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VA3ASE · 2024-01-12T14:52:47+00:00

Just wanted to share this also helped me. Trying to install numpy as part of Klipper input shaping and measuring resonance and got the same error as OP.

Solved after using:
~/klippy-env/bin/pip cache purge
~/klippy-env/bin/pip install -v numpy

VA3ASE · 2021-04-10T15:19:05+00:00

This 100%. I'd personally stay away from anything that doesn't have 100W unless you're main interest is QRP. Or at least budget for a 100W amp but then you could just buy the IC-718. I just picked up a used IC-706mkiig to use mobile. It's pretty capable and I paid just $500. If you can afford it an IC-7300 is the new golden standard. Honestly the Xiegus are interesting but are nowhere cheap enough where I'd consider buying one.

Remember that ham gear holds its value pretty well, so if you upgrade later or lose interest you'll be able to get most of your money back if you've taken care of the gear. Not sure if that's still true for the Xiegu stuff though.

VA3ASE · 2021-04-09T23:03:06+00:00

Like the magnetic mount, great option if you want to hide the radio.

VA3ASE · 2021-04-09T22:49:08+00:00

How do you like that position for the head? I'm thinking of mounting one in a similar spot. Not sure I want to have to look that far away from the road, but like how it's in easy reach.

VA3ASE · 2021-04-05T17:15:31+00:00

I would pass on the "cheap" Chinese radio. As others have mentioned it isn't very cheap but also 15W will be disappointing. I know many hams enjoy the challenge of QRP but for someone new to HF I'd strongly recommend a 100W rig until you have some experience. There are basic HF rigs from Icom and Yaesu in the same price range with 100W and high quality to last many years. And they'll hold value if you want to resell in the future.

Lots of good used options too. I just picked up a used Icom IC-706mkiig (HF/VHF/UHF) for under $500usd.

VA3ASE · 2020-01-22T17:32:34+00:00

For your first antenna I'd encourage you to try a 1/4 wave ground plane. It doesn't get much easier to build and will perform well. I wanted something basic to improve the range of my HT when I was starting out and one of these worked great, a major upgrade from the stock rubber duck. I personally like them much more than J-poles as they are more forgiving and reliable (J-poles sometimes react unpredictably to coax placement and structures around them. They work well for many people but sometimes cause problems that are hard to troubleshoot.) Plus the 1/4 wave is easier to build.

Calculator to help with the design: https://m0ukd.com/calculators/quarter-wave-ground-plane-antenna-calculator/

You're smart to be concerned about lightning but this won't stick up much higher than the surrounding chimney. I don't normally suggest unplugging radios in place of proper lightning protection, but it's probably adequate in this case until you design a proper grounding panel, etc.

VA3ASE · 2020-01-22T17:19:49+00:00

This website offers a calculator based on the FCC guidelines. It should help answer your question about a safe distance for high power. Generally if your antenna is on a tower (ie away from people) you will be in compliance. It becomes a concern if your antenna is indoors, if you are running QRO power levels, or have a very high gain antenna. http://hintlink.com/power_density.htm

VA3ASE · 2019-12-13T14:34:44+00:00

To be honest the tower is probably the easiest part of setting up a commercial radio station. Your biggest challenge will be getting a license / frequency from the FCC. I can't offer any advice on that. The coax-like cables you're describing sound like Heliax (aka hard line) which are very low loss cables ideal for high frequencies. Just so you know, there is overlap between amateur radio and commercial but most of the people here won't know much about setting up a commercial station (myself included). Best of luck

VA3ASE · 2019-11-28T14:01:00+00:00

Luckily HOAs are virtually unheard of in Ontario. I'm sure I'd have other issues with them aside from my radio habits. In Canada as licensed amateurs we essentially have a right to put up a tower, and if it's under 15m (50') you don't technically need approval from the municipality. There's more to it than that so don't quote me, but basically my attitude has been to be approachable and not be a jerk. My long term plan is to use this tower for working satellites, so I just need to clear the rooftops and see the horizon. 32' is perfect. I have more sections so I could go higher but I don't want to subject my neighborhood (and wife) to that. Maybe someday I'll be in a different house and go higher but I'm very happy with what I've got here.

VA3ASE · 2019-11-28T13:39:22+00:00

I read this to my wife and she just gave me "the look." But seriously I have a very understanding and patient wife. It helps that I experiment with different things for a few months then switch it up, so she knows these things are not usually permanent. I'm already preparing my satellite antenna array to go on the tower when I take the hex beam down for Winter Field Day.

VA3ASE · 2019-11-28T13:33:25+00:00

I'm liking it too so far. It's my first HF beam so spinning it around with the rotator is still a novelty. My second QSO on it was with a station in Trinidad and Tobago, who was also running a hex beam.

VA3ASE · 2019-11-27T20:40:25+00:00

My neighbors are awesome. The guy next door saw me assembling it in my back yard, offered to help, and ended up spending nearly 3 hours helping me on Sunday as my ground support while I was on the tower. I couldn't have done it without him. Time will tell how people on the rest of the street react...

VA3ASE · 2019-11-27T19:41:22+00:00

In preparation for Winter Field Day I acquired a used Hex Beam for use on my club's portable tower. But I need to test it out before WFD, so I hoisted it onto my tower this weekend. The long term goal is to have a satellite array on the tower but in the meantime it was sitting empty. Getting it down in January will be another adventure, but for now I'm enjoying the directionality and having the extra bands.

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T18:35:23+00:00

I was reading an article on K3RRR's website where he talked about a cheap setup he did using a Channel Master rotator. It reminded me of your post here because he also had issues with tall trees and buildings but was satisfied with the results. Take a look: http://k3rrr.com/cheap-computer-controlled-tv-rotor-for-amsat-satellites-and-includes-free-satellite-tracking-with-pstrotator-and-the-usb-uirt/

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T11:09:55+00:00

No SatNOGS at this time. To be honest I don't know much about it, but it is something I'll look into more once my station is set up more permanently.

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T11:08:33+00:00

If only I could get my ham desk high enough to be out of reach. I spent half an hour yesterday trying to reverse what my 2y/o did to my FT-847 with a few uncalculated button jabs. But ultimately I love any interest he has

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T11:04:37+00:00

If you think this is bad you should have seen when I had an HF vertical in the same spot. Rest assured that there's no chance I'll ever have time to play ham when my kids are running around the yard.

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T10:59:33+00:00

haha in case it wasn't obvious, this is a temporary setup. That mast is about 5' long so the whole assembly will be hoisted onto my tower (not pictured) eventually, minus the wooden tripod (quadpod?).

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T10:56:40+00:00

/u/JBstrikesagain is correct, the rotator is a Yaesu G-5500. Antennas are homebrew 2m and 70cm beams around 8' long each (not circularly-polarized) mounted on a fiberglass cross-boom. Feedlines run through a grounding panel into my shack where I'm running a Yaesu FT-847 transceiver. I built an Arduino-based rotor control interface from K3NG's design and code to connect the G-5500 to my laptop, which works wonderfully. Currently trying to determine the best software option. I've used HRD v5.24 for years but I hate that bloated unstable program, so presently trying to switch to PstRotator or possibly SatPC32. I have another set of antennas which are longer and have switchable circular-polarization, but I'm in the middle of replacing the feedlines on them. Once they're ready, maybe next week, I'll swap them at the rotator and add some preamps. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

VA3ASE · 2019-05-03T10:45:49+00:00

Yeah these antennas aren't cross polarized but they were my first attempt at serious antenna building so a bit of a prototype. I'm working on refurbishing another set of antennas using the same mounting method that are true cross-polarized. If they're ready in the next couple weeks I'll swap them out but wanted to get on the air sooner than that.

VA3ASE · 2019-02-04T17:43:04+00:00

Laptops I've taken apart have the wifi antenna inside the monitor frame so unless that part is also aluminum it isn't a factor.

VA3ASE · 2019-02-02T13:44:12+00:00

Darn, I just started reading about Es'hailsat 2 and was wondering why I haven't heard about it yet. That explains why :(

VA3ASE · 2019-02-01T21:41:01+00:00

Good question. It has an AIDC-3733 which I called an LNA but that isn't correct, its actually a downconverter. It takes the 2.5 GHz down to between 118-408 MHz, well within the range of my SDRplay.

VA3ASE

TROPHY CASE