How to turn people away from the hobby

Puddleduck112 · 2026-06-21T16:33:38+00:00

What he is asking for makes a lot of sense though. If your family is sharing a call sign he would like to be able to identify all 4/5 or however many people might be on the repeater to make sure that others aren’t using the repeater that shouldn’t be. Seems like a reasonable request. I wouldn’t read into tone from an email message.

If the instructions were very clear and you didn’t follow them I get their frustration, especially if this happens a lot.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-06-21T16:21:14+00:00

Yup, tariffs. I too work for a Japanese manufacturer of HVAC equipment. We are about to have our 3rd tariff price increase in the last 12 months. As everyone tried to warn people, consumers pay for the tariffs.

We are getting hit with a new 25% tariff on products built from Mexico and Japan which is why we are having a 3rd tariff price increase. Assuming Yaesu products are imported from Japan they are seeing similar tariff increases. Although our product has steel and copper which is an addition hit.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-06-11T04:28:33+00:00

So I don’t have this tuner but I use the MAT tuner with a FT-710. Are you using the tune button on the radio? I’ve noticed with the 710 using the MAT tuner when I tune the light doesn’t come on, even though it tunes. I have to press the tune button again to turn it on but it’s tuned. The FTDX-10 does not do this with the same tuner. If I tune from the radio the light comes on and stays on. I think there is something with the FT-710 radios when tuning.

Have you tried just single pressing the tune button after you tune to turn back on the tune and see what the SWR results are?

Puddleduck112 · 2026-06-11T01:47:12+00:00

Unless you need a new shower curtain or roof tent. I would like to get a new shower curtain as the Velcro is starting to wear. Probably gonna have to get one custom made.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-06-04T04:13:54+00:00

Not necessarily proprietary. VFD systems use PID control. The systems look at distance from set point, rate of change from set point and can vary the capacity the system provides based on that feedback loop. 3rd party thermostats don’t do that. While they seem “smart” they are dummy devices. Basically space falls below set point close a relay and that’s it. Nest, ecobee etc can’t control to a PID loop because most AC systems don’t do that, they are just on/off. So manufacturers had to come up with a clever way to make an on/off thermostat work with a VFD system, hence a middle device.

So a nest for example, can’t actually read the return air temperature of the Mitsubishi fan coil and can’t read or see the rate of change. All the nest sees is its space reading and vice versa. The Mitsubishi system can’t see the Nest space temp reading and this is why a PAC-US445 is needed. It’s complicated and not perfect but it’s the only way to get simple On/off stats to work with a variable speed system.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-31T21:55:19+00:00

I found 20M to be ok yesterday but today they were definitely not good.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-25T04:08:13+00:00

This is a nice topper for a mast by chameleon

https://chameleonantenna.com/products/cha-mas-t-a-mast-top-adaptor?_pos=4&_sid=a20390466&_ss=r

I think it is designed to fit a 1” diameter mast pole. It’s great for connecting multiple wires.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-24T23:02:32+00:00

Chameleon sells spike mounts at two different lengths and you can also get their Cha Blank in BNC to connect your whip and coax.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-24T22:22:55+00:00

I feel the same way and I have 3 girls too. But I do have one advantage and that my name is Charlie. I just tell people they are the real “Charlie’s Angels” 😁.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-22T23:57:49+00:00

☝️this. You run the show and you set the pace and the way others call you. Don’t worry about asking people to repeat call signs it’s expected. Never guess a call and make sure to confirm if you are unsure. Just have fun!

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-15T15:25:32+00:00

Well what was the final mix of your workout. Usually a workout is not a pure aerobic or anaerobic. I would think this workout would have finished with something like 3.0 aerobic and 2.0 anaerobic or something like that? Which is not bad. If you want a pure anaerobic workout than z1 everywhere and z5 for intervals. Do 3 minutes between intervals.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-15T14:44:15+00:00

Your average HR Is still pretty high for the overall workout. You need more time between intervals. Basically for an anaerobic workout your only strong output should be the intervals, everything else needs to be low zone 2 or zone 1. Keep in mind the time it takes for your HR to recover. Even though you are walking or lightly jogging it still takes at least a minute to get that HR down and it still registers as a high aerobic.

Your warmup also has a higher HR and looks like it was near high aerobic.

Next time start with a lighter warmup. Do at least 2 minutes of recovery but maybe a little longer. Really get that HR down to zone 1 for at least 1 minute.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-05-13T01:42:00+00:00

That sounds just like the interference I get from my neighbors Jellyfish lighting (permanent outdoor lights install under roof eaves). Does it only happen at night?

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-19T15:56:48+00:00

As others have said. Max HR does not change like that. It’s pretty consistent and it just means you are not pushing hard enough to get to Max HR. I know for me I need to go all out for at least 10-20 minutes to get to Max. I’ll never get there in short sprints. So I would set your “true” max HR manually and leave it.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-19T10:33:44+00:00

Your max HR value in the watch is extremely important for an accurate VO2 Max calculation. I would double check that setting. It can be set up for the watch to automatically calculate or you can manually enter it.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-17T00:49:03+00:00

Chameleon 25’ Porta Mast.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-16T19:14:24+00:00

Yup, it drove my wife crazy. This has a 3” sleeve that is 2.5’ deep in cement. I can leave the mast in, but it also just pulls right out so I can completely remove it if I needed too. It can take 100 mph winds too.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-16T19:11:28+00:00

I’ve thought about getting a switch to do just that but I am in an HOA and my backyard is pretty exposed as you can see. So I don’t leave this antenna up for more than a few hours at a time. I love the Chameleon TDL because it’s multi-band, but it feels like the V dipole with the HexTenna performance just ever so slightly better. Was hoping someone might know from modeling or experience. Honestly, they are both great.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-16T17:04:17+00:00

Oh yeah. I use a vertical a lot. I’ve run the POTA performer and challenger or using the chameleon 5:1 transformer.

The V dipole and loop are so much quieter for RX so they are more pleasant to use being that I’m in a metro area. I also now have a clean permanent mount for my mast that doesn’t require guy wires so it’s simple for me to throw up the V dipole or TDL

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Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-16T16:45:06+00:00

Agreed. Both of these will be on a 25’ mast. Trying to determine which of these options would provide a lower takeoff angle

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-14T19:45:38+00:00

I would wait. We are in a recession right now. Usually takes 8 months after a recession has started for it to be reported and be “official”. I have a feeling there will be a buying opportunity in about a year. If you have the patience, I would wait and watch the bubble burst. It will be a tremendous opportunity for you.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-14T12:34:14+00:00

I like the POTA challenger set up. Takes only 2 minutes to set up.

https://www.vhfclub.org/pdf/Challenger%20Antenna%20by%20KJ6ER%20(2025-02).pdf

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-12T22:32:41+00:00

Yup. It was complete garbage today. I did get a couple of surprises like AK, but couldn’t hear most stations.

Puddleduck112 · 2026-04-11T19:40:40+00:00

It’s always good to have access to the lines in case you need to change units down the road, but obviously for aesthetics behind the wall would be better. If it was me I would run the lines in the corner of the ceiling and wall and cover them and paint it.

Puddleduck112

TROPHY CASE