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  • [Reddit] Test fit of some power poles in my 99 corolla

    From Reddit via rec.radio.amateur.modera@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 25 08:45:16 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated

    Amateur/Ham Radio

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    Test fit of some power poles in my 99 corolla

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:31 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk4tdd/test_fit_of_some_power_poles_in_my_99_corolla/

    submitted by /u/ve9___
    [link] [comments]

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    Ok Mark II is done. Mark I never made it to the field. This was made to try Sunday.

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 09:59 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk7c9i/ok_mark_ii_is_done_mark_i_never_made_it_to_the/

    submitted by /u/RobMofSD
    [link] [comments]

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    Don't bother with TGIF ;(

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 11:09 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk8gr7/dont_bother_with_tgif/


    Had a horrible experience getting on TGIF... for some reason I thought itd
    be helpful to get on their discord advertised on the TGIF page.
    Impossible join without link, dozens of dead links and people with the same issues on their OWN forum.
    Eventually make it on the air with help of someone already on TGIF.
    Am told discord is exclusive and they dont want just anyone on there.
    Later in the same day I get BANNED for discussing brandmeister in the
    presence of the holy Robert Bretzman on talkgroup 31665.
    My nonprofits talkgroup is immediately deleted, node disabled, kicked mid
    QSO with no warning or contact.
    These guys offer no help whatsoever, but if you call them out or ask for
    help, you get permabanned.
    Dont waste time or effort with this system.
    Does anyone else have similar experiences?
    I am curious about trying DMR+, FREEDMR or System X on my pi-star next.
    Local brandmeister repeater is amazing.
    73 everyone. submitted by /u/AceEnigmaX
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    US Extra Exam Prep

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:57 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjy8vl/us_extra_exam_prep/


    I’ve got the ARRL license manual but it feels like I need to be an
    Electrical Engineer to understand half of this, does anyone have any suggestions or tips? submitted by /u/Dubvee1230
    [link] [comments]

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    I've heard of people making Yagi TV antennas into amateur radio ones. Does
    this look a candidate making anything for either the 2m or 70cm bands?

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:34 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjnf5m/ive_heard_of_people_making_yagi_tv_antennas_into/

    submitted by /u/Litterbug42
    [link] [comments]

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    7.200

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:09 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk27ae/7200/


    Whats going on tonight on 7.200? It sounds like a sermon and talking all
    about violence and guns. submitted by /u/meglea2019
    [link] [comments]

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    I posted an FT8 reception map the other day (6 to 30m bands) and a few
    asked how high my antenna was - in this Vid, back of the garden is 4m
    antenna, middle garden is a Sirio 827 and a horizontal 6m antenna and the
    other is a 2/70 - middle garden antennas need more height, 827 used for 6 - 30m.

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 09:10 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjrz2x/i_posted_an_ft8_reception_map_the_other_day_6_to/

    submitted by /u/ZeissSuperIkonta
    [link] [comments]

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    Morse Key with "digital" leads

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:29 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk4s0e/morse_key_with_digital_leads/


    To help me practice my Morse code I am building a little toy that allows me
    to play Wordle, but the input is Morse.
    Ive been hunting around for a Morse key that I can easily use, but most
    keys I can find online use an audio jack but life would be easier for me if
    I could find one that used 5 or 3.3 v digital inputs.
    Does such a key exist, or am I just going to have to use ADC to process the inputs? submitted by /u/aidan_morgan
    [link] [comments]

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    Dx DX from EU calling US west coast...

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 03:26 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk0538/dx_dx_from_eu_calling_us_west_coast/


    I work a late shift, so my free time to play radio is 1am til 3am local
    time on the US east coast.
    I keep hearing EU stations on 20 and 40m calling "DX US west coast."
    Im wondering if they think only west coast folks will be awake at that
    hour, or if they really only want to talk to the west coast for some
    reason... and what that reason might be...
    Id sure like to break in and say hey, Im still awake here, too!
    What do you think? submitted by /u/VisualEyez33
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    please help me understand 20m propagation behavior

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:23 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjqxvu/please_help_me_understand_20m_propagation_behavior/


    Ive been on the HF bands for two months, mostly 20 meters, and having a
    great time talking with people around the world on SSB. But the timing and direction of 20m openings has been very different from what I expected from
    the reading I did while studying for my license. From my QTH 20 meters is mostly dead during the day, but its booming in the early morning and
    especially at night from about 7pm until I go to sleep. This is the
    opposite of what I expected - I thought 20m was mostly a daytime band? Last night between 9-10pm I easily worked five different countries in an hour,
    5000+ miles from here. But on a typical day at noon, Ill be lucky to hear a couple of faint stations from nearby states, and nothing else. Often my
    whole 20m band will be almost completely empty from about 10am until 5pm. Basically 20m is behaving more like I thought 40m and lower would behave -
    as a nighttime band. Im in California, and the eastern United States is
    very difficult to reach compared to other countries much further away.
    Almost every day I hear Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia
    and Ive made contacts in all of those places... but a QSO with Pennsylvania
    or Florida is elusive. Even midwest states like Illinois and Missouri are
    rare for me to hear on the air. Its like theres an RF wall at the Missouri
    or Mississippi river. Any guesses why I can reach Italy so much easier than Indiana?
    My antenna is an EFHW at 30-35 feet. I live in a suburban area with lots of close by houses, and the RF noise floor on 20m is usually around S4. Could
    the effects Im seeing be something temporary, related to the time of year
    or the solar conditions over the past two months? Or do I just have a weird antenna pattern? Thank you for your wisdom, I know I still have a lot to
    learn! submitted by /u/blinkybit
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    [OC] If you had money, what would your amateur adventure look like?

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:00 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk35h6/oc_if_you_had_money_what_would_your_amateur/


    A couple of weeks ago a friend, Ben VK6NCB asked an interesting question in
    our weekly net. He wanted to know, if money wasnt a concern, what would
    your ideal shack look like? The answers varied widely from leaving
    everything as is and using the money to retire, through to purpose built
    fixed or mobile shacks, with world wide DXCC activation travel and
    everything in between.
    My own answer was a little different. I envisaged establishing an RF
    research laboratory and spending my life exploring and investigating the
    ins and outs of the fundamentals of our hobby. Building software defined
    radios and building tools to leverage their capabilities.
    As far-fetched as money not being a concern might sound, its something that
    a group of radio amateurs had to grapple with in 2019 when their group came into some money. The result is a private foundation with the aim to
    support, promote, and enhance amateur radio digital communications and
    broader communication.
    The foundation, Amateur Radio Digital Communications or ARDC uses its
    resources to provide grants to the amateur community. Theres a number of criteria to be eligible to receive an ARDC grant, but you must at least
    relate to the support and growth of amateur radio, education, research and development. Grants are evaluated on a range of aspirational goals, things
    like reach, inclusiveness, innovation, social good and others.
    One of the first questions you might ask is how did these people get the
    money and why are they giving it away?
    To answer that well need to travel back to 1981 when Hank, KA6M had the foresight to imagine that Internet-style networking was going to be a thing
    and requested a block of IP addresses for use by radio amateurs. If youre
    not familiar, an IP address is like a telephone number, but for a computer. Hank was granted a block of 16.7 million addresses. For decades these were informally administered by a group of volunteers working under the name of AMPRnet and later 44Net.
    In 2011 the group founded ARDC as a California non-profit and officially
    took ownership of the network space and its management.
    At this point Ill make a slight detour into IP addresses. I promise its relevant.
    For information to travel to a computer on the Internet it needs to have an address. That address, originally specified using a 32-bit number, a
    so-called IPv4 address, made it possible to uniquely identify around 4
    billion computers. With the explosive growth of computing and the Internet,
    the world started running out of addresses and in 1998, IPv6 was proposed
    to solve the problem. It uses a 128-bit number and has space to uniquely identify something like 340 trillion computers.
    In 2018, the ARDC was presented with a unique opportunity to sell some of
    its increasingly valuable address space, due to IPv4 address scarcity, but
    soon to be worthless, due to IPv6 adoption. After a year of internal discussion, in the middle of 2019, the decision was finalised and the ARDC
    sold a quarter of the address block that Hank had been granted back in
    1981. On the 18th of July, 2019, Amazon Web Services became the proud new
    owner of just over 4 million new IP addresses.
    I should point out that radio amateurs havent ever used more than half of
    the original block and IPv6 is going to make this no longer any issue.
    So, how much did they make from this adventure?
    Well, each address sold for about $25, making for a lump sum of well over
    $100 million dollars which the ARDC used to establish its grants program.
    To round off the story, in 2020, the ARDC changed from a public charity to
    a private foundation and continues to administer the 44Net and the grants program.
    Their grants list is impressive and inspirational, so check it out on the ampr.org website. While youre there, you can subscribe to the newsletter
    and read about some of the amazing work thats flowing from the ARDC as a
    result of its efforts.
    At this point you might be getting all excited about applying for a grant
    and you should, but Id like to ask a different question.
    What have you done lately to grow our hobby, to stimulate it, to encourage
    new people, to innovate, research and learn? What has been your
    contribution?
    So, if you had money, what would you do with your amateur adventure?
    Im Onno VK6FLAB
    TL;DR This is the transcript of the weekly Foundations of Amateur Radio
    podcast - for other episodes, see http://vk6flab.com/ submitted by
    /u/vk6flab
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    CQ

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:09 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjpbzy/cq/


    I feel like such an idiot for asking this, but what happens when you are on
    a calling frequency and calling CQ as far as right of way? What happens
    after you make contact, do you alternate calling and take turns or who gets
    the freq to keep searching? Tech class so Im stuck with 6&10 which I
    believe to be permanently dead after trying for 2 hours last night. I have
    made one 6m contact TN to NY and the audio was horrendous. I know its my antenna, but I cant homebrew any better than that until my big box one
    arrives. Either way, confused on right of way, good signal or not.
    73 submitted by /u/cowboy615
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    Is Communications Specialists still making their SS-64 tone encoders? If
    so, where can I buy them?

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:33 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vk4umj/is_communications_specialists_still_making_their/


    I just acquired an old Kenwood TR-7730 from a local Hamfest, and I realized that it does not have a tone board in it. After digging around on the Interwebs, I found a board made by Communications Specialists, called the SS-64, that should work: http://www.com-spec.com/ss64.htm. I found a PDF
    with a parts list and a schematic (http://www.com-spec.com/insheet/ss64inst.pdf), but Id definitely prefer
    buying one to making one myself.
    So does anyone know where I could find them? I did try Ebay, and they didnt have any. submitted by /u/agent_max_the_mick
    [link] [comments]

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    So I got the email from the FCC, followed the instructions, paid the $35
    fee. When will my call sign go up on ULS?

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:53 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjy60n/so_i_got_the_email_from_the_fcc_followed_the/


    Title says it all. Im eager to get on the air!
    Edit: UPDATE! It went online on the ULS database at midnight eastern. Im KF0JSU! submitted by /u/mglyptostroboides
    [link] [comments]

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    Station ground/utility ground bonding.

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 04:32 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjmbsu/station_groundutility_ground_bonding/


    Im putting together my first non-portable station at the house I recently purchased. Ive put up a modest antenna mast and while I wait for some tree
    work to be done to facilitate installation of wire antennas, I have turned
    my attention to grounding. I plan to install the station ground rod this weekend and bond it to the utility ground. I was hoping that if I share my
    plan with you guys that you can tell me what sort of idiot I am.
    My utility ground is under the slab of my screen porch (an addition to the original construction). I plan to drill a hole in the masonry to get the
    wire from the porch to outside and then run it to the 8-foot station ground
    rod via the shortest possible path, about 38 feet. It will run underneath
    my deck and pergola, part of which has already been removed for some
    plumbing repairs. I intend to use #6 bare soft-drawn stranded copper wire.
    The area Ive chosen for the ground rod is circled just to the right of the
    mast in the photo. The station itself is right behind the wall with the air conditioner.
    Is my ~38 foot run of wire long enough to be worrisome? Should there be an additional ground rod at the half-way point? Does it matter how deep I bury
    the wire? Am I getting any of this wrong? https://preview.redd.it/yowlr9ua2k791.jpg?width=2079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=373569de1b46fe8544c35d8c56695190718d75b9
    https://preview.redd.it/luh442ua2k791.jpg?width=1560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ca3f34cddde96f2af09258a1ce26b660e9b5073
    https://preview.redd.it/gfuqs1ua2k791.jpg?width=2080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2304e0d19aee738734c2c0df3aa1b3f2be46455b
    submitted
    by /u/bollocks_420
    [link] [comments]

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    How to add sdr features to the Icom IC 718 (via a laptop)?

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 10:00 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjt3oy/how_to_add_sdr_features_to_the_icom_ic_718_via_a/


    Hi,
    So one question. I have the Icom IC 718 and its a fantastic radio. Good periformance. I dont own a 7300, but am interested in the waterfall display
    and sdr features. I am wondering is there a way to connect the 718 to a
    laptop to achieve those featues on the laptop? The 7300 costs $1,200 and
    that is just a lot of money to spend. Thank you. I do also own an Xiegu
    G90, which is an SDR radio as well..... submitted by /u/wassup2190
    [link] [comments]

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    A design question on a multiband, non-resonant horizontal loop antenna: two choices.

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 09:59 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjt29m/a_design_question_on_a_multiband_nonresonant/


    I have four trees in a rectangle. One of the four is smaller than the
    others. Should I a) make a rectangle with one corner low, or b) make a considerably higher, but smaller (in length and area) triangular antenna? Details: the triangle could have all points as high as 40 ft. With the low tree, the highest I could get is 20ft. I gather than being perfectly
    parallel with ground isn’t necessary, and the other three corners could
    still be high.
    I want to operate 80-10m, but no plans for 160.
    If this is unknowable without an antenna analyzer, then I’m out of luck. I have an analyzer, but I definitely cannot build the thing twice just to see
    - it’s going to be difficult to build and I’m only going up once.
    73, submitted by /u/Nink
    [link] [comments]

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    ELI5 - Grounding an antenna for noise

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:38 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjooxh/eli5_grounding_an_antenna_for_noise/


    Assume I am only listening at this time, with an SDR. No transmission.
    Trying to understand grounding and its effect on RF noise. Am I correct
    that a ground will reduce the RF noise/noise floor?
    How would someone ground a dipole?
    What is the best way to reduce RF noise? Using an SDR on a windows tablet I
    am lucky to see my noise floor in the -60 range. -55 is more typical and
    seems high to me. I have several antennas to play with, an end fed half wavelength 40m antenna, a dipole 40m, a dipole for 2m/70cm and a mag loop I bought on amazon: MLA-30. All but the magloop are DIY. All are around the
    same levels of noise, within 10db or so. submitted by /u/Dweller
    [link] [comments]

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    ICOM 730

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 02:46 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjknqc/icom_730/


    Hi all! Today I purchased two ICOM 730s off a club member for a great price. UNIT 1 is working well - he wrote "noisy fan, and meter not working
    correctly" - tests of this unit seem to be fine however, and with an
    external SWR/Power meter no problem if the meter is not working properly
    UNIT 2 - this is the one i need help with. He has told me that it blows a
    fuse on transmit. Does anyone have experience with these and any ideas?
    Opening it up (briefly) has shown me nothing OBVIOUS.
    any and all help appreciated, and any ideas on the fan would be great
    too :) submitted by /u/saffysaff
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    Best portable Computer for digital modes and Ham PC stuff?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2022 04:19 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vja01f/best_portable_computer_for_digital_modes_and_ham/


    Looking to pick up a small, inexpensive portable computer to use with my IC-705, to start using all the digital modes like FT-8, PSK31, etc. and all
    of the other HAM activities that take place on a computer, such as logging, reverse beacons, CHIRP, WSJT-X, and preferably a low enough power draw for solar charging. If its small enough to protect easily, It wont matter so
    much how weather resistant it may not be. I have experience with Linux, and would be comfortable installing a distro if needed.
    I know a lot of hams have liked the Raspberry Pi, but those are difficult
    to get right now without overpaying, due to supply shortages. Also, Ive
    heard good things about the Surface Go, but the new Go 3s are going for
    $400. Im willing to pay $400 if it is indeed the best Ham PC, but I would
    like to ask all of you if there are any cheaper options that can still do
    all of the things.

    I saw a Chromebook for $150 at the local walmart, It loses the touchscreen,
    and I dont know if they can install/run better Linux distros. There are
    also a lot of tablets in that price range as well, but I dont know if they
    are capable of running linux or ham software.
    If I get any great recommendations, Ill see if I can pick it up in time for Field Day, which would make things a lot more fun for me. submitted by /u/CMDR_Smooticus
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    AN/PRC-90 connecting to civilian turntable setup?! Why?!

    Posted: 24 Jun 2022 10:22 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjtl2e/anprc90_connecting_to_civilian_turntable_setup_why/


    I have an AN/PRC-90 US military survival radio. I also have a Kenwood
    KR-750 receiver unit that I have connected to a Sony turntable and two
    first generation fisher speakers. The receiver on radio mode only reads up
    to 110 Mhz, however even of the radio function is on or off, I can transmit through the 243 Mhz survival radio and the receiver unit will pick it up.
    The radio overrides everything that’s playing, I can transmit and hear my voice or the emergency signal through any music im playing. Keep in mind
    these are NOT supposed to connect, and I have no clue why they do, dose
    anyone know why the connect when they defiantly aren’t supposed to?
    submitted by /u/Gabe7_62Wolf
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    How do I stop FlDigi from randomly switching around the Rx frequency?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:08 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjef9n/how_do_i_stop_fldigi_from_randomly_switching/


    I was on a net today, and the little cursor/rx frequency offset was
    bouncing around randomly and it totally killed my copy. Any way I can stop
    it from changing automatically? https://preview.redd.it/mu6woj6tjh791.jpg?width=335&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b0d6078308d0483d3021b4cb3d78292e439e241
    submitted
    by /u/WA6CR
    [link] [comments]

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    Looking for equipment for teen musical about ham radio + morse code

    Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vj0jf9/looking_for_equipment_for_teen_musical_about_ham/


    Hi - Theres a 17-year-old teenage girl in my area directing a musical she
    wrote about ham radios and morse code. Shes looking for props for her play
    and I wanted to reach out on her behalf to ask if anyone is willing to
    donate any sort of used, broken equipment, or non-functioning equipment to
    use in her play - we will accept all types of equipment, but Im mainly
    trying to pull together two handheld transceivers. Performances are in July
    and were happy to mail borrowed equipment back to you by early August.
    For more about her musical, its called Static: Noise of a New Musical and
    its set in Pennsylvania (were also looking for Pennsylvania QSL cards!) on
    the Appalachian Trail. It follows the story of two teenagers who try to
    solve a mystery after meeting over the radio. There are secret "morse code clues" in the script and music in the show. https://capitalfringe.org/events/static-noise-of-a-new-musical/
    Please let me know if youre able to lend or donate any items, or if there
    are any other resources we should be looking at. I really appreciate it!

    Thanks,
    Don submitted by /u/tango6324
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    Testing NOS vacuum capacitor? Did I break it?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:32 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjeue9/testing_nos_vacuum_capacitor_did_i_break_it/


    I got a nice vintage soviet vacuum capacitor (KP1-8 "5-250"pF) sent from
    Kyiv. Im eventually planning to build a better magloop with some 7/8"
    Heliax I found surplus. Ive never owned a vacuum capacitor before. Lightly adjusting the cap with fingertips, I encountered brief resistance, now the shaft is very easy to turn. Is there a simple way to ensure the seal is
    still good? Is it possible fingertip-turning-power could have damaged it?
    Am I overthinking this, or should I have figured out the range limits some other way? submitted by /u/65a
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    External speakers?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2022 07:10 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/vjdbd3/external_speakers/


    Im exploring other options besides the SP-30 that Yaesu makes for my radio.
    I saw someone post on an FTDX forum that they replaced the SP-30 speaker
    with this, and it sounded better: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0056BQA4S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    The other thing Im thinking of is a nice, small bookshelf speaker. Not sure what would be optimal for voice, though. I do have an old Polk center
    channel, but its damn big. Ive also heard the Motorola comms speakers are
    good, but would they be better than the SP-30? From what Ive read, the
    actual speaker is pretty cheap, and its way overpriced. Sounds like the big selling point it that it matches the transceiver visually. I care more
    about functionality rather than looks, though. submitted by
    /u/physical_kid
    [link] [comments]

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