on 10M data. If you get close to the border of Minnesota, the data landscape is a bit more broad:

http://14567.org/

Still slow speed for the wide coverage, but we are trying. Keep in touch if you find any ah-ha moments that you can share on easy ways to make it simple for expanding coverage that will involve the local ham like the early days of packet did. Hell, just let me know any wild plans you may have... I would be willing to entertain them all as I have some folks that would entertain most SWAG thoughts :-)

Message #3690876

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 01:25:54 -0000

We're planning a road trip to South Dakota in the not-too-distant future. Not super excited about spending that much time in the car, but I should be able to find some time to do radio. All of my HF gear fits in a medium-sized camera bag, so I might get in some hiking, too.

Message #3682109

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 02:50:31 -0000

Sat Mar 15 2014 11:16:19 AM EDT from Sig @ Uncensored

Received a QSL card for a signal report I gave for the N5FUN beacon in Texas. I'd picked it up just for a few minutes on an untuned wire (roughly 1/2 wave) haning out of my window. My wife is utterly unimpressed by all of my radio gear, but thinks
the idea of getting a postcard from someone I've communicated with is magical.

I am afraid my wife would find that the most interesting bit of my hobby as well. Told her just now, and she giggled and said "that's me".

Message #3681869

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:26:34 -0000

Two Meters (144 to 148 Mhz), even when using FM, can be magical. Of course, it helps to have "a mountain under you" and I am at 2600 ft ASL. So here's a tidbit or three... 1) yesterday I managed to get into a repeater in Roseville from here. About 70 miles. Full quieting into the machine. 2) then later yesterday I worked a guy down in Chico (about 20 miles) who told me I was "the strongest signal he's ever heard" on 2 meters at his QTH. 3) then this morning I worked a guy who was on I-5 going north just above Corning - about 70 miles from here - with about 80% quieting both ways until he went out of range (or behind a hill - same thing). The hardware here is a Kenwood TM281A running 65 watts into a discone antenna about 25' above the ground. Basic rig, even *more* basic antenna, feeding the antenna with non-exotic (cheap!) RG58 "Radio Shack" coax. As I intimated at the beginning of this note - this mountain is ***magic*** on VHF! I simply can't **wait** to get the six meter stuff (50 MHz) up and running!!! --K2NE

Message #3681572

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:27:14 -0000

For those interested in a quick and easy multiband wire antenna... Just buy a 4:1 current balun (roughly $30 from HRO). And about 150' of 14 gauge stranded copper wire. And two end-insulators, about 150 ft of decent rope. And a strategically located tree with a "tie point" about 40' above the ground. Cut one length of wire 95' and the other 45'. Use 1' off each end of the wire to tie off - one end on one of the insulators the other on one side of the balun - repeat for the other wire. Erect center (the balun) at roughly 40' above ground, and bring the two "legs" (the wires) down so they make a 120 degree angle and tie them off so the ends of the wire are roughly 10' above ground. Feed the balun with good 50 ohm coax (RG8 or RG8X) straight down toward the ground, then at a 90 degr angle into your building. Should work on 80m, 40m, 20m, and 10m WITHOUT an antenna tuner, and the other HF bands with minimal "intrusion" from a tuner. Total cost - about fifty bucks. Buy it from a "ham store" (??) for anywhere from $150 to $225. Or do it my way (see the preceeding) and save $75 to $175. --K2NE (the antenna guy!)

Message #3680728

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 23:39:20 -0000

Sorry, I haven't had a need yet. I just got my lotw certificate today, haven't even installed it.

Message #3680000

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:14:59 -0000

Oops... yeah, I missed that.

Message #3679682

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 00:03:08 -0000

> Mar 17 2014 4:42pm from fleeb @uncnsrd (Uncensored) > > I'm not a HAM guy, but how about this: > > http://www.dx4win.com/ > > Hmmmm... I think you missed the "must be free" part. That thing is $89.95 !!

Message #3679677

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 23:42:55 -0000

I'm not a HAM guy, but how about this: http://www.dx4win.com/

Message #3679662

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 20:15:42 -0000

I am looking for a simple, basic ham radio logbook. Must run on XP and Win7. Must be easy. Must be free. Any recommendations? --K2NE

Message #3678206

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:16:19 -0000

Received a QSL card for a signal report I gave for the N5FUN beacon in Texas. I'd picked it up just for a few minutes on an untuned wire (roughly 1/2 wave) haning out of my window. My wife is utterly unimpressed by all of my radio gear, but thinks the idea of getting a postcard from someone I've communicated with is magical.

Message #3676731

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 03:34:23 -0000

Sounds like fun Sig. I have spun the dial on the setup at the U of Twente for a few hours here and there. Wonder where the hours went, but then remembered they were not lost (so no alien abduction happened), just lost in having fun.

Reminds me of firing up the Zenith Trans-Oceanic when I picked it up at a rummage sale and getting some help from an older neighbor that loved digging around in bins of tubes and fixing old radios.

Message #3674959

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 02:27:17 -0000

WebSDR is amazing and shiny. I've been playing with it for a bit, connecting to internet-connected software defined radio receivers all over the world and tuning in as though I were at the local console. Recently, I picked up another Nexus 7 tablet (replacing the one that did a swan dive off the Subaru in January) and I picked up PocketTxRx (for free), which has a pretty decent (if rough) interface allowing me to do the same thing from my tablet. The 40 and 80 meter bands have been pretty open around the time in the evening when I'm getting ready for bed, so I've been annoying my wife by listening to Russian radio traffic in the comfort of my bed. It also has a module to provide a similar control interface to my Yaesu FT-817 radio, which would be awesome for operating out of a backpack; my tablet is a good deal lighter than even my netbook. It's a cool era to learn new things.

Message #3658057

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:02:50 -0000

Ham Radio Outlet in Portland did just mail me (with a quickness, via UPS) a new Signalink USB to make my netbook and Yaesu FT-817 talk to each other civilly. I REALLY want to go home and play with it, but we have training until 9pm. Grr. I spent part of the weekend playing with WSPR, Weak Signal Propagation Reporting. It is the bee's knees.

Message #3649514

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:34:44 -0000

True enough, but I never have cause to go to Portland for work.

Message #3647143

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 09:22:35 -0000

There is an HRO store in Portland OR which is a lot closer to you, Sig, than California. --K2NE

Message #3647110

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 01:21:30 -0000

Meant to go back today (class got out much earlier), but I got caught up in paperwork and e-mail (and finding out about my de facto pay cut) and I just plain forgot to visit before closing. Annoying. I'll have to get work to send me somewhere else with a ham radio presence; there are no such stores in WA state.

Message #3647109

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 01:20:14 -0000

I saw my first ever Ham Radio Outlet yesterday in San Diego (where I've been this week). The shuttle from the airport drove by it and then my hotel turned out to be just two blocks away. Alas, I showed up close to closing time, but it was kind of cool nonetheless. Outside of the Digital Communications Conference back in September, I have never really talked radio with anyone or even seen any of the equipment outside of magazine photos (or what I personally own). I jumped into radio with both feet (and my checkbook), but then I wasn't able to really start operating because other real life things intruded. I wanted to study for my general license, but my language proficiency test, GRE, and Network+ have intruded. Fortunately, every month my QST shows up in the mail and rekindles my interest.

Message #3642821

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:09:07 -0000

That sounds wonderful, vince!

Message #3642662

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 05:49:03 -0000

Well, after twelve years I did it. Gave in. Drove all the way to Oakland (about 180 miles from the "home QTH") to the "nearest" Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) store and spent money (gasp!) buying a ***new*** Yaesu FT-280R 2 meter FM handheld. The little thing is turning out to be a lot of fun, and is just incredibly packed with more "bells and whistles" than I even knew existed. Remember, I have been totally "off the air" and away from amateur radio since early 2001 just prior to the Great Western Relocation after my retirement. Wow. Today I worked a guy just outside of Dallas TX on a silly little 5 watt handheld with the stock "rubber duckie" antenna. It is truly amazing what has happened while I've been away - linked repeaters using internet "backbones" and more. I feel like a kid again. Whodda thunk it now being licensed for.... 48 years.... ugh! --K2NE

Message #3623144

Tue, 24 Dec 2013 12:55:45 -0000

Hrm... thinking about this more, it would take several songs. I doubt you could properly write one song for all the letters, as the morse code would force a lack of continuity in the music. But if you made a series of melodies that take each letter as a particular rhythm-theme, one could probably do it. Hm.

Message #3622348

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 16:08:52 -0000

If you can learn solfeggio with a song you can learn morse code with a song. Get to it!

Message #3613693

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 13:42:10 -0000

Much as I'm joking with vince-q, it sounds like a great way to learn morse code, but I'd want to find the right words or tunes to get the right letters. That might make for an interesting musical challange, though. Create a song to help teach morse code.

Message #3613619

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 04:06:23 -0000

Welcome aboard!

Message #3613196

Tue, 10 Dec 2013 21:55:12 -0000

what you describe, fleeb, is actually mentioned in the book "cheaper by the dozen"

The father actually worked out words with the correct rhythm for morse code beginning with the letter...

Message #3610944

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:54:47 -0000

https://www.hamwan.org/t/tiki-index.php The Puget Sound Data Ring was presented at the Digital Communications Conference in Seattle in September; it was very shiny. I am almost within the "red" zone coverage area; I could probably get at least some service with the current sites, but even a $200 investment is a bit much for me just to play at the moment. The group doesn't self-promote very well, but here's an excerpt from a brief from commacademy.org: The Puget Sound Data Ring, or HamWAN Project, has matured significantly since its introduction at the NWAPRS Summer Gathering last September. Bart Kus, AE7SJ introduced the concept for a multimegabit network, autonomous from the internet, yet providing analogous connectivity. The network is designed and implemented by hams for ham radio use in emergencies as well as for microwave experimentation. This network is extremely complementary to projects such as the HSMM / NW-MESH system in that it provides high-speed linking of patches of mesh as well as back-haul across the region or linking to other systems and resources. Once implemented, HamWAN will provide a high speed, independent, and redundant backbone over which a multitude of existing and new amateur functionality can be implemented. It.s RF backbone literally places network access where Amateur resources need it the most . at the mountaintops. It.s redundant ring design allows it to survive and serve if one or more sites go offline during a disaster. The carrier grade design ensures that it will be capable of peering with ISPs on the global internet. This will allow us to provide gateways to existing amateur applications such as EchoLink, IRLP, D-Star, packet, etc. Additionally, a wide range of regionally accessible EMCOMM resources such as ham paging, disaster messaging services, websites and other applications can be supported by a redundant RF backbone regionally

Message #3610935

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:02:41 -0000

Well, I'm glad the idiot filter is gone. Us idiots have been scheming for decades on how to infiltrate and destroy amateur radio. It took a protracted effort from our plant Bruce Berens to make it happen, but it was worth it.

Message #3599776

Sat, 23 Nov 2013 16:23:01 -0000

(Although, it's amusing to think that Carol of the Bells does a pretty good job of representing the letter 'B').

Message #3599775

Sat, 23 Nov 2013 16:22:05 -0000

Heh... one always associates 'fraternity' with the letter L. I mean, look at the word! Roll it around on your tongue. It just screams 'L'. And 'plethora' screams the letter 'S'. And 'Torus' is obviously 'N'. ... Actually, I don't think those words are really doing it for me.

Message #3597638

Thu, 21 Nov 2013 20:10:25 -0000

> Nov 21 2013 8:43am from IGnatius T Foobar @uncnsrd (Uncensored) >Ok, explain that please. I am a musician. Is there a trick to feeling >a rhythm of some sort to understand code? > > Absolutely. The code (as a musician) is *all* about rhythm. Take "L" for example. di DAH di dit. To the rhythm of promouncing the word "fraternity." Try it. fra TER ni ty di DAH di dit ...and so on.

Message #3597413

Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:43:47 -0000

Ok, explain that please. I am a musician. Is there a trick to feeling a rhythm of some sort to understand code?

Message #3596994

Thu, 21 Nov 2013 09:07:22 -0000

Learning Morse Code is absurdly easy.... IF you are a musician!

Message #3596186

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:14:59 -0000

>Morse is not a bar to entry any longer, though still worth doing. >Worst case, you can (of course) do it in software. I figured there would have had to be software encoders/decoders out there. Knowing how my brain is wired, I could probably absorb Morse code simply by watching the decoder operate while listening.

Message #3595718

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 05:54:20 -0000

Actually, the code probably wasn't very good at being an idiot filter. But what it did was weed out the merely curious. "Back in the day" getting a ham license required real work regardless of how good you were with "the theory." I've seen Ph.D. physicists not make it through the "code barrier" that were published in the field (E&M, Prppagation, etc.). [of course, I've also known Ph.D. physicists that couldn't dress with colors coordinated etc etc - yes, Sheldon is an archetype, but they *are* "out there"!!]

Message #3595715

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 05:50:16 -0000

Demonstrating send/receive proficiency in the International Morse Code was never a "bar to entry." It was (and still should be) our *idiot* filter. --K2NE

Message #3595390

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 04:10:10 -0000

Morse is not a bar to entry any longer, though still worth doing. Worst case, you can (of course) do it in software.

Message #3586425

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:35:58 -0000

> > What's the range of a modest HF rig? Would we be able to reach across >the continent? > The range of *any* HF rig is directly (and almost solely) dependent on the antenna you are using. With a reasonable outdoor antenna (half-wave dipole at any height over 40 feet) you can expect to communicate easily over the distance appropriate to the band on which you are operating and the time of day (conditions change with position of the sun relative to the midpoint of the path over which you are attempting to communicate). Just about all multi-band HF rigs cover the basic ham bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Depending on propagation conditions and a reasonable antenna you should be able to communicate on a range from 400 miles to world-wide depending on the band on which you choose to operate at that time. You can buy a reasonably "equipped" HF rig (used) for less than $500.00 that will get you up and running on CW (morse code) and SSB (single sideband voice). The unit may or may not include a microphone and if it does, you will most likely want or need a better one. Figure $50 to $100 for that (used). The dipole antenna? Build it yourself - you will need a 'balun' at the feedpoint (please see a book!) and four insulators (see a good hardware store), some rope, the ability to climb trees (see your local high school kid) and, of course, **trees**. If you want to use the Morse Code (CW, or Continuous Wave telegraphy), you will need a telegraph key. There are all sorts of those ranging from simple to electronic. You really must start on a simple "straight key." You can progress from that later to such creatures as spring-activated keyers, electronic keyers, memory keyers, and more. Obviously as you progress things get a bit more costly. You can pick up a simple straight key for under $50 if you look around. The electronic stuff runs up in cost depending on the 'bells and whistles' included. And the rest of the story depends on experience. And the only way to get experience is to jump in and DO it. Oh - don't forget to pick up that LICENSE first! --Vince (K2NE)

Message #3586418

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:15:47 -0000

You guys are making me want to take on another hobby now. How dare you threaten my wallet like that :) What's the range of a modest HF rig? Would we be able to reach across the continent?

Message #3586305

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 02:28:57 -0000

I would very strongly recommend an outdoor vertical (trapped) for 80m to 10m (some are even available including the "WARC" bands).

There are some outstanding designs commercially available that do not require the use of groundplanes (radial wires). Very much "counter-intuitive" to us old-school types that were brought up believing that "anything vertical" required burying hundreds of feet of copper wires to act as a counterpoise. Apparently these newer designs do it electronically and it does work. Back in NJ I used a Cushcraft "thing" without radials and it worked well. Surprisingly well. But be prepared to spend between $300 and $600 for the right antenna, and do your homework (which means get out to a club meeting or three, and find out what folks are actually using and get opinions).

The *worst* outdoor antenna will out-perform the *best* indoor antenna on HF just about all the time - not even close.

--Vince (K2NE)

Message #3586086

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 20:39:46 -0000

The attic dipole setups described on the Internet seem to rely heavily on the use of carefully placed traps to right-size the antenna spans for each band. Which bands are you transmitting on?

Message #3585514

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 03:54:09 -0000

Better to experiment with designs you can reach than waste time with something up a pole in the backyard that is snowed in most of the winter.

Message #3584967

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:35:11 -0000

I hate that I've spent a ton (for me) of money on all of this sweet radio gear, and I just have not had time to really get into it. I really should have worked hard to get a good antenna set up for the house before the weather turned absolutely evil. I'm considering trying to implement a wire-dipole-in-the-attic arrangement like I keep reading about. Even though I have a half acre and live in a redneck neighborhood where no one cares in the slightest about antenna towers, I'm fascinated by the "stealth antenna" schemes of apartment dwellers, etc.

Message #3550029

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:38:11 -0000

I hadn't even heard of it until the DCC, but I was thoroughly impressed byt their goals as presented. The theme of open hardware was pervasive throughout the conference. I still haven't preordered one, though in a comment on my blog post about it, they told me to send them an e-mail address and I'd get added to the lis at pre-order pricing (which was nice). My Capri may need major engine surgery, however, so that will probably be deferred somewhat. Their quote is driving a significant portion of my insignificant blog traffic.

Message #3549831

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 03:33:16 -0000

So Sig, have you checked out the UDR-56?

http://nwdigitalradio.com/

Wow, I see from the quotes on the website that you did not miss it. Lucky. I registered for the pre-order as well, but never had a response. Probably just as well as my fun money is about out for the year after purchasing a new furnace for the winter :-)

Message #3549655

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:43:31 -0000

RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY

Oops, did not mean to diddle.

Message #3548975

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:42:46 -0000

So there's an amateur radio place. Easy to ap for those who don't care.