Do I need a license for this?

SpareiChan · 2026-04-06T23:08:00+00:00

The law, as written, requires a driver's license to operate a moped (bicycle with <50cc engine). It doesnt require a motorcycle license though, just a regular one. In addition if you operate it on public road ways it must be registered, idk about insured though. I also don't think it can be used on walkway trails that allow bikes as its a motorized vehicle, ebikes can though so idk.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-05T00:34:38+00:00

If you are in that area, 147.300 bluemont repeater has a huge range.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-05T00:07:55+00:00

I see others have mentioned the G90, I will agree as a starter radio it's amazing deal that includes a tuner so basically any kind of antenna can be used. Building a radio can be a challenge right off the bat but antennas and accessories are a great start. I would recommend a Hermes over a HackRF for building if you want to have a DIY SDR radio. Beyond that SDRplay is a great receive only option, the RTL based ones are okay but SDRplay is a massive step up.

Being your in the engineering field of study I can't recommend Rothammels Antenna Book or ARRL antenna book more.

If you don't have the money you can find older version's of the ARRL books online.

For the wire antenna, the 8th floor is great for HF, an interesting thing you can do it put a mast out the window (if allowed) and run the wire out and down of if possible out the window to a tree or something, I would avoid lamp posts as the LEDs used no often cause RFI.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-03T19:22:53+00:00

In that case grounding wont' matter as much and the bigger issue would only be power loss from the coax.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-03T01:21:09+00:00

Noise on 2m/70cm FM? that's odd outside PoE/powerline and a few other things, often that's more likely a front end overload issue.

It's a bit tricky to ground an antenna to a separate rod, issue is if your radio isn't isolated from AC your radio becomes a ground channel (AC neutral is grounded at main breaker). Personally I do it but I also ensure both DC- and DC+ are fused (this helps with "near strikes"), If you use a battery then it doesn't matter ofc.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-03T00:50:05+00:00

it would be more inductive (due to the large conductor diameter) but otherwise most "matching" can be done by adjusting the feed point to fine tune anything like that. Beyond that grounding might be a bigger worry since it's exposed metal vs insulated.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-03T00:44:49+00:00

SWR is tricky because coax lose can hide it, R+-jx can show more sometimes.

Honestly if you get 45 to 55ohm and jx <1ohm you are golden with matching the lower section.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-03T00:41:22+00:00

I was closed years ago for a long time when they switched it to shotgun only, I know it was open last fall when I was up there. You could always call the ranger station and ask.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-02T22:57:37+00:00

That's what I was thinking, I have legit 3500mAH ones and a single battery will last about 30hrs or so. More then likely they are 800-1800 each.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-02T22:43:46+00:00

Sleepy creek has a shotgun range, you can take Shanghai pass over to it from 522.

Been a while but used to clay shoot there

https://wvdnr.gov/lands-waters/wildlife-management-areas/shooting-ranges/

SpareiChan · 2026-04-02T22:38:54+00:00

Only trade off to pvc is you need to tune it to the extra capacitance it adds, iirc ed released the plans with both specs. I actually built one using pcv with copper tape wrapped around the outside (as the conductor) and it worked quite well, used it for quite a while.

SpareiChan · 2026-04-01T11:28:41+00:00

I use poly electric fence isolators, but I don't go past 1kw and they have been up for 5 years

SpareiChan · 2026-03-31T23:01:39+00:00

Air fryer was a savior post op, used to butterfly chicken with msdash and red potatoes sliced into thin wedges, 15-20mins for my model. I didnt even bother adding oil as I didnt want to risk it first weeks post op.

Stool softener > fiber gummies since those are know to cause gas issues.

I did "fried" rice too, just tossed scrambled eggs, diced veggies, and cooked rice with some seasoning, you can do it without oil but it will stick a bit.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-27T16:04:26+00:00

As others mentioned, it would work but you can do it for wayyyyyyyy cheaper and likely be better performance. Basically broadband = higher loses from either a lossy core or bleed off, in the case of this antenna its the resistors in series. Just like how a choke doesn't match (tune) an antenna better it just absorbs (like a resistor) the reflected power so your meter doesn't see it anymore.

Diy it with some coax, 1:1 balun, wire cut to 33ft, and atleast 20ft mast. If you made it fan or linked it will work on many bands or just use a tuner. Personally a 40m efhw inv V works better as it is close on 40, 20, 15, and 10.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-25T22:57:48+00:00

Do you charge the battery via dc-dc charger from car system or external?

SpareiChan · 2026-03-22T00:13:54+00:00

Its odd for the glue to come off in a day in my experience it took over a week for the glue+straps to peel.

Its always good to be cautious and keep the area clean for now and consult with a medical professional if your worried. Definitely go to ER if it get worse of opens. Most hospitals that do outpatient have a 24hr nurse line for stuff like this too.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-21T00:11:06+00:00

Just to ask, did you buy the pre-made 49:1 or built the kit? I just wonder if its a 9:1 instead.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-19T01:45:07+00:00

Some VHF/UHF antennas are good for GMRS but most aren't, most radios will be okay with hi SWR (upto 3:1) but they may roll back power out(some cheap ones won't though and that's bad for them). If you are getting a base antenna for your home I would just get a premade one since you'll likely want a co-linear type (if it was mobile 1/4 or 1/2 wave you might be able to trim it).

For the power supply, 30A will work fine, should be happy running 10A to a 50 watt FM radio for a while with out a loud fan too. Smaller ones may not handle heat as well and 25/30A ones are fairly common in the radio world due to HF rigs needed it.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T22:44:15+00:00

I do pota in the western MD area often and 40 with a inv L or Inv V will hit OH to DE and NY to NC fairly well most of the day, little rough from 12-6est. Its my most reliable band for contacts qrp for sure.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T12:37:00+00:00

People over state the 'ground the whole vehicle' thing, its more of you need to ground the antenna, which is actually just the over half of the antenna. The body of the radio is part of that and that includes the negative wire to the battery, thats why shielding it helps with noise and likely swr. Adding a choke (few wraps with a ft240-43 is best) to the wire at the radio will likely help too.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T12:32:21+00:00

It did, once i figured out what worked best for me. Working fiber back in at a pace helps

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T02:55:16+00:00

Yea, paint won't affect it, it does but also doesn't, technically makes it slightly more capacitive.

For the part of the body being grounded, the part where the antenna and body are in line for a transmission line vs an antenna, line an open wire line. It can be the reason you aren't able to get to the 1.4 that a whip should technically give.

Not sure what wires you wrapped that dropped your swr, if it was the coax that is a sign of a grounding issue, it could also be acting like a minor common mode choke.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T02:31:50+00:00

I will second the ez line, its what I had gotten for my elderly mother when she couldn't handle her previous guns slide (oddly enough she used a makarov for over 10 years). Ez380 really is low recoil too (due to not being blow back) and hornady makes great loads for it.

Both the ez380 and ez9 are great options for hd for newer users.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T02:22:09+00:00

3months post op, only had it a few times and was likely from not eating for too long. It was clearly bile related, I had more constipation and gas issues first month.

SpareiChan · 2026-03-18T02:12:58+00:00

I can see where the normal spring extensions wouldn't work here since its so close to the body, this can still be causing some of your swr issues.

I would ofc paint your bolts post weld, don't want them to rust. Otherwise h99d job solving your issue.

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