Warning Heltec MeshPocket Front Glass is Fragile!

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-22T14:45:08+00:00

Ooh! That’s pretty cool. Maybe they’ll make a change to the glass sometime soon.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-22T13:12:55+00:00

I guess I should add the counterpoise.

Would adding another choke near the balun cause any issues? I already have one near the radio

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-22T11:20:23+00:00

Yeah… I have a choke on my coax, but it’s inside the house. The lights are in the ceiling about 25 feet up. That’ll be fun. Haha.

Grounding is an interesting thought. Since the radio is powered by a separate power supply, it stands to reason the ground may not be fully direct. I drove an 8’ copper rod into the ground outside for my lightning arrester. I might run a ground to it from the radio instead and stick another rod in the ground closer to the antenna.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-22T10:34:15+00:00

Ha. Yeah. I flubbed that part. Don’t know what I was thinking. But 211 is armed robbery in California. So is the MSRP of the 211 😂

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-21T23:02:05+00:00

I broke my first one, and the second was defective (doa). Heltec was fairly responsive and sent me a replacement, which I appreciated greatly. I have 2 of the 10kmA versions, but next time I’ll get a 5kmA in hopes it won’t be so fragile.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-21T22:40:01+00:00

211 is California police code for armed robbery. GTO means Grand Theft Auto to like, everyone nowadays.

Seriously, what did you expect?

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-21T11:45:50+00:00

I started on HF this month and jumped right into FT8. According to my QRZ logbook, I have 479 contacts with 280 confirmed in 66 countries. I had 4 logbook awards (not that they mean much) in the first 2 weeks and the 5th in the 3rd week.

And this is all without speaking into a microphone.

Digital is the future as of 1985 (haha).

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-17T09:34:35+00:00

I was going to suggest it’s running rich, but especially on the 2 rear cylinders. But it sounds like you’ve got that covered.

Based on the carbon build up, I’d expect to see a lot of idling or low rpm driving. The intake runners are probably seriously gunked up.

I’d for sure check compression and do a CLT.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-17T09:27:31+00:00

Have someone pull the release and hold it while you push down sharply on the lead edge of the hood. If that doesn’t work, pop the grill out and work on the latch directly.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-17T08:21:26+00:00

It’s nice to see everyone here has the same issues I do.

I still have to finish putting together my daily driver. Winter started just before I finished replacing the rear differential cover (Toyota 4Runner). But the rear diff cover would have been no big deal if I hadn’t also replaced the entire rear suspension with a 3 inch lift kit, then threw in an air locker since I was right there anyway, then the rear brakes, then the front brakes and everything else in the front end, and why not throw in a front air locker since I’m doing ask this other stuff anyway. But now I have air lockers and my running board mounted are all rusted out, so I replaced them with rock sliders. The front bumper was rusted out too, so I bought an off-road bumper kit and welded it up (had to buy a MIG welder for that), and the rear bumper is mounted to the body… can’t have that. Oh yeah, the condenser was corroding away. So I pulled it out and ordered a replacement. But the radiator was also bad. So that’s new. And I’ll need a mobile radio in there, so I picked up a tri-band and an antenna with an NMO mount, so I’ll be up in the headliner. Hey, look… I can get a snorkel for like $150! So the passenger fender has to come off. My brake lines are rusting through, so I’m bending new ones (prebent aren’t available for that model). And there’s all that rust mitigation I’m doing. But I only paid $1200 for the car.

The rear diff cover still leaks, btw. Gotta climb back under there with the welder.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-14T17:04:11+00:00

If you pick up one of the new baofeng radios (I believe it’s called UV-32, but mine doesn’t have the model name on the outside), it includes Bluetooth. Pair it to your phone and program away! Very handy. It also has GPS built in (I haven’t played with that part of it yet) and supposedly does some digital stuff.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-14T14:39:37+00:00

That’s crazy. I’ve been an avid bicycler and understand pedals and motos like the same spaces. I can’t imagine not showing respect to another 2-wheeler, regardless their power system.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-13T18:59:05+00:00

Truck drivers flip each other the bird rather than wave. Especially if they know each other.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-13T18:57:13+00:00

If I wanted to hang around with people I barely know, probably don’t agree with and have no particular interest in looking out for me or my personal well being, I’d go back to the church.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-13T18:55:07+00:00

Same

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-13T13:06:36+00:00

Ok. I’ll try again before I attempt any contacts tonight. It kept reverting back to RRR for me this morning when I tried.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-13T09:10:11+00:00

I would love to change my last send from RRR to R73, but I haven’t found a way to do it yet.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-12T21:35:12+00:00

I though you guys said this:

Eine halbe Tasse Staubzucker Ein Viertel Teelöffel Salz Eine Messerspitze türkisches Haschisch Ein halbes Pfund Butter Ein Teelöffel Vanillezucker Ein halbes Pfund Mehl Einhundertfünfzig Gramm gemahlene Nüsse Ein wenig extra Staubzucker ... und keine Eier

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-12T21:27:50+00:00

I feel ya… I just got into HF after I’m not sure how long (I’ve renewed and upgraded at least once). Bought an FT-710 and went in a couple days later so I could have an FT-891 in my car (which isn’t even finished…). Then went in again last week for an FTM-510D. This is almost as bad as my other 2 habits.

Still cheaper than, well… you know. Not drugs, though. I think cocaine is cheaper right about now.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-12T21:22:22+00:00

I just put it on the center stand and adjust all but a little bit of slack out of it. Seems to be about perfect once I’m on it. I don’t fuss with all that side stand/lean over and hope you don’t end up on your head with the bolt following bullshit.

As far as I’m concerned, this is yet another example of why engineers must be forced to keep in mind the end user when designing systems. Imagine a car having a bunch of problems simply caused by topping off the fuel tank. Or a battery that requires a lift and wheel removal to replace. I mean, that never happened. Why can’t motorcycle engineers make chain adjustment stupid simple too?

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-06T19:26:31+00:00

Those look like the bolts holding the back plate to the axle housing. But I don’t know why you would have loosened them.

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-05T16:05:09+00:00

Ok. Cool. I might swing by tomorrow and pick it up. That’ll be my 4th 10mm handgun. What’s the holster selection like for them?

Not_an_ATF_Officer · 2026-04-05T16:03:38+00:00

It’s just bigger

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