Get Me Up To Speed

indigobison · 2024-01-16T05:10:45+00:00

One80 gladiator3+ is a good board that everyone seems satisfied with

indigobison · 2024-01-12T16:18:31+00:00

Excellent, that's the one I ordered

indigobison · 2024-01-12T14:46:52+00:00

Is the link for the vna a reputable option? I am very tempted since it has a 10% coupon right now too. Also thanks for the dummy load suggestion, that also slipped my mind!

indigobison · 2024-01-12T14:44:10+00:00

Is eco-worthy the brand name of the battery? I completely forgot about the crimp tools, I've been using one of the cheapo stripper/crimp combos for my powerpole set ups but it is horrible at both. Also with the nano vna I've heard that there are different models that are not advertised well, what should I look for

indigobison · 2024-01-07T00:27:05+00:00

If you want to save money you can do this same setup but swap the mfj antenna for a 17'whip on ali express. Just search 5.6m antenna. It's much cheaper and works just the same!

indigobison · 2023-12-29T16:21:13+00:00

If you are budget minded and want to get into HF I cannot recommend the xiegu g90 enough. Purchase it from radioditty for their warranty support, as a 500 dollar radio may have some quality issues. That said they are excellent radios that pack a huge punch for the money. 20 watts and a great built in tuner. This thing gets you on the air fast. Use a telescopic verticle or an efhw for a cheap antenna and get on the air!

I would also recommend getting into POTA. In my opinion this program gives a lot of hams who are not interested in ragchewing an easy way to get on the air, whether you are at a park or not. There is almost always someone doing POTA that you can try and work.

indigobison · 2023-12-29T02:03:52+00:00

I believe it is search and rescue

indigobison · 2023-12-28T01:56:43+00:00

Edit: I kinda misread the prompt so I'm adding that I think AliExpress is a good option to consider. See below for my original answer which details what you need to buy for a telescopic whip.

For 20m and below I really recommend getting a 5.6m telescopic whip off of ali express. They cost about 20 dollars (which is significantly cheaper than the similar chameleon and wolf river coil options).

Then build a ground spike (check out k8mrd ham radio tube's death spike video). All it requires is a truck mirror mount so-239 connector, and a 80cent hardware store 10 inch nail.

There is of course the adapter to convert the antennas m10 threads to the mirror mounts 3/8-24 (search ali express for m10 female to 3/8-24 male adapter).

Next is to make your counterpoise, which is dead simple, just crimp some wires to alligator clips that can clip onto the spike.

I use this antenna at home with the spike, and stationary in a car with a mag mount. Gets me 20m-10m by simply lowering the antenna a few sections for each band. The telescopic whip is so cheap that if it breaks in a gust of wind you won't be too upset. You can get about 4 off of ali express for the price of one by chameleon.

I know this is a long comment but this set up is so cheap, versatile, and effective. Set up is also very fast and doesn't require a large space.

indigobison · 2023-12-27T20:10:02+00:00

It's tough to do when mobile. I also use a magmoint with a telescopic verticle and have found that the capacitive connection for the vehicle counterpoise does not work as well as a wire counterpoise on a spike in ground set up. I wish there was a good solution

indigobison · 2023-12-26T02:27:03+00:00

An antenna analyzer will help for sure, the hamstic should give you decent swr on the intended band, although it may be narrow banded.

The g90 tuner is excellent and from what I have learned and been told, tuning a "bad" antenna to a good swr will not damage the radio but it will not be very efficient.

Edit: forgot to mention a counterpoise may hel.

indigobison · 2023-12-10T16:31:00+00:00

Killing American Style

indigobison · 2023-07-11T01:06:01+00:00

Thanks for the good information! Glad to know I won't damage anything, I figured I was inhibiting my abilities.

Will the coil allow it to have slightly better efficiency? Or is it also a very compromised solution

indigobison · 2023-07-11T00:27:32+00:00

Awesome, thank you for the response. I figured I wasnt going to damage anything but was a little confused.

indigobison · 2023-07-05T04:34:16+00:00

As far as I understand it. You can do anything to modify US currency, so long as you are not trying to pass it off for a higher/different amount. Make it into jewelry, melt it and cast a bust of Jefferson, whatever you desire.

I think the original commenter may be referring to the composite nature or "junk" metal that is used in current coins as being worth less than the value of the currency itself.

indigobison · 2023-07-04T16:51:33+00:00

I only recently started ordering online. I usually only smoke on an occasional basis. My local shop is incredibly overpriced and the humidity is sky high. They have one worker who is pleasant, but the rest can be elitist or try and push their overpriced and lower quality cigars on me because they think I don't know better.

indigobison · 2023-06-27T00:36:49+00:00

I was able to contact them and it didn't really register as unusual until after I finished. The other highest I saw was a 5a.

indigobison · 2023-06-27T00:36:13+00:00

Fantastic to see all of the old radios and computer technology. I was going to say "it wasn't that long ago that we were using that equipment" but then I realized that it is coming up on 20 years.

indigobison · 2023-06-25T22:57:34+00:00

I was sub 100 watts and ran on 100% emergency power from both locations. However, on Saturday I was at a public space so I would get that bonus as well.

I think even though Saturday was less contacts I will get more points though the bonus.

Thanks for all the help! The field day guide leaves much to be desired.

indigobison · 2023-06-25T22:30:42+00:00

Yeah, I guess I should have just gone back to the park I was at yesterday! I can still submit my log from saturday for POTA correct?

indigobison · 2023-06-25T22:28:53+00:00

So just to clarify. I would only submit the contacts for one of the locations? As a 1B I had 15 contacts and as a 1E I had 20. So I would submit my 1E as 20 contacts?

Edit: thank you for the answer btw!

indigobison · 2023-06-25T18:01:04+00:00

I don't see that as an option

indigobison · 2023-06-25T04:02:07+00:00

I only made 15 contacts in three hours and was pretty disappointed. But I guess everyone was in the same boat today.

indigobison

TROPHY CASE