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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.
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 NesbittI 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 FoobarWe 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.
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 :)
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.
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?
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?
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.
Or one of those lipo battery packs..
Wed Feb 21 2024 13:38:44 EST from fandarelAny chance you can run off a couple of AA batteries instead? I imagine the draw is relatively small.
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.