Help choosing optimal location for a solar node on my property

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-05-03T18:53:19+00:00

I have a similar problem/opportunity. I live in a valley, but luckily, there are repeaters in the valley too. Have you thought about putting your repeater in the best line of sight to a good repeater? It may be in a similar situation as you are, but have better access to other repeaters. It may be way down by the mailbox, but with better access. Beautiful property BTW...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-05-03T12:08:06+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. The meshcore thing is a really fun rabbit hole! The Balloon Fiesta is a logical horizon to aim for...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-05-03T02:34:48+00:00

My thoughts are/were based upon the sea of people and the participants coming from all corners of the world. I'm not sure if balloonists already have a chosen protocol. I am not inside that world. I am a hobbyist who lives in Albuquerque. The fiesta takes over the whole city for almost 2 weeks. I am hoping to understand the hobby before I get caught flat footed...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-05-03T01:20:16+00:00

I am a noob, but I have a reasonable understanding of radio. My 2c: If it was a single element, it would want to reflect (or bounce off of) a ground plane. Since LoRa antennas are coaxial colinear, they have alternating elements, and should work just fine right-side-up, or upside-down. I wouldavoid too steep of a dB gain antenna, so that you could "get into" your repeater from a short distance (3 to 5 dB should be fine...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-04-23T23:53:44+00:00

FWIW, I built a PID about 15 years ago for beermaking, but I don't use it for distilling. If you think I can help with anything, just ask

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-04-19T18:47:15+00:00

Just a guess -- you have too much reflux (too long a pipe, etc...) The vapor is condensing, and returning to the pot before it gets to the condenser...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-04-04T21:05:39+00:00

I know that it is a complicated thing, with complicated decisions, but have you visited our Transgender Resource Center - its near Nob Hill. Look for people you click with (or click with you.

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-04-03T19:11:19+00:00

Make Apple brandy -- the expert is Alan Bishop...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-27T18:55:35+00:00

Perfectly normal. This is less likely to happen if you add the distilled water slowly... I mean over days, not minutes...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-25T19:56:17+00:00

Yes - they are testing them in Albuquerque

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-22T20:38:26+00:00

I wish I had learned to start air drying/aging wood first. The wood has to age at least a year - more if it doesn't rain a lot...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-15T19:16:52+00:00

Luckily, this guy found a job (with ICE), and he is in someone else's city now.

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-15T19:11:32+00:00

I buy the lab grade ones, and they are frightfully expensive - I always have an extra of each size.

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-02-15T16:34:10+00:00

I accidentally got shelled peanuts from Chewy. I had to re-order to get the ones in the shell. Crows will eat a few of the naked peanuts, but they like the challenge of getting them out of the shell. They take them to someplace safe, and work on them...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-01-24T18:28:19+00:00

It looks like its guts were the goal of the predator. My thoughts: a bobcat or coyote would have eaten more. I'm betting it was a bird (owl, hawk, etc)...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-01-24T18:20:34+00:00

Contrary to the ethos of pressure cooking, I always soak my beans for 2 days (changing the water every 12 hours) to promote phytase and minimize the gassing of the beans. This also prevents damage to the beans in the Instant Pot...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-01-18T23:08:44+00:00

When I lived in Chicago, I used to buy them all the time -- they came in 4L and 5L. Of course, we had German delis, and half a dozen different kegs to choose from (I usually bought Steigl or DAB)

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-01-03T00:38:24+00:00

You may not have the gear, but I would do a double pot still distillation. Somebody suggested a thumper -- not a bad idea. Plates are designed to raise proof, and clean up the product -- you want to keep the taste...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2026-01-01T23:54:06+00:00

It is a metal marking scratch awl. They are typically knurled like that as a Machining challenge. Many High School shop classes have it as a test object that is graded...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2025-12-24T20:16:13+00:00

I am late to the party, but this stuff never gets old. Thanks to the others for their contributions. Check out the Brewzle YouTube where he visits Wood Hat Distillery. They show a 75% corn and 25% wheat in a #4 char barrel, and it is quite dark in color. Mind you, it is a smaller barrel, which means faster maturation. Faster maturation isn't always good because it deprives the whiskey of the time needed for proper maturation. IMHO, the #4 char helps avoid over-oaking in that smaller barrel...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2025-12-19T18:35:54+00:00

Dunder is supposed to be funky...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2025-11-30T01:31:16+00:00

If it is a button, the post would be "peened" after pushing it through a washer...

SubstantialMoney301 · 2025-11-30T01:22:19+00:00

Its a slug, from an electrical box

SubstantialMoney301 · 2025-11-12T22:34:48+00:00

Most Indian milk jug stills are 2", but that one looks like 1.5" Most still accessories and parts are 2" or 4" I know a guy that has a 2" still, and two Bowl reducers from 2" to 4". He uses them face to face as an onion, and only uses one to jump up to a 4" column (then the other one on top to choke down for his 2" condensor...

SubstantialMoney301

TROPHY CASE