View Full Version : My little project....
KD8TUT
07-06-2018, 02:12 AM
Hi all,
A few weeks ago my wife noticed an abandoned roof tripod/mast discarded in front of a neighbor's house roughly a quarter mile away. She came in all excited since I was looking to put up another mast on my antenna deck....
So we walked over to the house and the two of us carried the tripod and mast all the way home. So my project this week (along with work) has been to get the mast ready and a large 2m/440 antenna mounted...
It's not up yet- but the antenna is mounted and it's been covered with a layer of rustoleum...
15816
Good score. I always loved finding electronics freebies at curbside. :clap:
w2amr
07-06-2018, 05:54 AM
Nice find. Over the years I've done my share of trash picking.
Welcome to the dark side of the hobby. Recycling!
Good find Michael. I'm a little jealous actually.
KG4CGC
07-06-2018, 07:11 PM
You beat the meth heads to scrap recyclers!
suddenseer
07-06-2018, 09:33 PM
Watch it mister, "little" projects can turn into cities.
K4PIH
07-09-2018, 10:05 AM
Great score! You are a lucky man. Your wife was excited and helped you carry it.
My wife would have said "What, more radio junk"!
KD8TUT
07-09-2018, 12:13 PM
Great score! You are a lucky man. Your wife was excited and helped you carry it.
My wife would have said "What, more radio junk"!
She's a good egg and has her tech... on the other side, I stand in the sun roasting like a pig watching horses run around and take shits.
I "oooh" and "ahhhh" when a horse does something. I've got no idea what they are doing. As long as they don't shit on me I'm good with it :)
"LOL"
KG4CGC
07-09-2018, 12:14 PM
I am fortunate in that respect. My wife doesn't care what I do.
KD8TUT
07-09-2018, 12:30 PM
Here's the finished project:
15821
Nice, but I still can't hear you. You're 5-9, again again
K4PIH
07-10-2018, 07:21 AM
Here's the finished project:
15821
Nice job!
KG4CGC
07-10-2018, 11:58 AM
Approval: VERIFIED
KD8TUT
07-10-2018, 02:13 PM
Here's a nice result from the "little project". I put up an APRS iGate and propagation.... is having fun....
15823
Approval: VERIFIED
Approver: VERIFIABLE :smoker:
Interesting propagation out there Michael. That's a fresh water lake, right? How far across is it?
KD8TUT
07-10-2018, 02:42 PM
Approver: VERIFIABLE :smoker:
Interesting propagation out there Michael. That's a fresh water lake, right? How far across is it?
About 70 miles. Fresh water. We get a lot of strong propagation over the whole thing sometimes. Lately it's been going really strong.
KD8TUT
07-10-2018, 02:47 PM
Also... now it's getting really intense and I'm working the Chicago repeaters full quieting:
15824
About 70 miles. Fresh water. We get a lot of strong propagation over the whole thing sometimes. Lately it's been going really strong.
Well, fresh is a misnomer; I was thinking of salinity, but you figured that out. Is the full quieting thing a regular occurrence or some sort of propagational anomaly?
KD8TUT
07-10-2018, 10:06 PM
Well, fresh is a misnomer; I was thinking of salinity, but you figured that out. Is the full quieting thing a regular occurrence or some sort of propagational anomaly?
This time of the summer it's common. Lately it's been every day.
When I was first licensed I did not have an HF rig- only VHF/UHF all mode. So for a couple of years all I worked was 2m openings, along with some 220 repeater work across the lake. Thus I'm "addicted" to VHF/UHF. It's challenging. So for a few months a year I'm devoted to VHF/UHF projects.
Cool. I get it man, my first qso card was for a cw contact on 2 meters and my first serious rig was an Icom 211. There is a high point in Portland I would go to (Rocky Butte, an extinct volcano top) with a 5 element beam and my 706 and I remember working as far north as the Seattle area, out to the coast, into north central OR and south past Salem; all on ssb. Great fun! Putting all that back into play is on my list o' shit to get done before the ole ticker craps out for good. Hopefully in a year or two I can get V/U capable again. I still need to get my loop up first for 75. Enjoy what you have going there, it looks like fun!
KD8TUT
07-11-2018, 11:23 AM
Cool. I get it man, my first qso card was for a cw contact on 2 meters and my first serious rig was an Icom 211. There is a high point in Portland I would go to (Rocky Butte, an extinct volcano top) with a 5 element beam and my 706 and I remember working as far north as the Seattle area, out to the coast, into north central OR and south past Salem; all on ssb. Great fun! Putting all that back into play is on my list o' shit to get done before the ole ticker craps out for good. Hopefully in a year or two I can get V/U capable again. I still need to get my loop up first for 75. Enjoy what you have going there, it looks like fun!
I really need to get this forum updated so we have a like button... because I like your post.
K7SGJ
07-11-2018, 12:27 PM
Just a few more antennas on the roof, and you'll be giving Pat a run for his money.
Only if he can fill a few 40' conex boxes with boat anchors will he get remotely close
suddenseer
07-11-2018, 06:54 PM
These guys work so hard, I get tired just watching. I do so much half assed thiings, and see others who give it a professional edge. I am glad to read these posts.
KD8TUT
07-11-2018, 09:16 PM
These guys work so hard, I get tired just watching. I do so much half assed thiings, and see others who give it a professional edge. I am glad to read these posts.
It's been a long evolution. My first attempts at building a station were pretty marginal. Now that I've made some big mistakes.... the little ones are easier to detect before the project is complete.
If it looks professional... I've simply gotten good at hiding the bad stuff :)
It's been a long evolution. My first attempts at building a station were pretty marginal. Now that I've made some big mistakes.... the little ones are easier to detect before the project is complete.
If it looks professional... I've simply gotten good at hiding the bad stuff :)
You're not claiming "fake it till you make it" are you?
KD8TUT
07-12-2018, 02:36 AM
You're not claiming "fake it till you make it" are you?
Absolutely.
Often I hear brand new hams asking longer term hams to "come and set up my station for me". I think that is a mistake. Build it yourself- screw it up Reeeeal goood.
Then get an experienced guy to show you every mistake you made. Backtrack through what you know and learn more.
There's such a difference between theory and practice. I knew theory. I learned practice.
My first field day I jumped in with both feet and did 2m weak signal, and 220 repeater access for talk in. I accomplished nothing. But... I learned so much that the second field day was a success.
Rules for technology success:
1. Build it.
2. Screw it up beyond belief.
3. Get someone who knows to show you everything you did wrong (includes being laughed at).
4. Learn!
I my case I have a short list of talented guys, one who is an EE, who bat be around the ears when I screw up.
5. Books are Your Friends. If your RF design/electrical engineering library isn't measured in kilopounds, you're doing it wrong.
suddenseer
07-12-2018, 10:57 AM
Antenna systems, and transmission lines have been a real cause of suicides in the ham radio community for a long time now. I never plan on using the new ant that evening, no unrealistic goals here LOL. Every place offers some sort of electrical circuitry like XL XC puts the REACT in reactance! Sometimes the most crafty of engineering professionals sometimes need outside help because they seem to have no clue to their own back yard. Forty two years of being a radio amateur, I am no closer to turning pro than I was day one! Wow, eight more years I will be in the half century wireless group. That makes me like Fred (here) Eddie,
KD8TUT
07-12-2018, 04:15 PM
Propagation is crap today....
15828
KD8TUT
07-12-2018, 07:02 PM
Broke it so soon?
Yea... I sucks.
No stuffed animal for you tonight. Only the hose.
KD8TUT
07-14-2018, 12:56 PM
Decided to make a modification: Pulled the screwdriver off the second antenna (performs like crap) and put up a 2m loop and a 220 beam:
15830
KD8TUT
07-14-2018, 12:58 PM
And..... the propagation across the lake it for crap right now:
15831
KD8TUT
07-16-2018, 08:47 PM
Things just banged wide open on the great lakes on 2 meter... gosh what fun!!
15834
suddenseer
07-17-2018, 12:08 PM
Ducting?
KD8TUT
07-17-2018, 12:22 PM
Ducting?
I assume... the propagation distance was not long enough to indicate sporadic e.
There were some links on APRS up to 400mi. But I'd expect over 1000mi for sporadic e.
Most of the digipeaters I rely on to observe propagation are large tower affairs with a lot of gain. So if I'm seeing 200 miles- I can usually get into Chicago.
suddenseer
07-18-2018, 02:19 PM
So far, my favorite VHF contact was France on the magic band, CW in the SSB calling frequency 50.125, QRP full 5 watts, 50 Mhz LPDA, aimed North. Obvious multi hop. I had more fun on the magic band than others. The local, and scatter propagation made weak signal contacts doable, and fun!. I liked chatting simplex fm with the locals as well. I was (still have transformers) putting a 1200W repeater together, an old retired motorola. I has looking for someone who could re-tune the cavities. I was (maybe still am) challenging the coordinated frequency pairs being squatted on by old geezers who were arrl friends of friends who were not even operating an active repeater. I still have dreams of a very high profile 6M repeater with simulcast connectivity to other systems, and cross band links. I do not want to see the magic band get sold to the highest bidder like a chunck of 220 was!
KD8TUT
07-18-2018, 03:57 PM
So far, my favorite VHF contact was France on the magic band, CW in the SSB calling frequency 50.125, QRP full 5 watts, 50 Mhz LPDA, aimed North. Obvious multi hop. I had more fun on the magic band than others. The local, and scatter propagation made weak signal contacts doable, and fun!. I liked chatting simplex fm with the locals as well. I was (still have transformers) putting a 1200W repeater together, an old retired motorola. I has looking for someone who could re-tune the cavities. I was (maybe still am) challenging the coordinated frequency pairs being squatted on by old geezers who were arrl friends of friends who were not even operating an active repeater. I still have dreams of a very high profile 6M repeater with simulcast connectivity to other systems, and cross band links. I do not want to see the magic band get sold to the highest bidder like a chunck of 220 was!
Agreed... I do a lot of 220 when I can
What are you using for a 220 setup, Mike? Modes?
KD8TUT
07-19-2018, 10:37 AM
What are you using for a 220 setup, Mike? Modes?
I have an Alinco DR235 which I've been using for repeaters. But for SSB/DIGI I use a Yaesu 736-R with 2m/70cm/1.25m/6m modules.
Good rig (736). I have several of its predecessor (726) and one of these days am going to convert a spare 2M module to 222...
KD8TUT
07-19-2018, 08:50 PM
Good rig (736). I have several of its predecessor (726) and one of these days am going to convert a spare 2M module to 222...
You know... if I were to ebay with 220 and 6 meter modules separately and then sell the rig itself I'd make some real money over what I paid for it.
But... it's one of my favorite radios. Want to keep it permanently.
KD8TUT
07-30-2018, 07:47 PM
I just made a 127 mile repeater contact with a repeater in Plymouth MI. At 5 watts!!
Giddy.... totally giddy.
Wow dude! That is amazing! I only wish I could do that from my house in the bowl. Giddy well deserved. Log it.
KG4CGC
07-31-2018, 01:44 PM
:giggity::giggity::giggity::giggity::giggity:
In '81 - when first licensed as an Advanced - I worked a Michigan repeater this time of year from my buddy's front yard...with an old Tempo HT.
None of the crowd present could grasp the significance.
suddenseer
08-01-2018, 05:28 PM
In '81 - when first licensed as an Advanced - I worked a Michigan repeater this time of year from my buddy's front yard...with an old Tempo HT.
None of the crowd present could grasp the significance.Was it a wide area linked repeater system? In 81, prolly not. Must have been that summer time thing. I remember them daze when non hams did not care, still don't.
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