AR15.com Net (Page 5 of 12)
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Yeah, pretty much my first Linux exposure. I started self-educating a few weeks ago. I have LiveCD's of Ubuntu, Mint, DSL, Puppy, KNOPPIX-STD, and Fedora. I have some old 'puters that I was trying them on. Ubuntu and Mint are so cool that I'm Jonesing for a new machine that is up to modern standards so I can enjoy those. If I ever get a DVD burner or something to offload about 16GB of digital photos from my laptop, I'll wipe it and set up a dual boot. DSL has been a good experience b/c if you want to add things on, it kinda forces you to get into the gritty stuff. A lot of things I'm trying to add-on require libraries and stuff that I know nothing about so it's pretty tough tracking some things down. The new GUI distros make it easy, but beyond that you obviously need some chops to get certain things working. I've been trying to compile from source, but DSL is so small that it lacks a lot of the packages that the software programmers assume are already loaded on your OS. |
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Yeah I self-taught myself a little linux a year or two ago. I love Ubuntu, I tried two or three others distro's and Ubuntu was the clear winner in my book. This is good resource if you want to learn you way around the treminal/bash/shell. I learned a lot on there and started porting an old C++ ballistics program I started to bash, maybe one day I'll finish it or team up with some people better than me at bash. The only thing I don't like about Ubuntu/Linux is that it is so customizable and I don't have any high-speed ISP available where I am, not the OS's fault, but I would love to play with the ham packages Ubuntu has like CWget, etc. but it would take until the next ice age to attempt to download them over my dial-up. Edit to add: A lot of people may not know about this specialized search |
Looks like a good first post to me! Thanks for joining in, and I look forward to making contact on the air soon! |
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
Yeah, yeah! I was doing something else when the net started and signals weren't that good so I didn't check in. I couldn't really copy anything. Then they got better, so I waited and thought they would get even better. That's when they dropped back to nothing. Oh well, the Sun will have spots again someday... 
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Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
| I've barely been on for the last couple weeks, KwaiChangCaine or I would be closest. Pretty sure I'll be on tomorrow night so I'll listen for you... 20 is probably a better band to get to you though. How is your antenna configured? |
A nation that draws too broad a difference between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools. - Thucydides
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The antenna? Well, it is configured in just about the worst way possible, but I haven't taken much time to get it any better,a nd not sure exactly how to go about that yet anyway. It's a 60' sloper fed at the high side at 16 ft with an AH-4 and slopes down to 6 on the far side, running at about 200 degrees magnetic. I know I can do better as far as layout goes, just a matter of time and experimenting. Need to figure out what works best for my particular layout. |
I am hearing you at an S7 here in College Station, TX. I don't have my general at this point so I can't talk back yet. |
Thanks for the rpt ar15bubba, now go get that general ticket!! :) |
You guys and the band conditions are really training me on how to use this FT-1000D! It's an amazing radio, and by using the IF-Shift & Width, Notch Filter, and 2K filter I was able to copy nearly 90% of the stations and traffic tonight until the band gave out on me. You all dropped into the noise as usual after 20 minutes or so. That's about normal here at net time.  I was going to respond to the station who was worried about his SWR, but I was too slow. He was S7 here which was 59 at the time... |
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
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AR-15.com HF Net 8/3/08 Check Ins N9*** KI4*** KJ4*** KC0** KI4*** N1*** KI4*** KK4** W5*** Way to go guys, lets keep it up. Eventually we might get some more people motivated to either check in or get their ticket. Also, those who checked in, please PM me your AR15.com screen name, so I can keep a better log. I'm going to get a google doc for us all to reference in the event we ever need it. Scott |
Agreed, it would have to be some type of relatively private deal... |
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
GPG authenticated, AES encrypted, and SSL access please.  ar-jedi  |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
GPG autheticated, AES encrypted, and SSL access please. ar-jedi |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Thanks for the 59, the SWR station was me playing around with the manual tuner for a change. -A |
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Hey guys; I finally got around to taking the general test yesterday, so I just need to get the hardware side of things set up. I've had a tech license for awhile, and when I stumbled on this thread it reminded me that I've been meaning to get some long range emcomm in place. This also motivated my girlfriend to take the tech exam; she still needs to study for the general a bit. I've got a pile of HTs and a VHF/UHF mobile, but no HF gear yet. So, I'm looking to pick up a mobile HF rig and semi-portable antenna setup; I'll probably end up doing an inverted V on a mast. Need someplace to stick a VHF/UHF antenna at home anyway. So, looks like I'll be a couple more weeks still. 
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| I really appreciate the tip last night to use the attenuator on my FT-1000D! It really helps to cut out the noise, and the stations remained fairly strong and much more readable. I'm not sure who said it though, so please step up and take credit, because that trick really works well. Its an old-school radio, and now I have another dial to fiddle which, which is great! |
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
That was me that recommended that and relayed to you by another station. Glad it worked out well for you. By using your attenuator or reducing the RF gain slightly, you change the "signal to noise ratio" bringing in less noise so the useable signals can be heard better. By using the IF shift, you can narrow the bandpass slightly and that may improve reception also. A notch filter will eliminate any offending carrier that may be there from a broadcast station. |
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Thanks Tommygun! I've been doing well with the IF shift & width, and also with the notch when needed. It's the noise level that's been killing me and the RF Gain didn't help much, but the Attenuator sure did last night. All nights are different though, and I'm on now but can just barely tell there might be stations in the background whatever I do.  Wait, I hear a call..... 
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Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. - Albert Einstein
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I've been using all the tricks, plus an outboard DSP unit to reduce the noise (static) level and it's still killing my ears. Getting old + hearing damage really sucks. Antenna came down (in a controlled fashion) due to some severe weather that was inbound the other night. I wanted to try a couple different things so it needed to come down anyway, but the different things aren't ready yet so I'll probably be off the air for a little while. Been really busy and haven't made the sked/net much anyway the last couple of weeks. |
A nation that draws too broad a difference between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools. - Thucydides
I take the General test tomorrow  I have an IC-730 that I'll be running into an inverted-L with an SGC tuner at the feed point. Up to this point I've just had 140' of wire strung along the top of my 6' fence to listen with. I hope to be joining you all in a week or so, depending on how long it takes to get the couple hundred feet of coax to reach the antenna location and get the supports erected. I may try another quick antenna just to get on the air.... 73, KE7xxx |
You are what you do when it counts...
Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate.
Joined:
Dec 2005
Posts:
10640
EE: 100% (6)
NM, USA
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I tried to get on the net tonight but couldn't get thru the QRM. Does ANYone from the SW/MW get through to you guys? |
We may not agree on every topic, every time. But differences in opinion can be expressed with professionalism and respect. --Quib
Proud member of Ranstad's Militia!
Proud member of Ranstad's Militia!
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3:13 UTC 3799KHz --> Bosnia Emil E71AA, clear as day.  i just worked him on 10W!!!!!!!!!!!!! ar-jedi |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate.
Joined:
Dec 2005
Posts:
10652
EE: 100% (6)
NM, USA
Poor ground, I guess. The soil is so sandy it won't support ground-wave communications. Another problem just MAY be the 5000' Manzano and Sandia mountain ranges between me and the east coast. |
We may not agree on every topic, every time. But differences in opinion can be expressed with professionalism and respect. --Quib
Proud member of Ranstad's Militia!
Proud member of Ranstad's Militia!
Just worked him also, 5/9.............tnx for the info. Also worked Latvia this morning on 20m. |
it was almost too easy. ar-jedi ETA i can't believe he is calling CQ DX x 3 right now and not getting piled onto... |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
You're right, it was almost too easy, got him first call. Who's the east coast station that is talking with him organizing calls on this side of the world? |
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same freq as above, K2RR is soliciting DX, and going a great job at it. from his QRZ web page he seems to know his way around 80m... ar-jedi |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
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ar-jedi I believe you are running a IC-703 if I recall correctly. What antenna/tuner are you using? I am building a portable comm box similar to yours and am debating which HF rig to use. (The box already has a FT-8800 in it.) I can put either a IC-718 in it or an FT-817 for HF. I currently have both radios. The Ft-817 will run much longer on batteries as you are aware. I am trying to decide if I can make up for the power output by having a great portable antenna matched to the rig. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks |
see www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=593963 the Icom 703+ QRP radio that i use has an integral autotuner. it is actually quite capable, and will match beyond the 3:1 that is advertised on the spec sheet. however, it does have it's limitations -- it will not match an end fed random wire (~3000 ohm feedpoint), for example. so you need a "reasonably resonant" antenna to drive. i've been using two antennas -- first is the commercial Yo-Yo-Tenna Deluxe (link). this a a dipole type which you extend as needed to the band of interest. next, i use a homebuilt UnUn to drive a end-fed sloper antenna. you'll need to buy/build such a device and then you'll need 2 pcs of 28AWG wire about 50 feet long. i throw one wire over a tree branch (i cleverly have an old 1/2" copper elbow soldered on the end for weight) and then you extend the other wire (the counterpoise) along the ground underneath the former wire. here is the design i copied: (link). also see (link).
here is the problem: with a 100W output (QRO) radio everything gets bigger: the tuner, the battery, etc. -- all of this contributes to a bigger and heavier box. non-QRP radios are not really designed for (1) really low current consumption on receive, nor (2) operation from voltages lower than about 11.7Vdc (that's 13.8Vdc - 15%). hence, you don't get nearly as much mileage out of your battery capacity with a non-QRP rig. of course, the limitation is that you get fewer watts out the RF connector... if you decide to go with a 100W radio might i suggest looking at the Yaesu FT450AT? it's relatively small, has an integral autotuner, has IF DSP, and right now it's priced very attractively ((link). this radio has gotten it's fair share of good reviews over on Eham (link). since you have dual band VHF/UHF on the FT8000 already, you just need an HF rig. the internal autotuner on the FT450 will save you a lot of space, and save you the space needed to link the rig with the tuner via coax. in the end i decided that the difference between 10W and 100W was not worth the added weight and reduced operating time. in fact, in my view one would mostly be *listening* during SHTF/TEOTWAWKI, not transmitting. at ~300mA, QRP radios sip power on receive. yes, you'll need to get the wire up up higher and such to get the same reach on transmit as a 100W radio. but i don't plan to need to bust pileups during SHTF. just some thoughts... ar-jedi |
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Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
Three things are certain
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
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ar-jedi An internal tuner would be a big advantage. I had been thinking about putting a LDG AT-100Pro in the box but at that point I am really running out of room with a IC-718. I haven't tried the Yo-Yo yet but will now. Thanks for the info on the sloper. I will let you know how I do with both. I hesitated to reply sooner as I had to consider the difference in having a QRP rig compared to a 100watt radio in the box. If the situation is SHTF then I agree that "I am listening". I can already do that via the FT-817 that I use for portable. It resides in a go bag with multiple antenna options. It is very lightweight an I have taken it many places. I know with the FT-817 I can monitor just about everything a 100w rig can pick up. I also have the VX-7R for this situation that has its own go bag. I know I can monitor for several days if not longer. (I believe that you can't have enough backup options and contingency plans.) The thing I am thinking about with the comm box is that it is not necessarily always for SHTF situations. It may be an emergency but power might possibly be readily available. Or perhaps just a trip somewhere where I can plug in. If power is available would it not be easier to operate at 100w rather than QRP? If this should be posted somewhere else please move. Thanks for input. Last night I couldn’t check in as the frequency was in use. Hope to check in tonight. 73 |
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Lets agree on something here.....if the intended net frequency is in use as it was the night before last, how about just going down 2kc and calling? The reason for moving down instead of up is that you'll get less spurious splatter from a station above you on LSB than one below you. Can we get this into practice? Theres no need to be silent on the band, its clear below and above most nights, lets start by going lower if its not occupied by foreign broadcast. |
| I tried calling a few times last night on 223, the alternate freq and got nothing. The guys last night were on 212 in my area and still audible on 211. 215-216 was clear and I listened there as well and didn't hear anyone. I thought the conditions were just too bad for 100w last night but maybe just no one was there? |