koØm
11-22-2014, 01:44 AM
I worked Alaska, Asian Russia, and Japan this morning using JT9; last time I talked to Alaska and Russia was back in 1979 on a four element beam, a Varmit 150XL and, a Lafayette Comstat 25 base station. I was giddy then and, I was giddy this morning.
It took a lot of work to get those contacts, they were on 10 meters and, they happened as the distant stations were in the "gray Line" around their sunset. The reason I say it took a lot of work is because every computer or laptop in the radio room was affected by my antenna installation; my operating position is directly under one leg of my dipole and, the other leg runs parallel to to the majority of my home electronics. Every time I turn up over 5 watts on 10 meters, the computer locks up.
So, I decided to load JT-65 and JT-9 on my MacBook Pro; it was a hard install, the README instructions didn't work for me, I had to manually do a bunch of "sudo and -w" commands in the Terminal of the notebook to reallocate memory so that the program would work. Program works but, my CAT does not work so, I have to manually change bands <gasp>!
The Mac is impervious to RF! I cranked the watts up to max and, the MBP never slowed down or missed a beat when I typed, I no longer had the issue and, could put enough watts out there to be heard.
It's 1:45 A.M. EST, good time to catch northern Asia.
.
It took a lot of work to get those contacts, they were on 10 meters and, they happened as the distant stations were in the "gray Line" around their sunset. The reason I say it took a lot of work is because every computer or laptop in the radio room was affected by my antenna installation; my operating position is directly under one leg of my dipole and, the other leg runs parallel to to the majority of my home electronics. Every time I turn up over 5 watts on 10 meters, the computer locks up.
So, I decided to load JT-65 and JT-9 on my MacBook Pro; it was a hard install, the README instructions didn't work for me, I had to manually do a bunch of "sudo and -w" commands in the Terminal of the notebook to reallocate memory so that the program would work. Program works but, my CAT does not work so, I have to manually change bands <gasp>!
The Mac is impervious to RF! I cranked the watts up to max and, the MBP never slowed down or missed a beat when I typed, I no longer had the issue and, could put enough watts out there to be heard.
It's 1:45 A.M. EST, good time to catch northern Asia.
.