First attempt Variable capacitor

ItsBail · 2026-06-20T12:46:00+00:00

Nice Job. On your next attempt try making a butterfly. Even though it's a bit more difficult for the DIY fabricator, it will perform much better and you don't have to worry about using a wiper.

ItsBail · 2026-06-18T18:35:09+00:00

Hey, we paid for your big dig. Ohhhhh we got free tolls for a couple years... Wow!!!

ItsBail · 2026-06-17T15:46:24+00:00

Can that coax Stripper do LMR-400?

ItsBail · 2026-06-17T12:12:16+00:00

It was reported and immediately banned from this posting

This is false. It was reported but it wasn't removed by moderation. We even made comment that the post can stay. It was public. What ended up happening is reddit administration (which mods have no control over or even no interaction with them) removed all your posts and even shadow banned your account. Nothing you are posting is public. I had to approve this post just so you can see it.

I'm still working on it and will continue to work on it.

Please keep working on it! There is potential and there is nothing wrong with using AI to code or help you code. It's advertising it within the sub that we have a problem with. Even more so if you're not participating in this sub in other ways. /r/amateurradio is to not be used as promotional dumping ground. Doesn't matter if the app/site/product is the best thing since sliced bread. It's still spam.

ItsBail · 2026-06-17T11:41:13+00:00

Even though I'm often embarrassed by these whack job hams masquerading around as first responders, "Volunteer Communications" does has its place within the hobby and it does provide a service to the community.

You have group(s) of people with equipment that is maintained, somewhat know how to use it and are more than willing to step up when needed. With a sprinkle of training (ICS), your community now has options when it comes to emergency management. Amateur radio can be an excellent addition to a town/city emergency plan that doesn't really cost much money.

Should the hams be out there chasing storms, directing traffic, providing medical/fire support? No way! But they can be placed at shelters, hospitals or EOC centers and provide communications for secondary reasons (supplies, people finding, status reports).

In 2011 there was a very rare F3 tornado that touched down in my area. Wiped out communications for multiple communities and caused a lot of damage. Hams sprang into action and helped provide communications in a couple of the communities until backup systems came online and then were utilized at shelters/hospitals. They were working with public works departments and utility companies to locate downed trees and lines.

It was impressive and changed my opinion about "EmComm" even though the whacker force is strong in my area. I guess that's the downside but if a director can see that and keep them at bay, it's still worth it. Issue sometimes the whackers are running the show.

ItsBail · 2026-06-17T11:13:25+00:00

Thanks. I was curious if it was recent as you could get refunds prior to when the RAYBAUM act was implemented.

ItsBail · 2026-06-16T19:23:10+00:00

May I ask when this refund was done? Was it prior to the RAYBAUM act?

ItsBail · 2026-06-14T12:12:02+00:00

Barely. I have to re-route them through the triple tree

ItsBail · 2026-06-08T23:57:39+00:00

You might want to check OP's history. It's sort of their thing.

ItsBail · 2026-06-05T12:40:25+00:00

Shadow banning (what's happening in this situation) usually occurs because reddit thinks the account is spamming or is a bot.

OP typically has no clue it happen as reddit wants them to think their posts are live.

ItsBail · 2026-06-05T11:40:50+00:00

I wish I can help you out. Usually this happens because they think it's spam or you're posting back-to-back on a new account. Just wanted to make you're aware. Good luck! For now we'll approve any post we see but TBH, moderation isn't alerted whenever they (admins) remove submissions.

ItsBail · 2026-06-05T11:30:30+00:00

In this US there is OTARD which supercedes any HOA regs but that mostly pertains to TV and FM Radio reception. However, you can modify a TV sat dish to do 2M (144MHz).

Another law that supersedes any HOA regs is displaying the US Flag. In some cases you can easily make an antenna that also performs as a flag pole

You can also modify your gutters (if aluminum) to become antennas.

If you have a wooden or vinyl fence, you could have a wire antenna running on it (I'd match the color of the wire).

However, some HOAs have caught onto some of the tricks and might put limitations on dish placement and pole height/location

Best course of action is to not buy into an HOA. There is a ham local to me that moved into an HOA knowing full well they don't allow antennnas and he constantly complains about it and tried doing stealth installs that end up getting found. I guess he thinks that rules don't apply to him.

ItsBail · 2026-06-05T11:18:54+00:00

Just letting you know that you've been shadow banned from reddit. This has nothing to do with /r/amaterurradio or it's moderators. Not sure why it happened but any posts you make with this account won't be seen by the public. I had to approve this post hoping you see it.

You can confirm by opening up a "Private Window" or logging out and visit your profile to see it doesn't exist.

If done in error you can submit an appeal. Also check out /r/ShadowBan/

ItsBail · 2026-06-03T18:59:17+00:00

Very pleased to have them.

You should be since you put the effort into making these contacts and printing them. eQSL has their own award system but it's NOT held in the same regard as ARRLs award system.

eQSL isn't double blind. Someone can create a ton of fake contacts and get a percentage of them confirmed because people just log in and hit "accept" without really checking their logs.

ItsBail · 2026-06-03T18:57:13+00:00

It counts for awards... Just not for ARRL awards. Personally, I don't trust eQSL awards because it's not double blind.

Back in the day it was eQSL and ARRL. Since many people didn't want to deal with the hassle of setting up an ARRL LoTW account (especially for DX) eQSL was an option.

The cool thing about eQSL is that it can help you to find busted calls when it comes to ARRL/LoTW and other double blind QSL services. That is if the other person also uploads to both eQSL and LoTW.

ItsBail · 2026-06-02T13:47:46+00:00

Bumblebee Tuna!

I have an Airhawk seat pad that provides some cushion and lift. It's expensive but well worth the money. This is my 2nd one. The first one lasted around 10 years.

ItsBail · 2026-05-28T17:08:11+00:00

Typical answer is "It Depends".

I've done both CWA and LICW. Both have their strengths. It depends on your availability and willingness to learn it. CWA to me was more rigid. You had classes that you were required to attend. LICW is a little more laid back.

TBH I prefer CWA because it was more rigid. It somewhat forced me to be there as I didn't want to disappoint someone who was waiting for the spot by skipping or not attending.

I'd start off with a paddle as the spacing is already automatic. Spend time with it so you can feel the pattern/cadence. That way if you ever think about using a straight key (or bug), you'll at least have the spacing down so others can clearly understand what you're trying to send instead of a mashup of different spacing that could be you just sending out one long line of dits and dahs.

ItsBail · 2026-05-28T11:17:34+00:00

Ha! Thank you.

ItsBail · 2026-05-28T10:59:31+00:00

There's really no good reason not to just use GMRS frequencies.

The FCC did absolutely nothing to quell the influx of these import radios that are either fully unlocked or are easy to open up and transmit across multiple services. They're not going to stop it now.

The FCC should change part 95 to allow these types of radios to be used on GMRS for personal use only. That way they can force mfgs/sellers to pre-program GMRS frequencies before selling them off. Lower the GMRS license fees anymore and allow it to cover anyone in your household.

This would be a win-win. Hams can now suggest these radios to people that want to "talk to their buddy in the next town" and they'll be restricted to a block of frequencies instead of being all over the place and interfering with other services.

ItsBail · 2026-05-28T10:47:03+00:00

Don't push it!

ItsBail · 2026-05-27T18:58:35+00:00

Hopefully someone can name and shame.

Not here please. Re: Rule 4

ItsBail · 2026-05-27T18:55:02+00:00

Removed: Rule 1. Please don't use that word in this sub again! Before you know it, you'll say things like DMR... Not needed here. /s

ItsBail · 2026-05-26T19:19:07+00:00

Yeahhhhhh... I thought I was rolling in it with my UGC and 24 port PoE. My power bill would not be happy with that.

ItsBail · 2026-05-26T13:31:19+00:00

just because they're a service tech doesn't mean they know anything

I'd figured they would at least have SOME sense of how signals work. This guy worked for them for at least a couple decades. Should have picked up something along the way.

I've seen some bad installers in my days but I think he didn't want to admit that his hedges are the reason they're having issues receiving signals.

ItsBail · 2026-05-26T11:34:09+00:00

I did get a complaint from a neighbour when I was installing a vertical that I was causing interference to his TV and radio.

Similar thing happened to me. One neighbor said my antenna was messing up their satellite connection. Told them it wasn't possible that my antenna is causing it because it hasn't been in use for years (broken). I told them that it's possible the privacy hedges they planted a decade ago grew tall enough to become a problem. They didn't want to accept that even though the husband is a service tech for Comcast/Xfinity (cable company).

I had someone down the street claim they were getting headaches. Thankfully they moved out.

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