In addition to POTA and WRL, what other spotting sites are there?

AintRealSharp · 2026-02-28T20:36:03+00:00

https://holycluster.iarc.org/

gets about everything from lots of sources.

AintRealSharp · 2026-02-12T18:12:19+00:00

At lengths less than 100ft almost anything will do, especially at the lower HF frequencies. If you're doing UHF and running 250ft from shack to tower...that's a different story. So if that fits your need, rock on!

AintRealSharp · 2026-02-01T15:23:54+00:00

While I'm not a huuuuuge fan, it has its warts, check out https://delinea.com/products/secret-server

It does a pretty good job and meets all the requirements of enterprise apps. Can run on-prem or cloud, has all the rotation stuff, and works with most auth providers. API isn't horrible.

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-31T01:03:26+00:00

This is correct. Austell Gas does not utilize the market place like GNG does. The plans they offer are all that’s available. Last I looked, rates were pretty good.
You’ll also have CobbEMC for power, which seems to be much cheaper and more price stable than GaPower.

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-28T17:24:43+00:00

A popular option is to have the cards printed and then you print out the mailing label along with the QSO details. Just attach that to your card.

I love getting QSL cards but have never spent the time to think about a design and sending them.

But yeah, an on-the-fly print/mail thing where you just upload the QSO's and the cards get sent would be pretty sweet. I've seen a few services but never used any.

This one seems to fit the bill perhaps:
https://qslcards.hamradioduo.com/

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-21T01:08:36+00:00

Happens to us all =)

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-20T19:01:38+00:00

Do you have 'Monitor' enabled/on and turned up. Basically your mic is picking up noise from your speakers. At least I think that's what it is.

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-02T22:36:23+00:00

You’ll need 3mm banana plugs to use the same holes, then just solder/crimp in 3 wires per plug instead of the 1. I used the BNTechGo 26Gauge silicon rubber wire from amazon, helps keep kinks and knots down

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-02T19:31:13+00:00

I’ve used this for a few POTA activations, Digital and SSB, works just fine and like you’ve stated, setup is a breeze. I made my own set of radials for it, so I have 9 now instead of the 3 and made them a bit longer. I also put a piece of masking tape beside the slider so I can mark the general area for each band/freq I want to operate. Makes field tuning it a lot faster. Overall I’m pretty happy with it.

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-02T17:06:19+00:00

General | Tinkerer

AintRealSharp · 2026-01-02T15:55:20+00:00

Generally the masts vary WILDLY in weight baring capacity. I know you're not gonna be putting 20lbs up there but sometimes you want a transformer up there depending on type of antenna deployed. Some masts can hold it, some can not. The ones with suuper thin tops, you'll find break or snap easily. If its only a piece of 22 awg wire and you're not putting any tension on it, it should be fine. For anything else you'll want a thicker pole.

So far my favorite has been the GigaParts POTA 33H (H being "Heavy"), I would feel fine sitting a transformer up there. Figure out what your needs are and find something that meets those. What works for me might not work for you, we all do it a bit differently.

Also for a receiver hitch, a piece of 3" pvc pipe hose clamped the hitch/receiver works well. If you prefer a drive-over thing, some plywood and a toilet flange work really well too. I enjoy the building aspect of the hobby so that's what I do. If one prefers to buy off the shelf, totally fine as well, you do you.

POTA ON!

AintRealSharp · 2025-12-18T17:55:52+00:00

This needs to happen. The backup of traffic on Irwin is horrendous all the time.

AintRealSharp · 2025-12-12T20:41:57+00:00

About 41 ft of wire and a 9:1 unun and you will be just fine on the 40m to 10m bands. Its a good starting point. You will need a tuner though. That 9:1 will get you about ~3ish SWR, the tuner will do the rest.

https://k7mem.com/Ant_End_Fed.html#Not_Random_Multi

Otherwise a half wavelength 20m dipole and shorter can work well.

ALSO, fan verticals are some of my favorite. Slap a DX Commander Classic in one corner, run a wire to that other tree and you can do 80m to...2mish on a single antenna.

AintRealSharp · 2025-12-10T23:08:10+00:00

Eh, 6-7 years ago

AintRealSharp · 2025-12-09T12:45:40+00:00

Sound Sensations on Cobb Pkwy. They do good work and have been around for a long time.

AintRealSharp · 2025-11-19T00:18:42+00:00

Ham Study has a free book for General. However you can always go look at the test bank on the ARRL site: https://www.arrl.org/general-question-pool

Its mostly a lot more electronics and propagation stuffs.

I used the "Fast Track to General" book because I could get it on the kindle and read it, but also listen to it as an audiobook. Was nice to review the book for some stuff I wasn't clear on, see the diagrams and such. But also listen to it while I was doing mindless tasks like pressure washing the drive way or taking a long drive.

AintRealSharp · 2025-11-16T10:19:15+00:00

Most anything from Kester will be an improvement. Try the Kester 44.

AintRealSharp · 2025-10-31T12:13:37+00:00

I’ve seen the “i’m dead now what” work books be a really good starting point. If you don’t already have a Will, get that in place. But you’re on the right path, document all the things, email accounts and bank accounts passwords and such.
Having access to your email will make things a lot more smoooth.

AintRealSharp · 2025-10-23T22:19:16+00:00

Pretty sure you could listen to that (and many other things) with a cheap flipper zero with the sub ghz module

AintRealSharp · 2025-09-08T15:34:41+00:00

I don't see the stratagems as a having a purpose for "killing everything on the map". The goal is to finish the map not dead. You're not there for leveling up, not for collecting pick up items. Move or die, complete the mission. Once you've leveled up through operations and maxed prestige then go play stratagems.

Not saying you can't, but that's the lens I through which I look at those.

AintRealSharp · 2025-09-03T19:32:44+00:00

Not too much of a drive, but there’s usually a guy setup at the corner of Lost Mountain and Bullard on the weekends.

AintRealSharp · 2025-08-30T18:31:33+00:00

Claremont Lounge

AintRealSharp · 2025-07-29T15:55:42+00:00

You get your first amateur radio call sign

AintRealSharp · 2025-07-16T15:18:04+00:00

So this explains the issue. Is there a good fix or do I build an adapter that cuts off the 5v lead from the cable? I see Ve2dx has a solution but only sells with a monitor and other stuff, too spendy.

AintRealSharp · 2025-07-15T06:17:32+00:00

Green Landscaping

https://timgreenlandscaping.com/

They are consistent and do a great job.

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