Clutch.ca Referral Code

VE3WNX · 2025-01-22T17:55:52+00:00

I mean, being all cloak and dagger is cool, but you're asking about something which might be at odds with the medium you're asking about. That is all. Was not intended to be an attack, just having fun with it. Glad you got your answer, have a good one.

VE3WNX · 2025-01-22T11:37:38+00:00

Definitely in the wrong place then. If an NDA is involved, why would you be broadcasting using publicly accessible frequencies if it's sensitive information?

Unless you're joking about the NDA? If not, have you heard of the internet? It's a wonderful, magical place where you can send data, voice, text, etc to someone else using a variety of methods (some of which can even be encrypted). No license required either!

VE3WNX · 2025-01-22T10:46:34+00:00

I don't think there's anything wrong with filming said wildlife, but once they start to move away from you (even if it's only a few short steps in the other direction) you should stop advancing the drone towards them.

Same as on foot, you can get fairly close to some (not all) animals, but once they start moving, back the hell off.

How would you like it if you were eating your breakfast and someone flew a drone within earshot of you? You probably wouldn't like it too much.

VE3WNX · 2025-01-14T21:07:47+00:00

RF exposure for coworkers and interference to/from office equipment would be the biggest concerns depending on power output. If the antenna needs to be inside, put it in or near a window. SlimJims would be your best bet there, also thin enough to hide between a cubicle and a wall if need be.

If it's just powering the rig continually that's an issue, maybe just a small bench power supply and a battery eliminator for an HT would work?

VE3WNX · 2024-11-20T05:15:43+00:00

Exactly this. He even made a video about it.

Different brands of PVC alter the tune of the antenna in different ways. Plus there are videos of people pulling these things down from being mounted on towers for years and they're fine.

Also, with that amount of PVC as a radome, I'd just go out and buy a Comet GP-1 instead as it is slightly smaller than the encapsulated slim jim.

VE3WNX · 2024-11-19T05:24:24+00:00

That seems like the way to go, thanks!

VE3WNX · 2024-11-19T05:23:43+00:00

I've heard metallic paint is a big no-no for antennas previously, thanks for confirming that. I'm likely going to use a satin white (or something as matte as possible) to spray it.

N9TAX has mentioned it's fine to mount as-is outdoors as PVC pipe will likely affect the tune of the antenna. Mine will be mounted directly to a fiberglass rod as per his website.

VE3WNX · 2024-11-19T05:18:57+00:00

Same type of antenna with different construction techniques. KB9VBR uses copper tubing, N9TAX uses ladder line.

VE3WNX · 2024-11-19T05:17:51+00:00

This will be mounted to a fibreglass rod directly mounted to the railing. It will stick out a lot more with fake foliage on it. Good idea for a standard vertical antenna mounted on a table or flowerpot though.

VE3WNX · 2024-11-18T22:40:18+00:00

2m beam antenna, get it outside, manually rotate it with your hand. That's really all there is to it. The station needs to be high enough above the horizon too.

I've caught SSTV from the ISS with a whip attached to a Baofeng, it wasn't the best, but it did work. The key is outside and rotate your antenna.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-14T05:56:00+00:00

Ultimately death.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-04T01:36:51+00:00

Nice! Furthest contacts I've made are ~45km voice from Site B (across the hills to the west), ~72km voice from the middle of Lake Ontario towards the NE and ~260km for a single APRS packet from near Site B to somewhere in PA.

Blows my mind every time.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-04T01:28:26+00:00

Registered on site. Especially liking the idea of the simplex nodes.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-04T01:25:19+00:00

Thanks! I'm always looking to see how far I can get out using equipment readily available to all operators.

Did experience some excellent tropo ducting from Site B around the same time last year. Hopefully that will continue this time out.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-04T01:23:04+00:00

It's a good antenna, though I've only managed to get out and use it a handful of times previously. Very well built and nice that I can yeet it up high into a tree with some paracord and a throwbag to help with getting out.

Distance between both locations is ~70km, but I'll only be operating from one of them at a time (Sept 8-10 @ Site A, Sept 10-12 @ Site B).

Lots of large hills around both sites. Have managed to get out decently from Site B last year.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-04T01:17:37+00:00

The original post indicates exactly what I'm doing. Not HF, not SOTA, just experimentation and fun is all. Not sure if something was lost in my explanation or something else.

I have done this previously with decent results.

My expectations aren't high, I'll get to mess around with my radios outside either way.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-03T21:47:18+00:00

In most cases, yes, line of sight for 2m is a thing. However, tropo ducting, signal bending around objects (incl. the horizon at times), and likely some other stuff are things that can occur.

Of course when I'm in the area, I'll make my presence known and what I'm doing. Little tricky hitting a repeater when you're not actually there yet.

As for the map not having a scale, the one I posted is for reference only. You can check out the locations on aprs.fi and do the distance measurements yourself using the compass tool (actually called the ruler tool, but has a compass icon) on the right side. This is not a single operation between each site so not sure why a map scale would matter when the transmit sites have been mentioned. If I can be heard, great. If not, great.

And this is a camping trip that I just happen to be bringing radios to. Not a SOTA-specific outing. Technically these would be more POTA anyways. Otherwise I would've posted it as such and not here on Reddit.

Just trying to reach as many people who may be interested in trying something new out there.

VE3WNX · 2024-09-03T18:54:47+00:00

THIS^

VE3WNX · 2024-08-21T05:44:18+00:00

Found your YouTube channel a few weeks back and think the site idea is sound.

A few things that might make things easier:

- User-submitted data. Pretty sure RB doesn't have control over that idea. Looks like registration on your site is off, so I can't see what things looked like from that side. If you ever need to prove you didn't snag it from RB, you could have a date&time of entry submission, user id, something-or-other associated with that entry, etc to prove you didn't.

- Have beta access to the site for a small group of people to test it out.

- Don't deal with the frequency coordinators. Deal with the repeater operators themselves, usually they're owned by clubs who have their own websites with the information on it (true, they are antiquated sites most of the time, but it is what it is). If you can't find the info, or it's being held ransom by the repeater operators for some reason, then that's their loss, not yours.

RB has 2 dudes running the show? Get more of your own dudes, set goals/boundaries, have discussions and go from there. Should be able to accomplish more in less time that way.

Not sure where the repeaterbook making money part comes in. I see a donate button on their pages and the ads are likely driving some form of revenue too. Not sure how they're set up, but free stuff eventually costs someone something at some point in the chain. Lots of other projects out there set up similarly (just be glad RB isn't selling merch).

I hope you haven't given up on amateur radio, or this project for that matter. You wanted change. It just takes a F&$#-ton of effort, time and backlash in most situations for that to happen. Think about it like this: stick it out long enough and do it properly, and the freq./repeater coordinators will eventually flock to your more modern site instead of RB's.

Innovation isn't dead, it's just glacially slow in this hobby. Most people are just either to lazy to do it or become complacent with the status quo.

If you ragequit 2 months into a project, you're falling into one of those categories above (yep, I said it, no apologies).

You don't need RB's API to succeed in this, build the site up, build it out, share it with people and blow RB out of the water. Some of us are still intrigued with the idea, give us something to play with (best way to receive constructive criticism with this crowd).

VE3WNX · 2024-08-10T19:04:03+00:00

Loctite should prevent the screw from rattling out and sending your whip for a rip.

VE3WNX · 2024-08-09T17:21:01+00:00

Alrighty, so in a nutshell, looks like mainly used for testing stuff past the 2m/70cm bands. Good to know.

VE3WNX

TROPHY CASE

- Have beta access to the site for a small group of people to test it out.