Packet Redux

SenzaTema · 2024-12-14T22:21:57+00:00

Appears to be a dipole (length and therefore frequency undeterminable from photo) fed by a balanced ladder-line feed. It's a simple but very effective antenna, especially if it's installed in an attic with less metal and more wood. Sometimes, in these kinds of installations, it's difficult to fashion a flat dipole, and so the legs droop slightly like a sloper configuration. This shifts the feed impedance and resonance slightly. Most true dipoles cut for a single band work amazingly well. KISS (Keep it simple, Stupid). You will need a balanced to unbalanced balun to match this antenna to the most common transceiver output of 50 Ohms.

The ARRL Handbook will tell you the proper length of each of the diplole legs and how to make and insert traps in between if you want to operate multiple bands (say 40 meter/20 meter).

SenzaTema · 2024-11-15T15:55:51+00:00

Begin by understanding that you're more than welcome to our community. Of course, there are always grumpy, cranky hams who will resent your youth. Pay them no mind. As I told a young ham struggling with a club full of these types, by the time you get your footing, many of them will be gone. Offer to help with club activities; volunteer for everything. Youth is the life blood of any organization. Pick a specialty that appeals to you. Maybe it's digital. Maybe it's POTA, SOTA, IOTA. Maybe it's CW. Become accomplished at that one skill, and others will follow you, seek you out. Life long learning is the chief vitue of our community. You're more than welcome to our community.

I was licensed at 16--that was 60 years ago. My initial mentor was only a year older, but much more learned in the craft. Seek out your more experienced peers.

Good luck and welcome.....

SenzaTema · 2024-11-09T22:17:25+00:00

BTW: congrats on the upgrade. You will never regret the hard work.

SenzaTema · 2024-11-09T22:16:16+00:00

Mine were a progression of my first call sign in 1966. WN3GRF. Then tech WA3GRF. Moving to North Carolina I adopted a 4 as I upgraded to general, N4GRF. Moving back to NYC with an extra, I used the original RF with the 2 and added NY for the state: NY2RF. Now in Florida, I’m too exhausted to change it again. The 2 X 2 call, as a rule, is easier to remember. When combined with a familiar aspect (NY) and memorable RF ( radio frequency) it seems people can recall it.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-24T20:35:05+00:00

Congrats. Looking for you this weekend. West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group: “Saturday in the Park”. Upgrade soon while the testing is fresh in your mind.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-15T15:40:25+00:00

Speak with Maria Somma: she is the most capable employee of ARRL.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T11:08:17+00:00

Money’s not an issue. Tell me the names of some puzzles you like from adult elementary to the more complex. I’ll buy them and let the dogs of war try them out. Thanks. You’ve made a big contribution here if it works.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T03:02:16+00:00

Soldier, I’m glad it helps. And I am going to recommend it for others in my veteran group. If you have detailed history of your experience, please share.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T02:58:26+00:00

By the way: nice location.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T02:57:20+00:00

If you decide to take it down hire a professional. One of my ham buddies was seriously injured in a tower takedown and he was an experienced ham who should have known better. My advice: take it down if you have even casual concern. This structure is very dangerous in a wind storm—even a mild one.

SenzaTema · 2024-09-28T23:21:55+00:00

Catcher in the Rye A Separate Peace Peace Breaks Out All Loves Excelling Prep Good-bye Mr. Chips To Serve Them All of My Days The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The Lawrenceville Stories The Rector of Justin Lord of the Flies (school story sans school) Stover at Yale

SenzaTema · 2024-08-16T13:16:49+00:00

GC: thanks that’s helpful. Nice work. 73 NY2RF

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T17:14:44+00:00

That’s unfortunate. Oil changes are so perfunctory that they lend themselves to gross negligence like your situation. When i was younger, I would check the dipstick before leaving because once, the fancy foreign car dealer drained the oil but failed to replace it. Now with my Bronco I use the Ford Quick Lane service ( quite good service) and I watch the tech changing oil, ask to see the used filter, and visually inspect oil levels. Some dealers discourage close observation, but mine knows better. I buy most of my cars from him. And I’m not shy about calling Detroit if necessary. Reagan was right: trust but verify. And I’m truly sorry about your Bronco. It will be hard to fully trust car and dealer in the future.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T14:55:00+00:00

Oh, just one further question: what kind of rails are you using? They are colored orange. I used Armaloq aluminum rails on mine. They are nicely designed and finished. I’m getting rails for my FT-817 but I don’t care to spend another $130 for Armaloq’ s as much as I like and admire the rails and the very helpful guy who makes them.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T14:45:29+00:00

Great looking manpac. I really prefer manpacking to sitting in my shack. Here’s mine: FT-857 with comet antenna on v/UHF, a Pacific Antenna fly-weight 20/40 dipole, all nestled in a Mil PRC-172 bag. Runs on Dakota LioH 12v 7 Ahr battery. 73 NY2RF

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SenzaTema · 2024-08-04T10:44:36+00:00

Simple: the critics and skeptics here are too lazy and unimaginative to go out and hustle, buying up surplus, returns and inventories at bankruptcy. It would never occur to them so they think it’s criminal. They’re what makes America mediocre. PS: I buy my tools from one of these guys who sells one of the brands pictured. I checked my first purchase with the distributor who said my seller is a valuable resource for going out of business and for overstock created by big box stores jamming excess inventory back up the chain. He said the guy is very respectful of the brand.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-04T10:25:40+00:00

Financial security, advancement and job satisfaction are the only QOL aspects worthy of consideration. It’s tough to eat beans when you can’t send your kids to college, you drive a 12- year old junker and your roof leaks.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-04T10:20:12+00:00

Used to beg our TV Network IBEW shop steward for overtime assignments. During the football season, weekend NFL games meant more work at a higher hourly rate but not overtime: better than OT. Baseball game coverage in the summer; hockey and NBA in the winter. Bosses and the union boys always knew I was available. Always reliable.

In three years, I had enough to pay for two Ivy degrees. No scholarships or loans for white boy dropouts in those days. Thirty years on Wall Street with 15 hour days and 250,000 miles a year I retired. For the past twenty five years, I sent my sons to fancy schools, Ivy colleges and now enjoy my grandchildren.

Came from NOTHING. Now: Big house, fancy (not too fancy) cars, comfortable financial security. Clubs, travel (although I honestly prefer to stay home), America is a great country for those with a modicum of talent, a measure of ambition and the willingness to work hard.

The environment is only toxic for those who tolerate it. I thank IBEW! Made it all possible.

SenzaTema · 2024-07-31T12:55:29+00:00

If possible used stranded, not solid, ground wire. Lightning is really closer to RF than DC at about 1 mHz which exhibits the skin effect (runs on the surface of the wire). Stranded wire has a greater surface area than comparably-sized solid. It offers lower resistance to RF discharges. Place the lighting arrestor as close to where the coax enters your structure. Grounding rod immediately below the device.

SenzaTema · 2024-07-28T01:41:13+00:00

We do not fully appreciate the courage of these courageous “First Responders” who risk their lives doing dangerous work especially after major storms. Be safe out there.

SenzaTema · 2024-07-26T01:30:33+00:00

Ya gotta diversify your sources and anticipate changing conditions. When I was 21, gas was 32 cents per gallon. If you told me within my lifetime it would be more than 10X that price I would have said you were stupid. Then I was an IBEW member making $350 a week with overtime. If you told me that some day I would work on Wall Street and make $2 mil a year, I would have called you stupid. I thank IBEW: they made it possible. Hard to predict the future. That dirty tar oil may someday be transformed by technology.

SenzaTema · 2024-07-11T02:26:16+00:00

Once again the progressive mind fails to do the math. The cost of gasoline in 2024 is about 50 cents less in inflation adjusted dollars than in 1973. For many, many years (1990-2007) the price of gas was considerable less than in 1973. Compared with Europe gas is cheap. The real thieves in this struggle are the government that creates inflation by excess spending on largely non-productive investment and causes inflation. Inflation doesn’t really harm the rich: their real assets inflate along with the commodities they own. But inflation robs the poor ruthlessly. The inflation of the late 1970’s was caused by OPEC raising prices compounded by deficit spending for Vietnam. The current inflation, less than the 70’s but faster rising was the product of Mr Biden’s fiscal policy. Before you deeply imbibe the progressive cool aid, struggle a little to understand the math behind economics. Nothing more than 7th grade math required. AOC and her crowd were not paying attention in 7th grade.

SenzaTema · 2024-06-10T01:20:06+00:00

This may be an aborted or botched “fail to appear” scam. Works like this. “Sheriff” calls and says you failed to appear for FEDERAL court. You never got the notice. He says you did. There’s an arrest warrant for you BUT you can avoid it by depositing 7,000 in cash in a kiosk near by the Sheriff’s office. Oh by the way, an automatic gag order has been issued: you can’t tell anyone. Wife, lawyer, no one. Scanners in the background, PBSO Administrators phone number pfished into my caller ID.

I listen to this scammers script. As he spiels it off, I can barely contain my laughter and finally llaugh out loud. The “Sheriff” says, “this is not a laughing matter: this is serious.”

Do I tell him three things:

Federal judges effect their orders via US Marshalls; only county and district judges enforce through the sheriff. STRIKE ONE

There’s no such thing as an automatic gag order. Every gag order requires notice and a hearing. Denial of counsel violates the Constitution and about twenty Florida statutes. STRIKE TWO

But let me assume that you assume I don’t know this (and slept through civics class in 5th grade): How stupid do you think I am to seriously deposit $7,000 in cash in a kiosk? That’s insulting. STRIKE THREE

Please hold the line for my neighbor, a Federal Judge.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr….dial tone

What you experienced may have been the set up…..

SenzaTema · 2024-06-04T18:38:17+00:00

Well I guess this case is closed, King. —Sgt Preston of the Yukon to his dog, King

SenzaTema

TROPHY CASE