The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: alfsauve on August 30, 2021, 08:28:00 AM
-
INTRODUCTION:
Thought I'd start a thread to share Ham Radio adventures. Upcoming special events, etc. I know it's been several years, but now I am really read to work Museum Ships next time.
-
Oh My Gosh.
What have I been missing. Got on 40m last night for the first time in decades and of course the first time on FT8 digital. There wasn't any room for my signal. The waterfall graph was almost completely red. Made about 20 QSO.
Got back on at 9am this morning and it isn't quite as crowded but plenty busy. I just wish the Alaska station on Grid Tracker would show up. HEre's what it looks like. All the amber/red "waterfalls" on the top graph represent stations, sometimes multiple stations on one frequency.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-XVhzknD/0/11dde544/XL/20210830_091658-XL.jpg)
-
Not been a week yet. I'm becoming addicted to the digital modes. If you've used WSJT software then you understand when I say, I'm trying to turn all the Blue to Green. (Green meaning I've already contacted that station) So here's my Worked All States status as of this PM
-
I haven't done the digital thing yet. I have an FT991A and an FTDX 3000 both of which are supposed to interface to the computer easily. If I knew what good cheap software to get I may try it.
I think I'll fire up the 80 meter vertical loop tonight and the 6 meter dipole. Are you going to be on tonight 03-SEPT?
-
... If I knew what good cheap software to get I may try it.
I think I'll fire up the 80 meter vertical loop tonight and the 6 meter dipole. Are you going to be on tonight 03-SEPT?
Sorry, didn't see your post until just now.
If you want to get on FT8 mode then WSTJ-X software is free and it's pretty much what everyone is using. It decodes 3kHz of bandwidth and show you all the stations that you're hearing. By default, Blue means someone calling CQ you haven't worked. Green means you've worked them. You can monitor a single frequency in the right window which you use for QSO.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
An add-on piece of software, also free, called, Grid Tracker, will monitor WSTJ software and give you a map with pins for all the stations. It also gives you a convenient list of stations calling CQ and when you click on any station it has a window that will give you all the details of that station from the call book.
The one No-No is you never want to transmit on the same frequency as the stations you're calling. Remember the software scans the whole segment and reports anybody using your call in red. It's possible to conduct multiple QSO's at once, so transmitting on another stations frequency will interfere with their other QSOs. I've only done two at once, cause it gets tricky. There's a module which will simplify that but I haven't tried it out yet.
Let me know when you want to try again. Grands are coming over tonight so I'm QRT in just a little while.
-
I run Ham Radio Deluxe as a logger. I know it has some radio functions. I need to see of it does digital.
-
I haven't done the digital thing yet. I have an FT991A and an FTDX 3000 both of which are supposed to interface to the computer easily.
I have an FTDX 3000 that has never been hooked up and an FT-847. I hope to have my hustler up before too long!!! (I hope)
-
I run Ham Radio Deluxe as a logger. I know it has some radio functions. I need to see of it does digital.
I never got HRD because I wasn't active except on local VHF/UHF. I mean in the last 15 years I've made maybe 3 HF contacts all from back when I had the IC706 in the truck. So when I got the FT8 digital bug I just went straight to the WSJT software. When I get ready to branch out and do CW or Phone or some other digital mode I'll look at HRD.
-
I use HRD for my logger. It uses my QRZ membership to lookup the contacts and fill in their information before I confirm the contact. That I really like.
-
Update:
Still operating primarily daytime and digital FT8. Slowly adding DX contacts. Am up to 18 countries. WAS is getting there with the exception of AK and HI. Building up my 5 band list though. Need to spend more time on 10m and of course nights on 80m. Not concerned about 6m very much. It was a fluke that I made 3 contacts. Local mail list posted a band opening and I jumped on it briefly.
-
I am not up on HF yet BUT I finally got 2mtr and 70cm up and going. I will get 6mtr up this weekend. All that leaves will be HF. Slowly but surely. Also, have 2 diskcones up for scanner use.
-
I am staying too busy being "retired". I really need to put up the 5BTV I've had for years and years....along with the 2M/70CM vertical. The hope is to get it all up by the first part of December so I can slack off and enjoy it.
By the way...how us your 5BTV working Alf?
-
By the way...how us your 5BTV working Alf?
As good as can be expected from a trap vertical mounted on a tower with no radials. Still tuning it though. If my ship ever came in I'd replace it with a StepIRR vertical. That'd solve the tuning problem, but at a steepp cost.
So far 22 countries and all of CONUS. All on FT8. Pretty much all mid-day operating. I need to turn off the TV and come upstairs and do more 80m work at night.
-
October has gone by and I'm still fiddling with the antenna. I'm getting closer both in resonant frequency and SWR. The later are all below 3:1 and the former are all in-band at least. My true test is that, on average, I get back about the same signal report as I'm giving. I know some stations are running my higher power, but at least if some reports are the same, that's good.
Closing in on 48 states for 40M and slowly building up the contacts on 80M, 15M & 10M. Up to 27 countries towards DXCC. I'd have about 5 more buy they evidently don't confirm via LoTW.
I should get off my butt and try voice and CW. It is the CQ WW CW contest this weekend. Later, maybe.
-
And here's my QSL from the eQSL site. I'm going with the theme of Gun Culture 2. Shooting is a normal activity.
-
And here's my QSL from the eQSL site. I'm going with the theme of Gun Culture 2. Shooting is a normal activity.
"Gallia" "Belgea"
WTH were you shooting at ? Romans ? ;D
I've read "Bellum Gallicum" a couple times and Caesar never mentioned revolvers at all. ;D
-
"Gallia" "Belgea"
Ha! In eQSL those are "greeking" to serve as a space filler. If I have any comments I want to make to the other station that's where they would go. Otherwise they'd actually be blank.
I wrote a program to act as a "greeking" generator once. You set the parameter, such as Avg Word Length, Max Word size and Grade Level. It would generate basically words out of random letters of random sizes skewed by the grade level. The Higher grade level the greater the percentage of longer words. Used it to populate databases for testing. Things like item descriptions and names.
If I needed realistic names and addresses I used the FCC Ham Radio Data Base. Gave me about 700,000+/- to choose from.
-
Ha! In eQSL those are "greeking" to serve as a space filler. If I have any comments I want to make to the other station that's where they would go. Otherwise they'd actually be blank.
I wrote a program to act as a "greeking" generator once. You set the parameter, such as Avg Word Length, Max Word size and Grade Level. It would generate basically words out of random letters of random sizes skewed by the grade level. The Higher grade level the greater the percentage of longer words. Used it to populate databases for testing. Things like item descriptions and names.
If I needed realistic names and addresses I used the FCC Ham Radio Data Base. Gave me about 700,000+/- to choose from.
That's SUPPOSED to be how the Gov comes up with code names. ::)
-
I like that QSL card!
I put up the Diamond A144S10 on a temporary pole (hickory, attached to the side of the house) and I'm hitting a repeater (W5ANR) 96 miles away using 15 watts. I have a push up 32' pole on order. I'm going to order another one or two if I like it. It ran around $250 with shipping from Amazonian monster. I can find them for $200 elsewhere but the shipping is $250 so total $450.
6 meter has been dead the last couple of days when I checked.
-
I know you've all been just dieing to get a ham radio update, what between putting in your orders for a 30SC pistol and some obscure .357 lever action auction.
Finally came. What with holiday's and the WF it took several weeks. Got my WAS award. Yeah-h-h-h-h.
I only lack HI and AK for 40m and 20m and 7 states for 15, a few more for 80 and a lot more for 10m, but thing have been quiet on the bands. So quiet I even started listening to CW this week. I'm probably going to stay with 15 until I get all 50 on it, then concentrate on 10m and 80m.
With the winds we've had this month, I'm glad I got the re-enforced antenna.
-
https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3%80%91AURSINC-Analyzer-Measuring-Parameters-Standing/dp/B07Z5VY7B6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=NanoVNA&m=A3KC9Z86M9XWS3&qid=1649116043&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3%80%91AURSINC-Analyzer-Measuring-Parameters-Standing/dp/B07Z5VY7B6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=NanoVNA&m=A3KC9Z86M9XWS3&qid=1649116043&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2)
I have an MFJ antenna analyzer but it stops at 460 MHz and with GMRS I need to tune 3 antennas shortly at 460-470 MHz. So, a friend turned me onto this dirt cheap analyzer. He said it's better than the Rig Expert he bought several years ago and lot less that $600. I should have it to evaluate by the weekend.
I have only his recommendations for now. I'll know for myself shortly. You guys may be interested in one.
-
I bought one a few months ago but have not yet had time to test it out. You will need to get the documentation from the web as it does not have any when you receive it.
-
Rip that sucker out and tell us how it works!
-
ASAP. The only thing is I still work and between that, honey doo's, and landscaping chores I don't have time. EVERYTHING I have read just raves about it though.
-
ASAP. The only thing is I still work and between that, honey doo's, and landscaping chores I don't have time. EVERYTHING I have read just raves about it though.
I feel your pain. I work...though I think I am supposed to be retired. I have an AnyTone 5888 (Yaesu knock off) to program and put in the tractor for GMRS and 2 meter work. When I can get to it....maybe 5-6 weeks...I'll be using the new analyzer and comparing the 2M results with the MFJ.
-
I did find time to make it to the Green Country Hamfest. I was looking for a rotor that would handle ~9 sq ft for the Force 12 C-3E. What I ended up with was a reman Ham IV which is good to 15 sq ft for $500 including the delay braking controller.
Whilst I was perusing the wares of an out-of-state vendor he asked what I was looking for. He didn't have rotors but highly recommended Fred who lives only a few miles from me. It seems he has built quite a reputation for rotor repair. What I have was disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, bead blasted and coated. When I get it up...sometime this year I hope...I'll give you guys an update. That was some serious savings.
A year...yeah. I need to put up a tower. A friend has given me his ~65 ft crank up since he'll never put it up in the city where he lives. Now I need to go get it...
-
Alf, have you tried digital on 160M? I had an old ham tell me you can get through across the world 24-7 day and night on 160. I find that difficult to believe but maybe so…
-
Rastus: No I haven't tried. I'd need to put up some long-g-g-g-g wire. But I'll keep it in mind.
Sort of spring doldrums around here. I did get this celebrating WSB radio's 100th anniversary.
-
Nice.
-
Milestone today. 1,000 QSLs all on LOTW (That's Logbook Of The World, an online contact logging system).
I'm running about 80% of contacts once you remove the ones in error. LOTW doesn't allow deletions, they just stay in the db forever.
-Doubled my score in Field Day as a base station over last year. From 6 to 12 contacts! Yippie. Not my thing obviously.
-Clean Sweep in the 13 Colonies contest over 7/4. Plus I got the William Penn station. And while I was chasing those 13 stations:
Tried out FT-4 and really like it. Twice as fast but of course 2x the band width. Programed memories for the FT-4 frequencies. Will try to go that mode every now and then.
Saw some 17m, 18Mhz, reports on DX Summit and decided that even if my vertical isn't tuned for 17m I'd give it a try. Well several stations were coming in quite strongly and I gave the a shout. Despite the 4+x1 SWR I still made the contact. So while 17m doesn't count for 5Band WAS it does get an endorsement. I may have to figure something out antenna-wise for it.
Really like DX Summit. Couldn't have made the 13 Colonies without it.
-Still hunting that elusive South Carolina on 15m. Worked two stations but they don't LOTW so no joy. Can see stations on GridTracker but can't actually hear them. Eventually I'll nail that one. Or who know maybe the 13 Colony station will upload their contacts.
That's it from here. 73, Alf
-
Wow. That's way far more than anything I have worked. I'm just now getting my LOTW information from my Oklahoma home computer to here in Arkansas.
I still haven't done the digital thing yet....some day though.
I did get my 80M full wavelength vertical loop repaired and the 20M vertical loop restrung. I've made a few nice contacts on 6M that I had never pursued before.
Yesterday I found my mounting bracket for the A144S10 I had jury rigged in a single direction. I now have a rotor for the thing and a tripod mount to go on top of this old house..hopefully I can hit the repeaters in Tulsa from here (175 miles). I hit Fort Smith repeaters easily with 10-15 watts but that trip is only ~85 miles. If I fall short I'll buy another and a stacking kit to up the gain...or maybe try the 14 element Hy-Gain beam..the A144S10 does the job but it's a really flimsy antenna (aka old time TV fold up).
And I got word yesterday that my FRG-7 has been repaired, recapped, cleaned, tuned and burned in for a day. It should get mailed back Monday. I like using that thing for AM radio...I try to listen to WWL 870 AM out of New Orleans for the Don Dubuc fishing and hunting show Saturday mornings at 5 AM.
Also sitting here with a Anytone 5888 to put in the tractor. It's a knockoff of the Yaesu FT-8800 I hope to setup for 2M and GMRS...since most people up here use the GMRS for hunting and Midland has really been successful in opening up th GMRS market. I have one of Midland's MXT 115's in the side by side which does a good job.
I've got a lot of farm/ranch work to do here along with gainful employment before I can ham it up. Keep us up on all of your accomplishments.
Ken
-
An FCC Compliant Baofeng handheld....amazing. Supposedly it's not just locked down frequency selection but the harmonics are suppressed as they are supposed to be.
https://www.radioddity.com/products/baofeng-gt-5r (https://www.radioddity.com/products/baofeng-gt-5r)
-
We'd have killed for such an inexpensive radio back in the day.
VOTA
ARRL is running a year long contest Volunteers On The Air. Using the W1AW/n callsign volunteers will make contacts for fun and points. Must log through LoTW. I've only given it passing interest but went to the web site today, vota.arrl.org (http://vota.arrl.org) to discover I have 68 QSOs, 3 of the W1AW/n stations and 320 points. I also discovered I'm worth 2 points as a contact because of my life membership. I might spend a little more time with this for the rest of the year.
-
I cannot believe it's been a year since I posted this and I still have not tried the thing.
https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3%80%91AURSINC-Analyzer-Measuring-Parameters-Standing/dp/B07Z5VY7B6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=NanoVNA&m=A3KC9Z86M9XWS3&qid=1649116043&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3%80%91AURSINC-Analyzer-Measuring-Parameters-Standing/dp/B07Z5VY7B6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=NanoVNA&m=A3KC9Z86M9XWS3&qid=1649116043&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2)
I have an MFJ antenna analyzer but it stops at 460 MHz and with GMRS I need to tune 3 antennas shortly at 460-470 MHz. So, a friend turned me onto this dirt cheap analyzer. He said it's better than the Rig Expert he bought several years ago and lot less that $600. I should have it to evaluate by the weekend.
<snip>
-
If I were still working in media I have one of these in a heart beat.
-
I'm sitting at about 200th in GA in the VOTA contest. I hang out either on 10m, 20m or 40m FT8 mainly looking for Alaska and Hawaii but also busy racking up contacts for VOTA. At some point the Discone scanner antenna is coming down and a 10m dipole will go in it's place. Hoping the change of polorization will give me more contacts on 10m I lack all the states within ~250miles. And Alaska.
-
I have repair parts (dacron rope, etc.) to rehang my 80 Meter loop for Museum Ships Weekend. My wife will be out next week so I may well get my old never assembled 5BTV up too. The 20 meter loop needs to be checked out.
I understand the CME's have really added noise to the bands.
-
Is anyone going to the Dayton Hamfest this weekend??????
-
Nope. I've never been either. I bet it's a real hoot.
I'd like it a lot better if they'd relocate to say...I dunno, Branson, MO or Nashville or Orlando or even Houston.
Sorry Alf...I hate the traffic in Atlanta.
-
The Atlanta Hamfest was cancelled this year, for a number of reasons including venue issues.
Atlanta has had an issue of too many chefs in the soup. There are several, depends on how you define the term, major clubs in the area. ARC, KARC, Gwinnet County, Fulton County, Stone Mountain, N. GA Radio League to mention a few. At one point these clubs were trying to put on 4 hamfests amongst themselves each year. The ATL hamfest has bounced all over, venue wise. Stone Mountain, which was held at the mountain, and it was a neat vaca to come and stay on the property at the Inn, but it has long ago moved to the Gwinnett fairgrounds. The Kennehoochee (Kennesaw-Chattahoche River, e.g. Cobb County) radio club pretty much was stable at the Cobb County Fair grounds. Consequently, too many hamfests spreading too few sponsor $ too thin. In the past ~10years, ARC and KARC have held their hamfest together but venue issues, as has happened this year, have now made it a hit/miss thing.
The Gwinnett one is still on for the fall if you live on the NE side of the area.
-
Finally, I'm #100 in the state of GA in VOTA. (Also 5169 worldwide and 3218 in US.) Next goal is to get to #50 in GA. Just keep making FT-8 contacts. I added 6 states on 10 meters in the last 2 months which means only 8 to go. Of course AK is the most elusive on all bands for me.
For $5 I got an old Standard 2m handheld like the one I use to have. Well cared for, crystal controlled, but no tone sql. As was in those days ('75) came with 94/94 and 34/94 built in. Nice nostalgia, but I'll probably dump it, unless someone here wants it for cost of shipping. Doesn't have the battery box, but takes external power. Can run off of NiCads or Alkalines. Don't think the external power charges the batteries though. Has manual.
Also for $10 got 2 fully functional CBs. Been wanting car units to put in the cars for emergency use. But now I need mag mount antennas. Where are ham fests when you need them. Wait, I think Huntsville, AL is coming up. Road trip.
-
I've gotten my consistently best pricing on CB equipment from Copper Electronics. Here's a Hustler mag mount 41" whip for $25:
https://www.copperelectronics.com/cart/Antennas-Towers/CB-Antennas/Mobile-CB-Antennas/Hustler-IC100B-Mobile-Antenna (https://www.copperelectronics.com/cart/Antennas-Towers/CB-Antennas/Mobile-CB-Antennas/Hustler-IC100B-Mobile-Antenna)
Despite all of the huff about 1 kw capacity, super smoker, etc...if you're just running 4 watts all that really matters is the whip length on mag mount cb antenna. For a little better performance spend some extra $$$'s to get a little longer whip. The loading coil's sturdiness towards power won't matter for 4 watts...or really 50 or so either. I really like the Wilson 1000's with the 62" whip...and unless you are running 500 watts or so the Wilson 5000 is money out the door in my estimation.
-
For years I worked in a CB shop and for the vehicles that had a way to mount it the good ole 109" whip was the absolute best for range. Just an old fashion 1/4 wave. No load coils. The only issue is having space to mount it and then going through drive-throughs is a NO-NO.
-
Rastus, you did see the part where I paid $5 a piece for the radios? I’ll haunt Goodwill and hamfests for a suitable bargain. I only want to comm 5 miles up and down the road with truckers in a severe traffic backup.
-
My first radio was a 23 channel Cobra, back in 1973. I had the 109" whip mounted to the box side. After my first experience of taking out a bunch of bulbs in a canopy, I put a clip on the rain gutter to hold the tip. Still had great range.
I now have a Cobra 29 LTD Classic, in my desk drawer. I put in my truck, and when I transitioned to the desk I let another driver use it. He left the company a few months ago, so I pulled it out for myself again. Need to set it up again.
Not as many truckers have them anymore, but they do come in very handy with the few that still do.
-
Rastus, you did see the part where I paid $5 a piece for the radios? I’ll haunt Goodwill and hamfests for a suitable bargain. I only want to comm 5 miles up and down the road with truckers in a severe traffic backup.
Yep....but that road trip is going to take ga$!! But it is fun. I hope you find one. I usually only see the magnetic mounts for K40's or Wilsons...not usually the entire thing in decent shape. They charge like heck for that magnet mount.
My first radio was a 23 channel Cobra, back in 1973. I had the 109" whip mounted to the box side. After my first experience of taking out a bunch of bulbs in a canopy, I put a clip on the rain gutter to hold the tip. Still had great range.
I now have a Cobra 29 LTD Classic, in my desk drawer. I put in my truck, and when I transitioned to the desk I let another driver use it. He left the company a few months ago, so I pulled it out for myself again. Need to set it up again.
Not as many truckers have them anymore, but they do come in very handy with the few that still do.
I have a couple of mobile SSB's to do something with as well. It's been hard to get motivated...the Ford I have is aluminum so I'm thinking I'll just go with a cophase and a couple of stake hole mounts with 4 or 5 foot Wilson Silver Load antennas....if they still make those. That and a 2M/70CM antenna.
GMRS is getting really popular. I have a GMRS license but GMRS doesn't seem to have the road appeal old time CB has.
-
I remember the old 23 channel CB my dad had in a magnetic mount. It had 3 big contact strips and he just slapped it in place on the bottom of the dash, right above the transmission hump in his pickup truck. When he came home he could yank it out and take it in the house so no one would break into the truck and take it. Can you imagine anyone breaking into a car to steal a CB now? Especially one that only got 23 channels? Maybe to sell it to a museum. ;) Of course they went up to 40 channels after he bought his CB. It was almost obsolete when it was brand new. My mom and dad had a big pair of walkie-talkies that were only channel 11, and when they bought a cheap little pair for me and my younger brother they were only channel 14. Well, that didn't work out right, did it? I still have mine but I don't know if it still works after 45+ years. It's a K-mart brand that wasn't very good to start with.
Keep hamming it up, Alf!
-
[quoteI still have mine but I don't know if it still works after 45+ years.][/quote]
As Hawkeye said to Burns, you realize you need two of those. Someone has to be on the other end.
-
[quoteI still have mine but I don't know if it still works after 45+ years.]
As Hawkeye said to Burns, you realize you need two of those. Someone has to be on the other end.
Yep. Just like ham radio, but it only has one channel.
-
Progress. I'm now below #70. 10 contacts a day. Hopefully average 500+ points a week.
-
Another Month. Another 2,000 points, which I'm going to need between now and 12/31 just to tread water.
Talking Volunteers On The Air contest. The top 20 in GA, and probably ever state, are insane, earning ~1,000 points per week! At the 20th-50th place the pace, for now, is a little less hectic with only about 750 points per month. I've made it to the top 50 in the state, and that was my goal, BUT, I'm going to have to work all bands actively every day between now and the end of the year just to hold that spot.
-
Just over 3 weeks to go in Volunteers on the Air
I'm now at 36th place in GA. Several of us are via for the mid-30's as you can see in the screenshot. (I'm W4ADS).
If I keep up my 750-1,000 points a week, hopefully I'll stay under 40th place exceeding my goal.
Sadly, I was hoping to pick up more 5 band WAS contacts, but in the last 5 months have only added one. I need 5 on 10m, 1 on 20m(AK natch), 2 on 40m and 11 on 80m.
On a side note, I got a new 2023 F-150, STX, FX4 Off Road. Lifted, super towing package (which means among other things larger brakes) and a 36gal tank (FREEDOM I can do ATL-TPA on one tank, easy. I get to pick when and where I stop now.). Plus all the fantastic electronics. So I splurged and got a new 2m/440mHz radio. My old one had no back light and little chance of getting it fixed. Not worth the bother. Got the ICOM 2730, since it's UI is like my old one. Have mounted the antenna with a corner bed mount from MFJ. The base unit will go behind the seat where the "super" stereo, that I didn't get, would have gone. And I'm experimenting with different mounts for the control head. Part of me wants in on the dash in the dark glasses tray, but part says not to advertise and put it in the junk tray just in front of the shifter. I'd use a cup holder mount but Miss Kitty likes her cup holder. Pictures when it's all mounted, after Christmas.
-
Nice on the truck. So is the corner bed mount up front by the cab? Stake hole mount maybe or you drilled holes?
The thing I hate about the F-150 I have is that it is aluminum so no magnet mounts! Nor can I do anything with the glass roof that I know of.
You're going to motivate me to put in that AnyTone AT-5888UV or old 857D in my truck like I've wanted to do for...well, for a long time.
-
These are mounted in the forward corner of the bed. 3 sheet metal screws. There was already a hole ~6" down from the top of the bed. I did have to enlarge it a bet to put in a grommet and to allow a PL-259 to pass. I put one on each side for future use. Right now the cable comes in the rear door, but I'll eventually put a hole through the cab. I'm in no hurry.
Yes, I realize this isn't the ideal place but I'm trying to keep a low profile look. Maybe if I'm so moved down the road I'll go with a stake mounted near the rear.
I KNEW it was aluminum but just out of habit, without really thinking, I tried to put my mag mount on the roof. DUH.
You know that GMC Christmas commercial where the young husband surprises his wife with his/hers trucks and she claims the one he want and says coyly, "I LOVE THIS TRUCK"? That's Miss Kitty and I, only we have to share the one truck.
-
I have one major problem with most pickup trucks nowadays. Here's a picture of pickups "then" and "now", that was 2 screen grabs from a YouTube video I stuck together. Most trucks aren't really trucks anymore. They're more like the modern equivalent of the family station wagon, or its replacement, the minivan. You can haul the whole family around if you have one, but try putting a whole sheet of plywood in the back and closing the tailgate behind it. I could do that with both of my Silverados, but the last time I checked the only Chevy truck you could do that with anymore was a bare bones work truck. All the other brands I looked at were similar, if they even made a long bed pickup.
-
Oh I agree, Frank. These are useless for contractors. And in fact I wanted a smaller crew compartment and a 6' bed minimum when I started my search.
When Miss Kitty and I started our search it was for a 2nd vehicle. Something I'd drive to the range and for errands. We'd use the Pathfinder as the "family" vehicle.
However, I'm not a contractor and I don't need to haul outsized things very often. After we saw how luxurious these are and how well equipped. We shifted gears, so to speak. This is our primary vehicle. It is so comfortable and quiet and roomy, it make the Pathfinder feel like a 2nd hand model T. It also gets better gas mileage than the PF.
I could have gotten all the bells and whistle with a 6.5' bed, but I'd paid list price and had to wait 3-6months.
-
Alf that's a clean installation. It looks great and is low profile.
Frank you are right on the bed. I ordered mine with the mid-sized bed. The longest option would have been great but this is a beast to park compared to the little cars of today.
The longer bed and a 36 gallon gas tank were the ticket for me.
-
These are mounted in the forward corner of the bed. 3 sheet metal screws. There was already a hole ~6" down from the top of the bed. I did have to enlarge it a bet to put in a grommet and to allow a PL-259 to pass. I put one on each side for future use. Right now the cable comes in the rear door, but I'll eventually put a hole through the cab. I'm in no hurry.
Yes, I realize this isn't the ideal place but I'm trying to keep a low profile look. Maybe if I'm so moved down the road I'll go with a stake mounted near the rear.
I KNEW it was aluminum but just out of habit, without really thinking, I tried to put my mag mount on the roof. DUH.
You know that GMC Christmas commercial where the young husband surprises his wife with his/hers trucks and she claims the one he want and says coyly, "I LOVE THIS TRUCK"? That's Miss Kitty and I, only we have to share the one truck.
Have you considered a hitch mounted antenna?
-
Have you considered a hitch mounted antenna?
No because then it's in the way when you open the tailgate. I like the bed corner one, for now. Maybe, if I used it more and wanted a clearer/cleaner pattern I'd move it to the rear stake hole.
-
Maybe, if I used it more and wanted a clearer/cleaner pattern I'd move it to the rear stake hole.
EXACTLY!
-
End of year, 2023.
I did end up 35th in GA in the VOTA contest. It did occupy my "desk" time every day and I'm happy that I finished above my original goal of 50th. I don't know how long before, if they haven't already, they close the books on this. I'm still getting a few QSL in LOTW from last year. Some people take months to upload their contacts. I might go up or down.
Now I'm a little let-down, as I'm not anxious just to make contacts but I want to advance my WAS and DXCC status. I have 61 countries. And while I do have WAS (mostly on 15m), I want to complete 5-band and FT4. So I need a bunch on 80m, AK+HI on 40m, AK on 20m, AR+TN+SC+NC on 10m and AK+HI on FT4. When the weather's a little warmer I'm putting up a rigid 10m dipole to see if the change of polarization will help me get the close in states.
When I get it completed I'll post my truck installation. I've used the remote cable and have only the control panel in the front of the truck and I haven't decided were to mount the base unit yet. For now it's sitting on the floor in the crew cab. And I've got drill a hole through the cab for the antenna cable.
Along that line I discovered the joy of remote control panels. I 3D printed a little stand and now have my HF control right in front of my keyboard and put the base on top of the power supply. It's on the floor behind the desk. Neatens up the desk and lets me have the radio right in front of me. I also put a label on all the mikes so I know which one goes where. I have 4 different ICOM units and each mike is different, though they all use a 8pin Cat5 plug.
-
Congrats on being 35th in the state, Alf. Any idea how many people you placed ahead of?
-
863 to be exact
HTTPS://vota.arrl.org
-
Alf, I think that is a great accomplishment.
Especially considering radio is not your main hobby!!
;)
-
Alf, I think that is a great accomplishment.
Especially considering radio is not your main hobby!!
;)
I think ALL his hobbies are his main hobbies!
8) 8)
-
There are so many hobbies out there that I could spend money and time on that I don't. I'd love hearing about others that you guys participate in.
Even my shooting and ham radio took a back seat while raising a family. Only when the youngest started high school did I really start back into them.
-
Let me see......
1. Computers. (also my job)
2. Firearms. (Collecting and shooting)
3. Ham radio.
4. Animals (Pets AND zoo's)
5. Tech museums. (Air Force is #1 on that list)
And my wife would tell you that 6 would be sleeping!!!!! ;D
-
Sleeping is my number one hobby. Sleep is so wonderful, it's a shame to waste it on people who are too tired to enjoy it. Other than a snack break after 30 hours when I watched TV for 2 hours, I slept for 55 hours, give or take a few. Beyond the 48 hour mark it doesn't make much difference anyway. After awhile I couldn't remember if I went to bed at 11:30 am or 4:30 pm Tuesday, but I think it was 11:30, and didn't get up until 9:00 pm Thursday night. The only other sustenance I had the whole time was an occasional dozen or so Jelly Bellys when I got up to pee and have a drink of water. The only time my head doesn't hurt is when I'm unconscious, and it's really hurting now.
-
863 to be exact
HTTPS://vota.arrl.org
In the top 4%. Wow. Anywhere in the top 10 is impressive.
-
There are so many hobbies out there that I could spend money and time on that I don't. I'd love hearing about others that you guys participate in.
Even my shooting and ham radio took a back seat while raising a family. Only when the youngest started high school did I really start back into them.
I second that. Only when my youngest got off the payroll for college (pickedup his own tab...yeah!) did I begin to move into "fun things". I really want to get a good large aperture telescope....something greater than 8". However, house building comes first so that's over a year away.
I've had some guys contact me to help them from home with some things they are unable to do so as my wife works through this 2nd cancer thing (doing well by the way!). I may help them out a little to contribute to the observatory fund.
There are 3 AR 550 chest silouhettes to put up in the shooting bay that i've had on the ground for a year now.
I need to find some help to pick up a 55' crankup tower a friend has given me and buy a new tilt plate to cement in. There are some tri-beams sitting around in a box waiting on it. There is the 4 or 5 BTV to put up...actually two to put up one at my Mom's and one at home. We need to build two stands this year...with a few solar panels for some power, a long range wifi hookup, a propane heater, and real life stairs to get in the thing. Something pretty much accessible for disabled persons so that so I can invite injured warriors to hunt bear and deer like a friend of mine does. Also, my future daughter-in-law wants to kill a bear this year so I need to get that deer/bear stand up asap.
Shoot, I want to go hunting sometime. The turkey's are calling my name for the spring hunt. Deer are too much trouble and deer meat is not high on my culinary list so...unless I see a Boone & Crockett deer they are safe around me. Squirrel jambalaya is on the list...when I have time for them...there is fence to fix.
I still don't have much of a fallout shelter...just a small concrete storm shelter stuck in the hill by the house. From the way things are looking it is high on the priority list...like a bullet to number 1 if the regional war ongoing in the middle east heats up more. And if they abandon Israel for the failed "two state solution" I'll start building as soon as possible.
And...our President Biden is doing all he can to show weakness by addressing attacks on our people in the weak apologetic woke way. They are insane....the two state solution failed why will it work now? Just let Israel clean house and keep Gaza and the West Bank. i am fairly confident that this idiot administration's weakness is going to get us killed. They called Yemen before they attacked...let the leadership of Iranian controlled militias leave before attacking and on and on....what complete idiots who are getting our warriors killed. I guess they won't be happy until Iran hits a carrier group with nukes, North Korea takes over South Korea and China plants it's flag in Taiwan....only then can they happily point their uncovered butt in the air and say "us next."