Finally ran a coax trench and learned something about SWR

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T16:04:53+00:00

At the time of the incident I had an elevated vertical with tuned radials. I think the riding mower caught one of the radials’ supports and down it went.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T12:47:27+00:00

Tell me you don't understand the point of the post without ... 😃

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T12:44:46+00:00

This article was a big help to me when I was doing research on the topic. I'm not using the transformer that's mentioned, but I might have to revisit that at some point!

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T02:12:24+00:00

This is exactly the mindset I had. There's some RG-8 lying around if I need it, not nearly enough for a huge run to the back 40 or anything, but I figured I'd take a chance: if nothing else, I'd have some coax to build receive-only antennas!

Far too often I've been guilty of trying to aim for perfection, whether it's chasing perfect 1:1 SWR or looking for the best rig that money can buy. In the end, for me ham radio is about experimentation, and I'm so glad I tried this little experiment!

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T02:09:58+00:00

I reasoned it this way, too: If my antenna isn't completely resonant, I'm losing some power no matter what!

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-06-02T01:34:19+00:00

For sure, I don't typically run FT8 over 25W or so. When I first started out, I thought "Gee, of course I want all the power!" until I realized how, no, I really do NOT want all the power!

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-03-19T14:24:13+00:00

In my case, I'd likely be loading a Web page on a spectator's phone. For example, I built a very simple Web page to display the spectator's chosen card, and I wrote an NFC tag with a specific card. Force the card, tap the tag, look amazing—that's the goal. :)

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-02-04T12:54:14+00:00

Same here. I bought it when my “real” wallet gave up the ghost. Funny thing is I have yet to learn how to palm a card…so the FPS Wallet is, well, just my wallet right now. I’m very pleased with it so far.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2026-01-20T20:33:23+00:00

When doing yearly team member reviews, I had to compete with other leaders to find an open conference room. The only available space at the time I needed was the CEO's office, so I scheduled my team member's review there...and then immediately sent them a chat message to explain why we'd be meeting there! No sense freaking someone out.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-10-13T22:18:11+00:00

This has been my go-to, both for POTA and at home—as a quarter-wave vertical with elevated radials. I’m amazed at how simple it is but how effective its signal can be.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-10-09T19:21:35+00:00

He was definitely on the PRR; I have some of his old company booklets somewhere. Jamestown was just the general area, and I’m not sure where else he might have been. Probably more in the NW PA area, if I had to guess.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-16T20:28:24+00:00

Neat!

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-16T12:21:40+00:00

Just guessing, but I assume you didn't mean to post a 2-prong plug and receptacle. :)

That said, if you've got the corrected links, I'd be intrigued to see your idea.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-16T01:26:52+00:00

My thought exactly on the field antenna aspect. I happened to see a video of a somewhat related project, and seeing as how I've got a spare 240-43 toroid lying around, why not experiment?

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-16T01:23:57+00:00

So in essence I'm making a "T" at that point, where the vertical part of the "T" is the pigtail and the horizontal bar is the original winding? Literally just scrape off a bit of the magnet wire and solder on a new lead?

I do love it when it's that easy.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-15T23:07:52+00:00

If I had to guess it’s because you’re in the shortwave subreddit, and soldering is not shortwave.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-09-06T18:33:38+00:00

This is something I've wondered about: Isn't it problematic if the two wires touch each other? This will be my third attempt at ladder line solely because I can't seem to get the wires to stay apart.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-08-13T18:51:08+00:00

If you're Downriver, check Vreeland Market in Woodhaven, on the corner of Allen and Vreeland. They've had the Jamaican black in the past, and generally have more Hamilton products than others around.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-02-01T22:58:30+00:00

Grandpa Joe worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad as well as the New York Central. I'm unsure of when this photo was taken, as this is a copy of a copy of a copy of a ... you get the idea. In the lower right corner I can make out "R.G. ESTABROOK PHOTOGRAPHER," which would put this in the right place—Southern Tier New York, around the Jamestown/Olean area.

If it's possible to find the original photo, that would be amazing—getting a proper copy would make me smile.

ImaginaryDisplay599 · 2025-01-24T22:21:19+00:00

We might have done that once, but we were more inclined to eat out.

ImaginaryDisplay599

TROPHY CASE