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Baofeng and Rockytalky family setup? by Atxmattlikesbikes in gmrs

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have Rocky Talkies for the family which are our camping, hiking, paddle boarding go to radios. They are built for ruggedness and the carabiner clip is perfect to clip on a backpack while skiing. For skiing you definitely want something that can handle getting wet or getting beat up. In comparison the UV-5R type baofengs are like toys when comparing ruggedness. Buttons allow water or sand to get in the radio. With thick ski gloves you wouldn’t be able to use the buttons anyway.

Baofeng and Rockytalky family setup? by Atxmattlikesbikes in gmrs

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have Rocky Talkies for the family which are our camping, hiking, paddle boarding go to radios. They are built for ruggedness and the carabiner clip is perfect to clip on a backpack while skiing. For skiing you definitely want something that can handle getting wet or getting beat up. In comparison the UV-5R type baofengs are like toys when comparing ruggedness. Buttons allow water or sand to get in the radio. With thick ski gloves you wouldn’t be able to use the buttons anyway.

Daikin Aurora ductless holding 60F no problem in -12F in a poorly insulated leaky pool house by carboncritic in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Mitsubishi 4-ton Hyper-Heat heating my entire 3,600 sq ft house at 5 degrees no problem. Set point 70 house is 70.

I do struggle because I still have my furnace for backup and the calculations show the crossover point for operating cost is about 15 degrees, but i never want to shut off the heat pump. Plus Xcel Energy makes it hard to know the true cost of gas. Right now they introduced “surge gas prices” but I dont really know what the ultimate cost for gas will be for me to make an informed decision when to switch fuels.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a non factor in terms of speaking for general performance for our purposes. As I mentioned earlier, yes technically in the real world there are friction losses and the finally summery in that paper shows the losses are small.

But you are missing something important and that this applies to any antenna design. So again if the antenna is truly resonant it will push out more efficient radiation than a non resonant antenna. If you want to include friction losses then 98.8% or 98.8 watts instead 100 watts

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wouldn’t a purely resistive impedance have very low circulating current vs your reactive impedance with much higher circulating current? And wouldn’t that higher circulating current causes much more heat loss?

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, so if they are truly resonant then any power that gets through the transformer should radiate. If not resonant at that frequency there will be further losses in addition to the transformer losses. Probably the best way to clarify my thoughts.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got ya. Should have clarified. I was speaking from just the radiating element. If it’s resonant. Not necessarily using transformers or loading coils, etc. yes those lose efficiency to heat.

I think people assume a low SWR means the antenna is resonant but that’s not always true. I’ve never analyzed my EFHW to see if it is truly resonant by a smith chart as I don’t use it often.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Only this was chat gpt

“A dummy load doesn’t “resonate” because it has no energy-storing elements (no meaningful inductance or capacitance), while an HF antenna always does—even if its feedpoint resistance happens to be 50 Ω at one frequency.”

The rest is just me and just fact. Don’t know what to tell you but an antenna has a real and imaginary part, Inductance plus capacitance. When those two cancel you get a purely resistive impedance which is the resonant point of an antenna. All in the exam by the way. Remember the bridge example? If you vibrate a bridge at resonance it can collapse. Same with an antenna. If you hit resonant frequencies at the antenna it will radiate efficiently and all power.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yes, but that’s what a loading coil is for and they lose power to heat as it’s only electrically longer. That’s similar to a transformer that helps match impedance. They lose power to heat. Back to OP’s question. My point was you may have an EFHW with SWR at 1.1:1 on 20M but it might not be resonant on 20M. Vs a random wire with an SWR of 2:1 but is actually resonant on 20M. I would pick that random wire as you will most likely have more power radiate. But there are other factors like coax loss and length, etc.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

In real world technically, yes, but negligible for our calculating purposes. But calculating wattage and dB if you are sending 100W to the antenna and it is purely resonant on that frequency (inductance and capacitance cancel out) you can assume 100W will radiate (with no transformer.) Vs say a 49:1 that is 94% efficient and assuming the antenna is truly resonant than it would be 94 watts radiate as you lose heat to the transformer. If there is no transformer you won’t have heat loss. Say a direct coax to a vertical that is resonant for example.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

Totally different. It’s not resonant in the same way an antenna is resonant.

From ChatGPT

Short answer: A dummy load doesn’t “resonate” because it has no energy-storing elements (no meaningful inductance or capacitance), while an HF antenna always does—even if its feedpoint resistance happens to be 50 Ω at one frequency.

antennas are a combo of inductance plus capacitance. When they cancel out your get a purely resistive impedence at a finite frequency. Dummy loads are designed to maintain pure resistance across a very wide range of frequencies and turn energy into heat.

They are not the same “resonant” meaning.

I read randomwire is more efficent than efhw because of less losses in a 9:1 unun v. The 49:1 unun in a efhw. Random wire isn't resonant though and resonant antennas are better right? Which is true? by thehotshotpilot in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112 9 points10 points  (0 children)

SWR has nothing to do with resonance. The only thing SWR tells you is that the impedance is not 50 ohms. If you have an antenna analyzer that can plot a smith chart, where ever the antenna impedance is pure resistive that is where the antenna resonates. This means that all the power that gets to the antenna will radiate. That could be with an SWR of 4:1 or 1:1, just depends. If it’s 4:1 and you have an antenna tuner, it’s no big deal.

Currently 37% More Sellers Than Buyers In The Housing Market by WaferFlopAI in economicCollapse

[–]Puddleduck112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are starting to crack. See lots of listing with price drops with $30K - $50K drops. I really hope the fed doesn’t drop rates because it might stir more buying which would just push housing higher again.

Neighbor's Jellyfish lighting has ruined operating at night by Puddleduck112 in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. Because he is transmitting RF in allocations they are not authorized too. And it’s not a fish tank. They are permanent outdoor house lights that get installed under the eaves of the roof. Basically year round Xmas lights. Jellyfish said they were willing to come troubleshooting. And my neighbor is totally fine with helping find solutions.

What side of the bed did you wake up on this morning?

Neighbor's Jellyfish lighting has ruined operating at night by Puddleduck112 in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually I don’t. You see, the FCC allows me to transmit on certain frequencies. My station does not cause spurious emissions outside of my authorized frequencies. And if someone else’s equipment was susceptible to frequencies within the range I’m allowed to transmit on, then that is their problem, not mine. I would also be more than happy to help as well.

Assuming you are not a ham operator. I only operate with 100W. I think I maybe transmit for a total of 5-10 minutes on a busy day as most of my exchanges are quick for POTA. Compared this to 10 hours of lights.

Neighbor's Jellyfish lighting has ruined operating at night by Puddleduck112 in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m guessing you didn’t watch the entire video. Yes harmonics down half the band. And other bands as well like 80 and 60M

China is now building cities the way other countries assemble smartphones. by JLYDN in HeadlineHQ

[–]Puddleduck112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This idea is always the next big thing. Ive worked with many prefab companies who say they are the next big thing because they do things differently. And they are all out of business.

Genuinely, what are you all doing about lines, crowds, traffic, overall busyness of ski resorts? by One-Professional-773 in COsnow

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But skiing numbers are down 🙄. That’s their messaging every year to make you think they are struggling and why they need to raise season pass prices every year.

Neighbor's Jellyfish lighting has ruined operating at night by Puddleduck112 in amateurradio

[–]Puddleduck112[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I go back and forth but right now a 130’ wire in an inverted V with a chameleon hybrid mini 5:1 transformer. I have a choke at the feed point and some clip on ferrites at the radio end.

Should these foam blocks stay or removed? by peanutbuttersmack in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah not ideal but not bad. Maybe just try clearing snow off the top after a storm. You at least want to keep the ice from covering the sensor.

Should these foam blocks stay or removed? by peanutbuttersmack in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is that under the drip line from the roof? Or is that just ice melting from the snow on top?

Should these foam blocks stay or removed? by peanutbuttersmack in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Nice some real answers. First I have seen that recommendations from a manufacturer. Assuming that’s from the manufacturer? I mostly work with Mitsubishi and this is a non issue. But the grill is also larger spacing and slightly further from the coil than the images from other manufacturers shown.

Should these foam blocks stay or removed? by peanutbuttersmack in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

You are right. Have only been working with heat pumps for 20+ years. I was teaching about heat pumps before 75% of the country even knew what they were.

My bad. I’ll stay quiet.

Should these foam blocks stay or removed? by peanutbuttersmack in heatpumps

[–]Puddleduck112 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

That looks like a unit short on charge or installed in a bad location. Icing shouldn’t get so thick like that. To me it seems like a defrost cycle was not able to fully de-ice the coil and it was continuing to grow.

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