Category Archives: Ham Stuff

Jul 27

Built A 3-Element Yagi For 2-Meters

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cleo05cCause I got tired of being lazy. Yeah, Lazy. I got up at 0530 but really didn’t get my day started until around Noon. Yeah, Noon! What The Hell!?! Basically, I didn’t do shit. Which really is unusual for me.

So, after I did my chores I looked up the plans for the 3-element Yagi antenna for 2-meters, went and got the parts (that was $14!), came home and assembled it. Haven’t actually soldered anything yet; I wanted to see if it actually worked or not first. Especially since I absolutely suck at soldering. But I did get it together according to specs and it seems to work.

fsx4bAE7VG heard me trying to make a radio check and came back to me with a good signal report. Still a bit of scratchiness on this end, but apparently it transmits good. I really haven’t had any problems with transmitting; everyone always says I have a great signal. My problem is that most everyone is scratchy listening to them. Anyway, she did a couple of 10 counts for me so I could turn the antenna to the clearest signal. It does sound better than my other antenna; but it’s close. And not having an SWR meter for 2-meters is kind of a bummer. Radio seems okay.

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Not much else going on really. Made myself some BBQ Pulled-Pork and bakes for dinner. Had one of the snickerdoodle cookies. Listening to the chatter on different repeaters and just chillin’.  No Nets or anything on Monday’s. Think I’ll “play” on 40-meters for awhile tonight. Need to call and refill my meds. Oh, Joy.

I think it’s Popcorn time!

Jul 23

Sometimes Being Retired Sucks!

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sandra1cDidn’t really feel like having breakfast this morning. Not that I wasn’t hungry. Just lazy. Didn’t really feel like having my usual cheerios; but didn’t really feel like making anything. And, if I had made anything, it would have had to be an omelet since we really don’t have anything else in the house. Didn’t feel like driving to MacDonald’s (or wherever either) either. What’s a lazy old guy supposed to do? So I had my cheerios; without walnuts or blue berries. I’m bad!

Not much else going on even though it’s a beautiful day. Not too hot. Not too cold. Bit of a breeze. Decided to move the Big Antenna (what I think I’ll call the 6-160 dipole cause typing 6-160 dipole all the time is, well, complicated. So it’s the Big Antenna from now on. IF I remember.)
   tz15Anyway, it’s pointed North to South right now. Thought I’d move it East to West and see if that makes any difference in what I hear. And if I’ll hear the MCARC 10-meter Net any better. At the very worst it will be a waste of time and I’ll wind up putting it back where it was. “Time wasted at something you enjoy is not wasted.” (Ted Nugent if I remember right.)
And, if I hear things better that would be a good thing!

Buying that 6-80 Meter Alpha Vertical Antenna for taking along camping. Good reviews and it’s only $250. (Only, he says!) $285 with shipping!

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Making Cheese-Broccoli Soup (with some Thrive Dehydrated Chicken added) and Corn Bread for dinner tonight.

Went to the NMARES meeting this evening. They were all the same as usual. Couple of newbies looking to get their Technician tickets. Cool! Everyone else is still just maintaining, as it were. Nothing really interesting going on.

Got stung by a hornet while sitting there in QFC. That stung! (Which is why they call it a sting, I guess.)

And that’s about it. SWMBO is home safe, I’m home safe, nothing else really happening here either. Think I’ll go lay down and read awhile.

Oh, moved the Big Antenna back to where it was. Tried PSK31 at 5, 10, & 25 watts with NO signal reports at all from pskreporter.info.

Jul 19

Hella Hot Around Here! Nice! Nice! Nice!

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Other than that just a normal SSDD Sunday. Me doing things around the house. SWMBO made one of her special meals for dinner. Laundry is almost done. My other usual chores pretty much done. I could be lazy for the rest of the afternoon if I wanted. Yeah, sure. So I watered the upper-front and lower-back yards. Among other things.

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Yesterday at Lowe’s I bought 2 10-foot long steel poles with this little thingie that lets you attach them end-to-end. Got out (yes, in this heat) and attached my 2-meter/440 antenna to one of them. Attached the other one to the post I have sticking into the ground. Then attached the one with the antenna to the top of the one secured to the post. Now my antenna sticks a good 20 feet into the air at the base. It really sticks up there. Kind of wobbles in the wind so I may have to guy it.

So far, radio checks with various repeaters have been okay. I may still need to move it depending if I really want to use a particular repeater or not. The only one I’m dead set on using is the MCARC Repeater. Other than that, it really doesn’t matter.

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Heard the Sheriff dispatch call for someone to “Check out an abandoned vehicle on top of a shed.” a bit earlier. I think I’d want to go check that one out. Heard calls for a couple of fires too.

Moved some more Manor Stones to the upper front yard to make those border thingies around a couple of the fruit trees. Need to dig the grass and weeds out before setting them in place; but I will wait for a cooler day. I’m getting too old to overwork out in the heat and have lived in WaRshington too long.

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I’d rather be at the beach! That’s the only thing I really miss about living in the San Diego area.

And that’s it. SWMBO and I watched the latest “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” after the MCARC 2-meter Sunday Evening Chat Net. About to hit the rack over an hour later than I usually do. That’s me: Wild & Crazy!

Jul 17

Today Seemed Lazier Than Usual

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Even though I swept most of the rooms (I don’t touch SWMBO’s quilt room. At All!), and swabbed the kitchen, dining, and my rooms. Watered the garden. Two loads of dishes (Don’t get me started on that!). Hmmm. Maybe cause I didn’t move any cinder blocks or Manor Stones around today? Could be.

Just Getting Things Done

Did talk to my friend on 20-meters at 1515 today. First time in a couple of weeks. He gave the new antenna a so-so report; but he was fading in and out and he’s pumping out 300 watts. I only go 75 watts max. Ever. Radio’s cost too much for this retired old Navy guy to replace them; even accidently burned out.

Spent some time listening in (playing) on websdr.org. There’s some interesting stuff going on and a couple of Hams that sound like commercial radio dudes. Hell, I haven’t even played with that SDR Dongle I got for over a month now. Maybe I should pull it out? …

Hotel

And that was pretty much my day. Kind of watching “Golden Voyage of Sinbad” and just killing a bit of time until I can go lay down. I suppose I could go lay down and read anytime I want, I am retired, but I feel weird laying down before 2100.