The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on March 09, 2016, 09:32:18 AM
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I have noticed that most of my shooting friends and I have a lot more in common than just firearms. My question is do you think there are other hobbies/interests that tend to overlap with firearms usage? (Other than the most obvious, hunting)
I can think of a few. Ham radio, Computer, Prepping/self-reliance. Any others?
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Most likely any "demanding" outdoor activity. By demanding I hope to make a distinction between RV camping, say, and wilderness camping...the key being amount of "independence" required by the demanding type.
Computers might be totally coincidental...Many of the shooters you meet are online...and almost everyone will have some access to computers anyway...
I would guess that independence and self-reliance are the key common factors.
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Fishing, hunting... I've worked with uniblabs for forty years so I HATE those...
The Constitution.
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Guitars and motorcycles seem to be pretty common.
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All of my close friends own guns and ride ATVs for fun.
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Hobby if I had time...yeah, Ham radio, gardening is a wish along with hunting and fishing.
My boat will be 3 years in the garage this June.
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Don't feel to bad Rastus, I know retired guys who live with in a mile of the largest lake in the North East who are saying the same thing.
Then there's the people who bought snow mobiles.
They are priced like Harley's and the heaviest snow we've had this year MIGHT have been 2 inches.
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I try not to because I am fortunate to have a job. 240 hours of vacation time at the end of December and I lost 160 hours of it on Jan 1. I can take the time if I want to....because I can do anything I want on my last day. ???
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I don't know how related some of these are. Outside of things like hunting, reloading and gunsmithing.
Ham radio, W4ADS, extra class. (I passed Extra, just to get into the vanity call sign pool early. Not very noble reason I suppose.) Not active much even on VHF. Have 25' tower, but no HF antenna. Really want a StepIR, but can't afford it.
Electronics in general. Building kits and circuits. Yes, I use to own Heathkits.
Programming computers. Old school stuff. Assembler, machine code, drivers and things like COBOL, FORTRAN, SQL and CICS. Heck I even knew RPG and PASCAL at one time. Does SNA ring a bell with anyone? I still enjoy collecting the odd data base and performing analysis on it, just for fun. Want to know how many different first names there are among US ham radio licenses?
Theater/theatre, performing arts, is in my family blood line. I'm more of a stage manager type, but also do lighting. I'll probably do volunteer work for local high schools when I retire.
Sailing and just spending time on the water in general. Scuba diving which I haven't done in 40+ years. Loyd Bridges and I could have been best buddies. (My scuba instructor was murdered shortly after I completed my certification. His wife cold conked him with a pipe wrench then cut him up in pieces and stuff him in a 55 gal drum. Nobody particularly faulted her for it.)
Fishing. Nothing fancy. Put bait on hook, toss in water, drink beer.
Airplanes. Was in the USAF. Went through ground school, but never got the flight time. Worked on C-124s, C-141s and C5s. Sadly, all my bases and missions were classified to some degree, so the only picture of me is with a B-52, which oddly wasn't classified.
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System Network Architecture. PL1, DL1.
Pascal was my favorite language, for the beauty of the code written in it, rather than it's productivity...rare exits to C and you could do anything...and still be beautiful :D :D
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Pascal was my favorite language, for the beauty of the code written in it, rather than it's productivity...rare exits to C and you could do anything...and still be beautiful :D :D
Since I programmed down to the machine level, for applications/utilities, I frequently used COBOl for the shell using nested PERFORM structures with Assembler calls to do the actual "work". Use to drive everybody crazy.
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Photography is my hobby. Has been since the mid '80s. I've also worked as a processor/printer, customer service rep., retail salesperson, camera store owner, technical trainer for Kodak, technical sales representative for a camera company. One job I've never worked in that industry is as a photographer. I still love taking pictures, especially of my 300 kids during marching band season (the wife and I are chaperones).
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Photography is my hobby. Has been since the mid '80s. I've also worked as a processor/printer, customer service rep., retail salesperson, camera store owner, technical trainer for Kodak, technical sales representative for a camera company. One job I've never worked in that industry is as a photographer. I still love taking pictures, especially of my 300 kids during marching band season (the wife and I are chaperones).
So if YOU screw up the picture it's a little more complicated than having your thumb over the lens ? ;D
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Well, I guess reloading goes with out saying, but I enjoy making my own brew (and drinking it), working on and off-roading with my Jeep...
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So if YOU screw up the picture it's a little more complicated than having your thumb over the lens ? ;D
Pretty much. I've become the de facto photographer for the marching band. We are even planning on taking some of my daughter's friends (and a parent or two) out to take pictures so I can show them some things.
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I doubt it will help but I ave a 3 item mantra, Lens cover, lens cover , lens cover . ;D
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I doubt it will help but I ave a 3 item mantra, Lens cover, lens cover , lens cover . ;D
for me its battery, battery, battery.
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I don't know how related some of these are. Outside of things like hunting, reloading and gunsmithing.
Ham radio, W4ADS, extra class. (I passed Extra, just to get into the vanity call sign pool early. Not very noble reason I suppose.) Not active much even on VHF. Have 25' tower, but no HF antenna. Really want a StepIR, but can't afford it.
<snip>
Alf. Did you get an antenna yet? I put up a full wave 20 meter loop...about 74' and mostly circular. It's 4-5 feet off the ground and wound around tree branches. A much better antenna than the dipoles I've had. I feed it in the side for vertical polarity so it doesn't have to be very far off the ground and that also makes for a low angle of radiation (DX). I've tuned it to 160M, 80M, 40M, 20M, 17M (well..I get a little RF back in the shack on that one) and 10M so far.
Plus...I drop in noise level a couple of S units and...here's a big deal....it works well on the sides unlike a dipole. There is hardly any null to the side. More gain all around than a dipole.
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for me its battery, battery, battery.
I got my digital camera out Friday to take a picture and it took me about a minute to figure out where the on/off button was and that the batteries were dead. It takes 2 AAs which I have plenty of so I'm all set.
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among the old timers that have stayed in the shooting sports in my circle... a background in high performance engines... drag or sports car racing, motorcycle flat track or drag, and in later years cruising, or go fast boats
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Boats....dang. My bass boat has been in the garage 3 years...only out once in 5 years. I thought I might be retiring but....not quite yet. Maybe I'll get it out this winter and try to spoon up some deep water bass.
May not be open water and super fast....but 75 MPH is going more than fast enough on the water for me.
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among the old timers that have stayed in the shooting sports in my circle... a background in high performance engines... drag or sports car racing, motorcycle flat track or drag, and in later years cruising, or go fast boats
That was my game for a time.....then I got married. ;D
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Boats....dang. My bass boat has been in the garage 3 years...only out once in 5 years. I thought I might be retiring but....not quite yet. Maybe I'll get it out this winter and try to spoon up some deep water bass.
May not be open water and super fast....but 75 MPH is going more than fast enough on the water for me.
That's twice as fast as I've ever gone in a boat. I hope you get it out ASAP and blow out the cobwebs.
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Pegleg... I too was into drag racing
Rastus... I was down in the Keys (Ramrod Key) a couple of years ago and as we approached the fuel dock, a go fast was fueling ahead of us... not one, not two, not three, but four 300hp Mercs .... the owner retired a whole lot better than I
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1200 seahorses rippin' and snortin'...I like it.
When I grew up the hot motor was a Wizard Super 10 from Western Auto. They could be jacked up to maybe 20 HP. Everyone hopped those things up and put them on little homemade wooden speed boats. I don't know how fast they were....but they seemed like they ran pretty fast at the races. I doubt it was more than 45 MPH.
I saw my first fast jet boat around 1969...that was a big deal around town. Then sometime around 1976 Mercury came out with the 175 HP Black Max. Big deal...a friend of mine bought the first one in the area....and after 15-20 minutes spent the next 6 weeks waiting on warranty parts to fix it. But that Black Max was a big deal back when....I dunno how fast it went but Doug was pulling his girlfriend behind the boat and she was waving to slow down...everyone on the boat thought to speed up and she didn't drop the rope.....after she came to she didn't ski anymore that summer.
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Rastus... I believe the Wizard was made by Mercury... my cousin built a kit boat advertised in Popular Mechanics or Popular Science... we also had a white painted Wizard with a little dremel work poliishing around the reed plate
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Now that made me look I had forgotten that it was made by Mercury and was a Western Auto branded item. So around 1955 the Super 10 was advertised for $329.50 as low as $4.25 a month but without the Powermatic (roller bearings?) it ran for $279.50.
That was highly priced even if only goobers paid full price without dickering. I think I paid $600 for a 1980 Johnson 35HP short shaft....as comparison.
Old age is oozing out everywhere around here these days. I just picked up a used Kubota L3940 tractor to clean up some land so I can lay out an RV park for a retirement income. I miss the days when the Wizard Super 10 was a big deal and eating too much was not an issue. But then....I guess I'm just doting.
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Rastus... I had a similar problem relating to prices and ensuing inflation when I taught... when asked, I would tell my students that my education at UF was about $7000 for four years... of course that was the price or better of a Corvette in 1965.. four years at the Univ of Florida is still about the price of a new Corvette :)
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a couple of years before 1965, the price of a Corvette was $4000, and I remember thinking that if I managed to get a job paying $1000/mo, I could afford that Corvette and still be able to live nice.
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So Les the annual price of a higher education was approximately 1/4 the price of a Corvette fro that standpoint and Solus you said the price of a Corvette was 4 month of pay.
A base model Corvette is $55-$65k. So...Solus you are saying you were earning the equivalent today of $15k a month and Les you relate that a higher education is around $60k.
Assuming a state institution, I came up with about $12k a year depending on where you go. That says the Vette may have accelerated a bit on the curve. I think the Vette is a nicer car than it used to be so what you guys say is relatively the same deal today.
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a couple of years before 1965, the price of a Corvette was $4000, and I remember thinking that if I managed to get a job paying $1000/mo, I could afford that Corvette and still be able to live nice.
Way back in 1965 I worked as a bag boy for Bill's Ranch Market. Part-time work allowed me to clear about $20/week. I remember telling my dad that if I could just make another $5 per week my financial difficulties would be over.
Dad told me an absolute truth that day: Son, you will find it always takes just a little bit more than you make to live.
I have done pretty well over the intervening years, but it has always seemed just a little more would solve my economic woes.
Another truth is this: It's always easier to get used to making more than it is to get used to making less. And that's the challenge of retirement.
FWIW,
Crusader Rabbit
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Rastus... I give a small scholarship ($500) to a student athlete yearly in my Dad's name... when I started 26 years ago it was $300 and would pay for books for a semester....today, probably for only one class
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That scholarship is a really good thing to do. I am really glad you brought that up. I'm thinking I'd like to do that back home as well.
Crusader....you are so right.
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<What? It's only been 4 years since this came up.>
CQ CQ CQ de W4ADS
Okay, I got a couple of 20m hamsticks on the cheap and tried fashioning a dipole. No luck. Couldn't get them to both tune properly. I ended up just putting one hamstick to the top of my humongous 20' tower as a vertical. Tunes right on and has low SWR but it doesn't hear or transmit very well.
BUT AT LEAST and AT LAST I'm on the air. Got the SignaLink USB digital interface and am now running FT8, as well as the other digital modes. Using WSJT-X for FT8, DigiPan for FSK31 and have just started playing with HamScope.
Got to say FT8 is sort of a cheat. You click on a station calling CQ, enable transmit and the software handles the QSO. 13 characters at a time. It'll even automatically log it for you. No chit-chat, just signal strength and grid square, 73-thank-you-CQ. Rather less than satisfactory QSO, though I've logged a contact or two a day.
SO IF YOU WANT TO TRY A QSO I'm game. Since I don't "reach out" well and only have 20m it'll be limited. Probably FT8.
Alf - W4ADS
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<What? It's only been 4 years since this came up.>
CQ CQ CQ de W4ADS
Alf - W4ADS
You are ahead of me. I have a Yaesu FT100d, Yaesu FT847, numerous mobiles... Since I have moved (2 years ago) I haven't hooked any of them up......
Shame on me.
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Alf that's great. I have a 75' loop for 20M hanging in a tree as close to a circle as I can make it with the bottom 4-5' off the ground. I feed it with 450 ohm ladder line on the side (parallel to the ground) to get vertical polarization. If you feed it for vertical polarization you don't have to get off the ground for it to work well. I am using an antenna tuner in the house and can tune in and use it for 80, 40, 15 and 10M. It's the best antenna I've ever had for 20.
J. it's time to get your skyhooks up. Museum ships weekend is just around the corner.
KE5JDJ
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My hobby is 3D printing and I spend a lot of time on it.I also want to create my own YouTube channel about 3D printing. But for the last six months I've been putting it off because there were a lot of problems besides. But maybe in the new year I will do it. I still want to buy a new 3D printer, a more professional one, and a good camera to shoot video.
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My hobby is 3D printing and I spend a lot of time on it.I also want to create my own YouTube channel about 3D printing. But for the last six months I've been putting it off because there were a lot of problems besides. But maybe in the new year I will do it. I still want to buy a new 3D printer, a more professional one, and a good camera to shoot video.
I just started getting into that, Printing, not YT.
Thank God for CHEP, He got me through a couple WTF moments ;D
Thingiverse has 1:1 functional models of a Luger, an MP 40, and several other guns that I want to make..
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Reading through this thread, it seems to me that most of us share the same hobby of learning....... I've collected more hobbies than I will ever have time for.
Shooting, reloading, hunting, fishing, auto mechanic(used to be a living), pc programming, 2-way radio (CB and SSB have to add ham one of these days), cooking, cast iron restoration, wood carving, leather-work, plastic modeling, rc-cars, and most recently homebrewing.
I know there are others, but like I said, more than I have time for.
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Reading through this thread, it seems to me that most of us share the same hobby of learning.......
I think you're right DanPat. Most of us hear like to dabble with one thing or another. We're not afraid to learn new tricks.
We're not afraid to pick something up and figure out how it works. I think it's one quality that's missing in some of the newer generations.
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I just started getting into that, Printing, not YT.
Thank God for CHEP, He got me through a couple WTF moments ;D
Thingiverse has 1:1 functional models of a Luger, an MP 40, and several other guns that I want to make..
Have you heard about 3D printing in metal? It makes 1:1 functional models sound more functional and less like models. :o
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I've been keeping busy ;D
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Put a red stocking cap on and you have a scale model. It's not Mini-Me, it's Tiny Tom. ;) Seriously though, that's pretty cool, Tom. I just recently came across thingyverse myself, and promptly forgot about it before I could tell anyone. My memory went to $h!t several beers ago. Uh, years ago. Yeah, that's what I meant.
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I have NEVER been that mellowed in my life ;D
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My hobby is 3D printing and I spend a lot of time on it.I also want to create my own YouTube channel about 3D printing. But for the last six months I've been putting it off because there were a lot of problems besides. But maybe in the new year I will do it. I still want to buy a new 3D printer, a more professional one, and a good camera to shoot video. It certainly takes a lot of money, but I hope https://mr.bet/at will help me with that. So maybe someday I will become a famous blogger)
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Have you looked into scanning things for printing ?
From my limited research it seems you only really need a lazy susan and a cell phone camera, but a dedicated set up costs quite a bit more than the printers.
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It's a little known fact that the Lazy Susan was named after my sister-in-law. My older brother does all the shopping, cooking and cleaning, and everything else that needs to be done around his house. It's even worse than when my ex asked me, after 1 or 2 years of marriage, "How do you turn on the vacuum cleaner?". And he has a boomerang kid. My brother threw his son out and he flew right back. Luckily his daughter didn't come back too.
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Have you looked into scanning things for printing ?
From my limited research it seems you only really need a lazy susan and a cell phone camera, but a dedicated set up costs quite a bit more than the printers.
Its not that bad, the guy that built my moms prosthetic had a small hand held scanner that used the cloud for computing power. It was made by an Israeli company. I got interested so I loopked them up. They built missile tracking and defense systems. Turns out 3d plotting in space is very simple. It was not terrible expensive for the scanner ( like $300) the software and cloud service not so much
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That sounds more reasonable.
The first ones I saw were these.
Have to print a SHITLOAD of little toys to pay for this baby. ;D
https://www.amazon.com/EinScan-Multi-Functional-Resolution-Engineering-Manufacturing/dp/B08FRN3SZX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=3d+scanner&qid=1621619817&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFTVzMxSUUxWTNEQTMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMzY0MDIxTUVLTTNPVEtRNlM0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5Mzc0OTEzVlRLSjBYT1NYUlBOJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
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<Back to Ham Radio for a moment>
Well I got the SignaLink A/D box and the WSJTX software and I'm holding forth on FT8 mode on 20m.
I never made any effort to collect awards in my 50+ years of being a ham but finally signed up for Logbook of the World (LotW) and already have 18 confirmed states towards WAS.
FT8 (a digital mode of communicating for those not familar) is like cheating. I see someone call CQ, double click on their listing and enable transmit. The software handles it all. I just look over occasionally to click OK for the log book entry. Miss the actual "talking" to people.
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<Back to Ham Radio for a moment>
I just look over occasionally to click OK for the log book entry. Miss the actual "talking" to people.
So, it's basically, "F%ck your desert island, I collected your signal, out."
;D
Like Pokemon for radio's. ;D ;D
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You overstated the contact. 17 characters per transmission. Makes Twitter seem like a novel. Here's the exchange sans the call signs () = characters sent
DX: grid square (4)
Me: grid square (4)
DX: signal strength (1-3)
Me: R-signal strength (3-5)
DX: RR73 (4)
Me: 73 (2)
And I do it all with only 2 clicks of the mouse, one to select the station to respond to and the second to enable transmit.
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Benefit of a doubt. ;D ;D ;D
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<Back to Ham Radio for a moment>
<snip>
FT8 (a digital mode of communicating for those not familar) is like cheating. I see someone call CQ, double click on their listing and enable transmit. The software handles it all. I just look over occasionally to click OK for the log book entry. Miss the actual "talking" to people.
I haven't set that up here yet. I think the FTDX3000 really just needs to be connected to a computer.
But you are right on cheating. I know hams that communicate around the world on 160M whenever they want 24 hours a day.
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I haven't set that up here yet. I think the FTDX3000 really just needs to be connected to a computer.
But you are right on cheating. I know hams that communicate around the world on 160M whenever they want 24 hours a day.
Has he tried Tin Foil ?
I've heard some of you swear by it.
Usually I just swear at it. ;D
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That sounds more reasonable.
The first ones I saw were these.
Have to print a SHITLOAD of little toys to pay for this baby. ;D
https://www.amazon.com/EinScan-Multi-Functional-Resolution-Engineering-Manufacturing/dp/B08FRN3SZX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=3d+scanner&qid=1621619817&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFTVzMxSUUxWTNEQTMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMzY0MDIxTUVLTTNPVEtRNlM0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5Mzc0OTEzVlRLSjBYT1NYUlBOJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
You better start asking for some counter space in the local stores to sell your wares. That or build a roadside stand selling souvenirs to passersby. You might eventually hit the break-even point... if you're reincarnated. ;)
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You better start asking for some counter space in the local stores to sell your wares. That or build a roadside stand selling souvenirs to passersby. You might eventually hit the break-even point... if you're reincarnated. ;)
Not even considering it.
Making the other guys stuff for money is what sucked the fun out of machining.
I'm making things that look fun to make ,
I'm making what I want to.
And having a damned good time doing it .
;D
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My hobby is 3D printing and I spend a lot of time on it. I watch YouTube channels about 3D printing.
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Have you guys gotten enough of this bot...Sammy00 yet?
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Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep!
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Time to ask Marshall to zero out that account. But...it does get posts on and that counts for advertising so I guess I could live with IT.
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My hobby is 3D printing and I spend a lot of time on it. I watch YouTube channels about 3D printing.
OK, if you are human,
my Ender 3 Pro does everything it's supposed to up to the point I select a program, then it squeals for 30 seconds and reboots.
I have already contacted the manufacturer, but no answer yet. Using the regular firmware Marlin 1.0.1
Any ideas or suggestions ?
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Gettin' older. Don't know what next year will bring, so starting to do a little more with ham radio. Got a 20m ham stick up and have made 39 confirmed states in 4 month on FT8. Not the ham radio I remember but I am having fun chasing down these last states. Grid Tracker helps a lot.
I've got 26' Rohn 25 tower. Actually 3 sections but buried 4' of the bottom in concrete. Am going with Hustler 4-BTV four band vertical (40/20/15/10) from DX Engineering. They seem to have the whole show very well put together, accessories, instructions, customer service. I may regret not getting 80m but that I can add later or do a separate wire antenna.
I decided that since I'm no longer going with a horizontal beam I don't really need 26'. Here's a picture after I removed the side-bar VHF antennas. Don't need the TV antenna as it's been replaced by on higher up on the chimney. And you can see the Ham Stick on top.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-gM9Zcbp/0/6ff2dec2/X3/20210728_115949-X3.jpg)
The 10' top section stops just above the security light. I'll mount the 4-BTV on top, above the light. Getting the section loose may be a problem but worst case is I'll just cut it off. I bought the tower used for a $20 a section not a big loss and somebody could use this cut off piece as a bottom section like I did.
Here's my cheap, home made side mount with my 6m/2m/400 vertical and scanner discone. Got it down yesterday and am replacing it with a more professional side mount. It will go just below the security light.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-HmKqM6k/0/10d22d6d/XL/20210728_115914-XL.jpg)
Pretty chinsey angle iron construction but it's held up for 15 or so years now.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-TDNPPnw/0/992e2e75/X2/20210728_115933-X2.jpg)
So the construction begins. New 1" pipe. Painted partially for protection and partially to make it less visible, though the neighbor is probably happy that it's going to be 10' lower. Have clamps, waiting on stainless bolts to show from DX. Local stores didn't carry fully threaded 5" ss bolts.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-TRzbmXg/0/b90b97ec/XL/20210729_100913-XL.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-gM9Zcbp/0/6ff2dec2/X3/20210728_115949-X3.jpg)
It's SUPPOSED to be a stairway !
Are you trying to cheap out ? ;D
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It's SUPPOSED to be a stairway !
Are you trying to cheap out ? ;D
Eiffel had to start somewhere too..... as long as he doesn't end up with the leaning tower of Sauve.
;D ;D
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Eiffel had to start somewhere too..... as long as he doesn't end up with the leaning tower of Sauve.
;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Don't you guys know???
It's a stairway to Heaven!!! ;) ;) ;)
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Don't you guys know???
It's a stairway to Heaven!!! ;) ;) ;)
Alf had to BUY it.
The ladder was on sale . ;D
A friend of mine was just bitching about the cost of a stairway to his porch.
Can you imagine the stringers you'd need for Heaven ? :o ;D
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Alf had to BUY it.
The ladder was on sale . ;D
A friend of mine was just bitching about the cost of a stairway to his porch.
Can you imagine the stringers you'd need for Heaven ? :o ;D
I own a speed square!
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I own a speed square!
What you'll need is spare arms and legs to pay for the lumber . ;D
Maybe the guy from South Park can help. ;D ;D ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKTp0S0IsNM
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Hey, chinsey is good. It looks none the worse for the wear after so many years.
Get us a pic when you finish up!!
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Hey, chinsey is good. It looks none the worse for the wear after so many years.
Get us a pic when you finish up!!
DON'T LOOK DOWN ! ! ;D
;D
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Not in a hurry on this, so updates after this one may be a little slow in coming.
Got the side arm built and forgot to take pictures. I ran into a problem with two of the 5/16" stainless bolts on the Genius Clamp. Threaded the nuts on okay, but I decided to take them off and they bound tight. Couldn't turn them either way. Fortunately, they were out near end so I cut them off and reshaped the thread and put on replacements. Also fortunate, that I had order longer bolts than I needed. After that I just wanted to get the antennas mounted and the whole assembly on the tower.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-7WDS9Hk/0/395b36bf/L/20210802_085457-L.jpg[/img [img]https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-TM9jBfN/0/086a1898/L/20210802_085522-L.jpg)
Sorry for all the back light. I'll do an afternoon picture in the next post.
The side bar to tower clamps are just what I had. Stainless pro clamps are arriving today and I'll change those out tomorrow morning. At $35ea I just didn't see my way for four more of the DX Genius Clamps to mount the side bar to the tower. I mean they've formed a real sturdy side bar, but it doesn't take that much to mount it on the tower.
So the VHF/UHF & Scanner Discone are back up. I went to the top this morning and took down the TV antenna. Plus I made a spider with three lengths of #14 wire, as radials for the 20m Ham Stick. I added those while I was at the top. They're just hanging straight down for now. (16', 16.5' and 17' lengths) Jury's still out, but the SWR at 14.074 is about as low as it can register now. Most of my contacts this morning are giving me better signal than I'm receiving from them. That's a plus.
Next step in the next couple of weeks is to remove the top 10' section. Will coordinate with #2 son to assist on that one. Then order and install the 4BVT.
Oh, I'm at 43 confirmed states using FT8. Grid tracker is great for finding stations in my missing states. Wish people who say they're on LOTW would upload their data more than once a year though. Hold forth most mornings 10-11ish, on 20m. W4ADS EM73. Just making as many contacts as I can this morning since I don't see any new states on the air today.
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Are you mounting the 4btv on the tower????
It sounds like it but I am a little dense.
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Yes. It's permissible with radials. I don't have the yard for it. I'm lowering my tower from 26' to 16', which will only put the vertical ~ 7' above the gutter.
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Yes. It's permissible with radials. I don't have the yard for it. I'm lowering my tower from 26' to 16', which will only put the vertical ~ 7' above the gutter.
Won't that need a lot of radials? I know when in the ground the radials are cut to varying lengths to match different bans.
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Won't that need a lot of radials? I know when in the ground the radials are cut to varying lengths to match different bans.
No clue.
I'm just here to joke about the pichers . ;D
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No clue.
I'm just here to joke about the pichers . ;D
Hell, you need another hobby. Get into ham radio!!! ;^)
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Hell, you need another hobby. Get into ham radio!!! ;^)
3 D printing fills my need for non political things to swear at . ;D ;D
Kind of replaces work in that respect. ;D ;D ;D
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Cheap and easy adder for 17 meters....
https://hamuniverse.com/4btvto17meters.html (https://hamuniverse.com/4btvto17meters.html)
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I saw a Ham radio once or twice!
It was on the bench at my best buddies house above his dad’s stacks of girly mags and x rated novels! I didn’t learn much about it….
😂
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I saw a Ham radio once or twice!
😂
Nope.
But I do get acquainted with a ham sandwich on occasion. ;D
3 reasons to not be Jewish,
#3 Ham
#2 Porkchops
#1 Bacon, duh. ;D
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Radials:
DX Engineering recommends 32-60 radials, length doesn't matter if they're imbedded in the ground. But that's for a ground level mount.
They recommend you do the same if mounted more than 3' above ground, but that they be angled downward at 45° and they be cut for 1/4 wave length, a portion for each band.
At the same time they admit it's "may" not be necessary. My experience, limited as it is, was with my pickup truck and a Hustler mobile antenna. No radials there and it worked great. Could have been the whole truck was just the right lenght to form a ground plane. I like to think of my vertical as just a dipole only up-and-down. So if I drop 4 wires, each 1/4wl for each band then that should work.... right. My plan is to put it up naked and see how it works. If I'm not happy, I can add a few "tuned" radials draped on the roof.
Tower:
Here's pictures of the side mount where you can see the DX Engineering Genius clamps, which are quite a substantial and do a great job of creating a rigid side bar. Then I use pairs of stainless saddle clamps to mount the side bar on the tower.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-377VvKB/0/8e972a17/L/20210804_073045-L.jpg)
And before I remove the top section here's the tower in all her glory with a puny Ham Stick on top and three little radials hanging down.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-tzTrfPS/0/7969c976/L/20210804_073129-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-pbbPmxR/0/737cb92a/X3/20210804_073148-X3.jpg)
44 states now, finally got Nevada.
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Looks like a radio intercept post .
You aren't subcontracting for the Russians are you ? ;D
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4 radials ought to do it....
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Looks like a radio intercept post .
You aren't subcontracting for the Russians are you ? ;D
He just might be. After all, Alf is an alien!
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He just might be. After all, Alf is an alien!
That's true, and America has been sold to the communists, so there are no loyalty issues involved. ;D
What's he care, it's not even his planet. ;D ;D
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Alf... I got spoiled at Clark AFB in 72-73... I had the best Morse operators and Chinese and Vietnamese linguists working with me... gratuitous and previously posted pic of the AN/FLR-9 antenna that was tasked primarily to my targets... scroll down... there are no more of these Cold War (and Viet Nam) relics in the world... pity, some day a HF communication system may be needed... Les USAFSS 202
https://sites.google.com/site/cobradensite/
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Wow, Les. I'd seen pictures of such installations. Of course there are still some very large log-periodics around. Some have been abandoned by the military and taken over by radio clubs. You drive out to them and hook up your mobile HF. Of course in my book, log-periodic is another phrase for works equally poorly on all frequencies.
We may have passed by each other at Clark. I was in and out 71-73 on C5's and C-141's. They put us up in Clarkview and at least we got single rooms. Traveling with an entourage of officers has its advantages for us enlisted types. I developed an eating pattern with all my travel. Pretty much stuck to one entrée in each country. In the Philippines is was red-rice and beans. Didn't try eating any of the humongous bugs they used to catch/harvest out on the tarmac, though.
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Alf... I got spoiled at Clark AFB in 72-73... I had the best Morse operators and Chinese and Vietnamese linguists working with me... gratuitous and previously posted pic of the AN/FLR-9 antenna that was tasked primarily to my targets... scroll down... there are no more of these Cold War (and Viet Nam) relics in the world... pity, some day a HF communication system may be needed... Les USAFSS 202
https://sites.google.com/site/cobradensite/
Could say the same for a map and compass. ;D
This is no sh#t, The other day I overheard a lady explaining a CLOCK to her teenage daughter . ::)
That's a hell of an antenna .
Bet I could even get channel 4 on that baby.
BBC 4 ;D
I guess they are doing all that stuff digitally with computers and satellites, as with GPS.
Might come in handy some day to know the old ways.
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Could say the same for a map and compass. ;D
I guess they are doing all that stuff digitally with computers and satellites, as with GPS.
Might come in handy some day to know the old ways.
Yep. The day right after China and Russia join forces and drop about 10 EMP bombs across this country.
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Yep. The day right after China and Russia join forces and drop about 10 EMP bombs across this country.
Yeah, as if.
More like when the next solar flare erupts.
It's a hell of a lot more likely.
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Yeah, as if.
More like when the next solar flare erupts.
It's a hell of a lot more likely.
Solar flair is more likely but I can see China bombing us. They want to be (and probably are) the big boys on the block as far as their military goes. (IMHO)
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Those ancient , 20th century concepts of war no longer apply.
No body uses bombs any more except on 3rd worlders.
Get your head out of the 1940's.
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Those ancient , 20th century concepts of war no longer apply.
No body uses bombs any more except on 3rd worlders.
Get your head out of the 1940's.
Hell, we ain't too far down the road from being a third world country the way it's going.
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Alf...lots of good food downtown Angeles City.... lumpia, pansit, rice dishes... most of my time down town I was on a liquid San Miguel diet...the AN/FLR-9 was at the northwest portion of the base, in the photograph, the USAF Jungle Survival School is in the lower part of the picture...
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Hell, we ain't too far down the road from being a third world country the way it's going.
Sad truth right there, and the dumb asses still haven't learned ho to fight a war.
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I can see Iran attacking with an EMP weapon. It is a cornerpiece of their doctrine to "nuke" us with an EMP device. They have tested their SCUD's and detonated them in the "Goldilocks zone" for Compton scattering effects. 10 to 15 years ago, they were launching SCUD's from ships and having those "failures" that caused them to detonate.
An EMP bomb is also known as a neutron bomb. One over Kansas would do it. Launch from a container ship in the Gulf of Mexico or...from a dock in New Orleans or Houston. Very little time to react....for the Bozo's we have running things they would probably wait for the evening news (which won't be on...) to opine on the issue before doing anything.
Which reminds me...I still need one of those year 2000 or so Dodge diesels that was all mechanical and therefore EMP proof. We now have a couple of grass burners to ride, but a EMP proof diesel would be very useful.
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A pre electronic ignition gas engine would work too.Probably pre 1973 and older would work, and a lot easier to work on if needed.
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A pre electronic ignition gas engine would work too.Probably pre 1973 and older would work, and a lot easier to work on if needed.
They would be good but I'm worried about longer term because gasoline sours and evaporates. For a longer term solution I like diesel because it doesn't rot like gas. Of course the grass burners we have are the ultimate answer...I guess I need a horse drawn plow too.
Hey Tom, I know a few years ago you had a pacemaker that was affected by cell phones, etc. Did you get that changed out?
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No real country will use bombs in general, or nukes in particular.
The idea of blowing up what you want to take over is something only an idiot would consider.
Hell, even the North Koreans aren't that stupid.
In fact, they probably have the sanest nuke policy of any country in the world.
"We're poorer than sh!t, but we are building nukes. Give us money, food, and oil and we will stop." (Till we need more money, food, and oil).
Second, it's egotistical, and typical American self importance, to think America will be the target.
Israel is far more likely to take an Iranian nuke, and India and Pakistan are more focused on each other.
That's one to watch, since the Chinese have been putting pressure on India's Northern border.
1st world countries f#ck each other financially.
What do you think all this Cyber war crap is about ?
No one gives a crap about "territory any more. it's all about economics.
Humanity has been fighting among itself with out break for 4000+ years, and damned little of it has been the "Clausawitzian" conventional warfare you are all so fixated on.
That and democrat treason. are why America hasn't won a war in 75 years.
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Step by Step, slowing he progresses.
Got the "gin pole" (such as it is) up and the Ham Stick down. Have removed the bolts holding the top section together.
Now waiting on #2 Son to assist in removing the top section. Will try using a large cold chisel to break it free. if all else fails I can just cut it off.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-WKLX7rk/0/3a76760a/X2/20210811_124816-X2.jpg)
Here's the mighty Ham Stick that for couple of days will just reside on this temporary base, with it's 3 radials. Don't laugh I worked NE France yesterday on that. 20m FT8 mode.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-RBvWKQb/0/3186f13e/X2/20210811_124809-X2.jpg)
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Have you used that diskcone on 6 meters? I have the exact one and lost the "custom" mounting plate for my 1/4 wave 6-meter antenna so I was going to try it.
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The Diamond Discone is just for the VHF/UHF scanner. On the left is the Diamond tri-band, 2m/440/6m. I have used it recently on 6m with the Icom 706 and made several FT8 contacts during an opening.
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MAJOR MILESTONE TODAY:
Got tired of waiting on #2 son to drop by and help me remove the top section. In all fairness he got a gig teaching acting classes this weekend, that's on top of his M-F regular job, his roof damage mediation side gig and having his daughter this weekend, so I'll cut him some slack. Given the Tropical storms Fred and Grace, and the earthquake I want to get my 20m stick back in the air. That and 6m was dead all weekend.
I had already put up a crude gin pole. By using a hammer and dull cold chisel I had determined which of the three tower legs was going to be the easiest to separate, and I had already cut the other to legs off. I cut so the top section is still intact and sellable. I'll probably never re-add the top section again. So this morning I removed the security light to get it out of the way and repositioned the ladder to give me as high and stable a perch as possible. Sure enough just turning and lifting the tower section came apart and I lowered it with the gin pole rope. All went very smoothly and safely. Then I put the ham stick back up and mounted the security light on the cross clamps. I had never like the jury-rigged way I had mounted it before. So I'm back on the air on 20m. Next step will be ordering the 4BTV vertical.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-gf5Bknr/0/c413fff0/L/20210816_083658-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-3x45QGz/0/33f7b5ef/L/20210816_083705-L.jpg)
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LOOKIE LOOKIE. What just came (Monday).
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-FCD3TFG/0/8d219272/XL/20210824_151314-XL.jpg)
I decided why not? Ordered the 5BTV so I'll have 80m-10m. Started putting it together Monday night. Slowly. I did also get the re-enforced bottom section, the connection harness and the SS-30 copper goop to insure good electrical connections between sections.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-ZPhS5Cg/0/35c259b4/XL/20210825_084558-XL.jpg)
Also you can see Miss Kitty's dawgs. Major Caliber (Calie) and Bentley, Sir Charles Bentley (Charlie).
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-fgjqJCX/0/27dbe7fd/XL/20210825_084556-XL.jpg)
Waiting on harness then we'll put it on the test stand and tune it.
DXEngineering does a good job with the accessories (not cheap) and instructions. The one place they fall down is they say to assemble it on the ground. Then in a couple of places they remind the user to clean out any dirt or grass. Duh, saw-horses make such a perfect work space for this I don't know why they didn't recommend it.
Meanwhile the ham stick is good for 4-7 QSOs a day. Have never heard Alaska or Hawaii, but might help if I tried some other time than mid day on 20m. Have worked 4 stations, one twice, in NM and not one has confirmed. grrr.
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SWEET !!!!!
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I just had a thought, ::)
With the exception of reloading, the only "relation" between anything in this thread, and guns, is that both are in some of the same brains.
Still, "Related hobbies" sounds better than "Random sh!t that caught our attention". ;D
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I just had a thought, ::)
I do to, on occasion
With the exception of reloading, the only "relation" between anything in this thread, and guns, is that both are in some of the same brains.
Still, "Related hobbies" sounds better than "Random sh!t that caught our attention". ;D
Well the OP brought up Ham Radio in his original post as related, loosely along the prepper line of things. Or should we call it Disaster Preparedness?
I had a thought (too) about starting this in it's own thread. After I get the antenna up and working, maybe I'll start a thread just for current Ham Radio related things.
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Sometimes I sit and think,
Sometimes I just sit. ;D
No point in changing it now .
The way we skip around a thread titled "Radio stuff" would be the LAST place any one would look for, ya know, radio stuff. ;D
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When I started this thread I was thinking of Ham Radio because a LOT of shooters I know are also into Ham Radio. I think ALf has it right. A lot of people are becoming preppers or trying to increase their existing resources.
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When I started this thread I was thinking of Ham Radio because a LOT of shooters I know are also into Ham Radio. I think ALf has it right. A lot of people are becoming preppers or trying to increase their existing resources.
Talk about "Retro".
Most of us still have the gear we bought under Reagan.
My "nostalgic" cartridge belt, and E tool" ;D
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<snip>
Meanwhile the ham stick is good for 4-7 QSOs a day. Have never heard Alaska or Hawaii, but might help if I tried some other time than mid day on 20m. Have worked 4 stations, one twice, in NM and not one has confirmed. grrr.
You're going to be amazed how much better the 5BTV is over the hamstick. I'm surprised you don't have a 20M dipole up? I've made contacts with Hawaii (20M) and down to Oz on a simple dipole when conditions were OK.
Confirmations...yeah, that can be an issue. Sometimes you get a couple of them trickling in a year and a half later.
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You're going to be amazed how much better the 5BTV is over the hamstick. I'm surprised you don't have a 20M dipole up? I've made contacts with Hawaii (20M) and down to Oz on a simple dipole when conditions were OK.
Confirmations...yeah, that can be an issue. Sometimes you get a couple of them trickling in a year and a half later.
Have toyed with make a rigid dipole, but just haven't gotten around to it.
One of the NM stations finally uploaded his LoTW data a month after our QSO! Come on people. This is a digital, computer based communications, that automatically creates the necessary log file. It only take 10 seconds to do a manual upload. OR, BRILLIANT IDEA, with just a little setup, Grid Tracker software will upload every contact for you in real time. Duh. So I do now have all 48 contiguous states confirmed. I guess my retirement goals will be DXCC, 5band WAS, and Triple Play awards.
Ham stick is down as of this morning and the base mount for the 5BVT is on the tower awaiting #2 son to assist in mounting the antenna. So I'm stuck on 6m right now which is dead as a doornail.
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I leaned the Hustler against the house, next to the tower, climbed up and lifted the Hustler into place. Easy peasy Saturday morning. Miss Kitty isn't please I did it by myself and alone, but it was a one man job and it's not that heavy, just have to keep it balanced. I also have the 1:1 DXEngineering Balum which is evident in the pictures. Saturday was outdoor USPSA at River Bend, so I only had a few minutes to operate. Made to 20m contacts with about equal signal reports. Trying it today on 40m. Maybe I'll do a 10m local net this pm.
Here's pictures of it from this morning. Am also listening in on the Hurricane nets as well, in keeping with the disaster prep aspect.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-VpxCkP9/0/4a5733b8/XL/20210829_073828-XL.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/Forum-Photos/i-x5pKdh8/0/7f35ca15/XL/20210829_080802-XL.jpg)
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Glad it worked out all right.
But you might want to listen to Miss Kitty.
You don't bounce like you used to . ;D
I had a similar talk with my Dad.
He was complaining about getting feeble, and not being able to work like he used to.
I pointed out that at 90 his work ethic really shouldn't matter any more. ;D ;D
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Glad it worked out all right.
But you might want to listen to Miss Kitty.
You don't bounce like you used to . ;D
So we're sitting around the patio Saturday night and I had an icepack on my arm were I had gotten two spider bites just under the sleeve. My youngest said they needed to compile a list of my injuries to read at my eulogy. Nothing real serious, but I've had some "unique" ones.
A few of them are.
Slid down a 30' creosote telephone pole. Drove my self home, cleaned up, I mean you can't go to the ER with dirty underwear. Then drove myself to the ER.
Got run over by the Ga Tech Ramblin' Wreck. Got up and completed a 5K. Coming in 49th / 300 in the race. Went to campus infirmary where the ER personnel and a couple of distraught cheerleaders were waiting on me. The cheerleaders had been on the running board and were freaked out by the fact they had witnessed it all. No dates but I got hugs and kisses! ;) There concern was no one knew who had gotten run over or what had happened to that person in all the confusion. They'd called all surrounding ERs and med centers but couldn't find the "victim".
Have been bitten by any number of insects including a confirmed Brown Recluse bite. Fast diagnosis and treatment just left me with a pock-mock scar. Fortunate, because that thing can kill you.
Still I got one bucket list item that just might do me in. I want to catch a venomous snake bare handed. I came close a couple years ago but the sucker got away and hid from me. I know it's more of 1 in gazillion opportunity I'll get the chance again, but I keep an eye out.
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Still I got one bucket list item that just might do me in. I want to catch a venomous snake bare handed. I came close a couple years ago but the sucker got away and hid from me. I know it's more of 1 in gazillion opportunity I'll get the chance again, but I keep an eye out.
That sounds like a seriously BAD idea.
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Yeah. What Tom said.
Creosote pole? C'mon...you gotta give us more than that. Just thinking about the splinters hurts...not to mention the chemical burns associated with them.
And how is the 5 BTV?
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Creosote pole? C'mon...you gotta give us more than that. Just thinking about the splinters hurts...not to mention the chemical burns associated with them.
And how is the 5 BTV?
Not a lot of "splinters" more like chunks. It was a well used pole. When I went to ER, the DR said all the creosote needed to scrubbed away. Gave two nurse trainees the task. 00 gauze and Phisohex. At least they were cute. That afternoon I had to pick my mother up at the airport. I was wrapped with gauze from my neck down both arms. I could bend them though. So imagine her reaction having a zombie greet her at the airport.
5 BTV working well. 28 states on 40m so far. I may add 3 vertical radial, 20m, 15m, 10m, next week to see what that does. SWR is a touch higher than I'd like, but resonance seems to be pretty good.
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How is that 5BRV doing? What did you use for ground radials?
My 80 Meter loop is down at one corner for now. I need to fix that and the Force 12 yagi together which isn't up yet. I gotta lot to do...including putting up the 4BTV or 5BTV I have never put together.
Museum Ships Weekend is just two months away.
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Considering it's mounted 16' off the ground with no radials it's doing quite well. I seem to have a null toward the NW and have trouble getting into Italy and surrounding areas. I've reached a point where I'm not making as many new, towards awards, contacts but hanging in there. Got a 10m state and a new country today. I'm scheming how to add radials. I might try to splay a set around the 2 sides (180d) just laying on the roof, but we'll see. I may recheck and tweak the tuning since it's been up for a while now.
I need AK and HI on 40m and 20m, and 7 nearby states on 15m.
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All voice contacts on sideband? How much power are you running?
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Only working FT-8 @ 50W for the time being.
ive tried a foray into voice, but didn't feel motivated to actually talk w/ people. I may try again with ships and field day to do Ssb
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Museum Ships Weekend begins Friday!!! I started using dxsummit.fi for locating active stations a couple of years ago. It has a search function that allows you to put in a callsign that then goes over to the filters section. The good thing about that is you can 1) input all of the callsigns you are looking for and only those will pop up when someone reports them and 2) you can delete them individually from the filter list as you make a contact...which is really helpful. Another good thing is that you can set up the individual callsign filter and it becomes a part of the website address which you can bookmark.
So...there you go guys. Here's the bookmark with all current ships for MSWE 2022 down below.
http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/?dx_calls=K1USN,NB6GC,WA4USN,W5LEX,NI6IW,WW2CV,N0P,NJ2BB,K4DSR,NE1PL,N4WIS,KH6BB,NI4BK,NI6BB,WW2OK,K8E,DL0MFM,NE6JP,NR4DL,W4NNK,KN4RAM,WA3BAT,WW2IND,N1SLM,N7C,W2PE,NT4HI,W5KID,NS7DD,WW2DD,K2EAG,DL0MFX,N5FKP,WW2DEM,W1E,R1LK,W8AGB,K6JOB,DL0CUX,W2AQ,DL0BRF,7S0SFJ,ON9BD,NM8GS,N8LST,WW2LST,W1WCC,W5MSQ,K0FPO,N6MSO,DL0MFN,K3SAV,OEX6XMF,W6RO,PI4HAL,VK4GLA,WD4PBR,OE6XMF,N5E,W2C,K5RMD,NJ4DU,W8COD,N1S,NB9QV,DL0DMB,EH5SUB,NJ6VT,IINS,TMWFLO,N8SUM,WW2MAN,VAWGNQ,N5R,KH6SP,WW2SUB,N7P,NS6OI,DM3G,RU3AWK,N4HLH,K5ZRO,W5STR,K2VTT,W4AVM,K6YVM,IY4ELE (http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/?dx_calls=K1USN,NB6GC,WA4USN,W5LEX,NI6IW,WW2CV,N0P,NJ2BB,K4DSR,NE1PL,N4WIS,KH6BB,NI4BK,NI6BB,WW2OK,K8E,DL0MFM,NE6JP,NR4DL,W4NNK,KN4RAM,WA3BAT,WW2IND,N1SLM,N7C,W2PE,NT4HI,W5KID,NS7DD,WW2DD,K2EAG,DL0MFX,N5FKP,WW2DEM,W1E,R1LK,W8AGB,K6JOB,DL0CUX,W2AQ,DL0BRF,7S0SFJ,ON9BD,NM8GS,N8LST,WW2LST,W1WCC,W5MSQ,K0FPO,N6MSO,DL0MFN,K3SAV,OEX6XMF,W6RO,PI4HAL,VK4GLA,WD4PBR,OE6XMF,N5E,W2C,K5RMD,NJ4DU,W8COD,N1S,NB9QV,DL0DMB,EH5SUB,NJ6VT,IINS,TMWFLO,N8SUM,WW2MAN,VAWGNQ,N5R,KH6SP,WW2SUB,N7P,NS6OI,DM3G,RU3AWK,N4HLH,K5ZRO,W5STR,K2VTT,W4AVM,K6YVM,IY4ELE)
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I'll give this a try. Still stuck on Ft8 for the time being, motavational-wise.
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Couldn't hear any of them on 20m or 40m and got tired of trying to chase the DXSummit postings, so I just camped on on 20m FT8 and started calling CQ MSW. The Lexington, W5LEX eventually answered. Also have several QSOs from those who don't know what MSW was.
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I was sidelined much of the event. I managed to get 23 contacts though. One each on 15 meters and 40 meters. The remainder on 20 meters.
20 went "dead" for a while which is when I got most of my contacts. I swapped between a 6 meter dipole (useless on HF), the 20 meter vertical loop and the 80 meter vertical loop antennas. The 80 meter loop pulled out signal and put me through most of the pileups with 90-95 watts on USB. The more wire the merrier....
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I really need to see the 20 meter vertical loop to you. Using insulated wire and a fishing pole you can snake it through a tree and voila'...you're done. With a tuner you can work multiple bands easily. Now...this is with the 440 or 450 ladder line feed in parallel to the ground at the middle of the side between highest and lowest points. That feed gives you vertical polarization AND the antenna works great just 3' off the ground....which way outperformed the dipoles I had up30-40'.
About 74' of wire fed by ladder line EXCEPT you're going to need a tuner (or baluns) to work 10, 12, 15 and 40. I have an ATAK 4 tuner good for 2,500 watts....which easily tuned in 40 meters and 80 meters....all on that 20M vertical loop.