• Antennae

    From Andy Ball@1:124/5009 to Daryl Stout on Saturday, August 19, 2000 06:28:22
    Hello Daryl!

    DS> I doubt Ivy's BBS will be back...

    Understood.

    DS> Thanks...it has been difficult doing my 2 meter
    > traffic nets with no teeth. Maybe I'm just self
    > conscious...but I've really had no complaints in
    > people not being able to understand me.

    Sounds good then (so to speak ;o) Mine were some
    back teeth that I was glad to be rid of, I don't think it's effected my speech at all. I am a bit self conscious sometimes about people not being able to understand me because of my peculiar accent though.

    By the way, I know what 2m is, but what's a "traffic net" ?

    DS> I saw an HF antenna advertised in the Amateur
    > Electronic Supply catalog for around $90...that
    > covered all HF bands, except 160, 80, and 75 meters...
    > plus up through 2 meters. It had a max power of 300
    > watts, and operated on a table, window, or balcony.

    Although I couldn't afford one right now, that doesn't
    sound an unreasonable price for a multi-band HF antenna. I might be able to get away with something a bit more simple though, since I probably wouldn't be transmitting more than about 5W once I got my license and I would settle for a single band antenna. For the moment, even a receive-only
    'aerial' would do. Thanks for the tip though, it's nice
    to know that's out there.

    73,
    - Andy.

    * SLMR 2.1a *

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  • From Daryl Stout@1:3821/33 to Andy Ball on Wednesday, August 16, 2000 15:33:00
    It's good to know Ivy's still around, I hope she'll be
    able to come back before too long. I tried calling her BBS when I arrived AB>back in the U.S. but it was apparently off- line.

    I doubt Ivy's BBS will be back...if you want more details, send Internet Email to n5vlz@arrl.net, and I'll fill you in.

    I sympathise, I recently had some big old teeth taken
    out (under a general anesthetic ;o) but recovered quickly. Here's wishing yo AB>a thorough and swift recovery!

    Thanks...it has been difficult doing my 2 meter traffic nets with no teeth. Maybe I'm just self conscious...but I've really had no complaints in people not
    being able to understand me.

    in Illinois, USA and we seem to get many, many thunderstorms here - especial AB>of late. I would prefer an outdoor antenna, but I share your concern about AB>lightning. I suppose an indoor antenna is less conspicuous too which might AB>an advantage for some people.

    I saw an HF antenna advertised in the Amateur Electronic Supply catalog for around $90...that covered all HF bands, except 160, 80, and 75 meters...plus up
    through 2 meters. It had a max power of 300 watts, and operated on a table, window, or balcony. If I can ever upgrade to General (too many other irons in the fire right now), that antenna would definitely be on the wish list. It's on
    page 94 of the Summer, 2000 AES catalog.

    I'm interested in an HF antenna (possibly 40m or 80m),
    but it needs to be physically small and hopefully inexpensive. Does anyone AB>have any suggestions or observations?

    See my note above. Good luck, and 73.

    Daryl, N5VLZ


    * OLX 1.53 * He does the work of 3 Men...Moe, Larry & Curly

    ---
    * PDQWK 2.52 #5


    --- GTMail 1.26
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, Arkansas (1:3821/33.0)
  • From Andy Ball@1:124/5009 to Daryl Stout on Monday, August 14, 2000 10:05:00
    Hello Darryl!

    DS> Ivy Iverson, is temporarily away from this echo, for
    > personal committments outside FIDOnet...

    It's good to know Ivy's still around, I hope she'll be
    able to come back before too long. I tried calling her BBS when I arrived back
    in the U.S. but it was apparently off- line.

    DS> I've been recovering from major dental surgery last
    > week...and have been trying to slowly work my way back
    > on the air.

    I sympathise, I recently had some big old teeth taken
    out (under a general anesthetic ;o) but recovered quickly. Here's wishing you a
    thorough and swift recovery!

    DS> Since I'm just a Technician, and where I am has a
    > tendency to get a lot of lightning hits when
    > thunderstorms are around, I just have a magmount
    > antenna here in the shack...if you can get by with a
    > smaller, less bulky antenna...that's a better route
    > to go with.

    I'm hoping to apply for my Technician license before
    too long, and I'm looking at antennae for reception in the mean time. I live in Illinois, USA and we seem to get many, many thunderstorms here - especially of late. I would prefer an outdoor antenna, but I share your concern about lightning. I suppose an indoor antenna is less conspicuous too which might be an advantage for some people.

    If a smaller antenna performs adequately for me then it
    would seem vain to put up a huge one (obviously, some people have interests that require larger antennae). On the other hand, once I do get around to transmitting I would rather use a more efficient antenna (which might be larger) than simply increase my output power.

    I'm interested in an HF antenna (possibly 40m or 80m),
    but it needs to be physically small and hopefully inexpensive. Does anyone have any suggestions or observations?

    73,
    - Andy.

    * SLMR 2.1a *

    --- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-1
    # Origin: FamilyNet - telnet://family-bbs.net - (972)-496-0650 (8:8/2)
    * Origin: FamilyNet Echogate [972] 496-0650 (1:124/5009)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:3821/33 to Andy Ball on Tuesday, August 22, 2000 10:58:00
    By the way, I know what 2m is, but what's a "traffic net" ?

    On 2 meters, my local Ham Radio club has a weekly traffic and information net, concerning upcoming area Ham Radio events, VE Test Sessions, the Amateur Radio Newsline, and for stations to pass traffic, and to list Ham Radio gear they want to buy, sell, or trade. I've been doing nets since 1993 (been licensed since 1991). I'm the Net Control Operator for the club.

    I'm also the Talk-In Chairman for the Little Rock, Arkansas Hamfest, held in late April each year. I have 3 blind hams help me (I'm legally blind without my
    glasses, but it's corrected to 20/20 with them)...so the running joke is that "all the blind folks are over at Talk-in". <G> In fact, one year, I got LOST trying to find my way out of the parking lot after the first night of the Hamfest...so, one of my blind helpers keys the repeater and announces "a talk-out net for the talk-in station who can't find his way out of the parking lot". I doubt I'll EVER live that one down. :)

    Although I couldn't afford one right now, that doesn't
    sound an unreasonable price for a multi-band HF antenna. I might be able to AB>get away with something a bit more simple though, since I probably wouldn't AB>transmitting more than about 5W once I got my license and I would settle for AB>single band antenna. For the moment, even a receive-only
    'aerial' would do. Thanks for the tip though, it's nice
    to know that's out there.

    I saw another ad for an HF antenna, which covered all the HF bands except for
    80 and 160 meters...but it was 4 feet long, as I recall. I got a deal from ARRL
    today wanting me to upgrade to General. I do great with the FCC rules...now, if
    I could just get the rest of the theory, and get to where I wouldn't lock up when I try to copy CW.

    73...glad to help.

    Daryl, N5VLZ


    * OLX 1.53 * I am a deeply superficial person. -Andy Warhol

    ---
    * PDQWK 2.52 #5


    --- GTMail 1.26
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, Arkansas (1:3821/33.0)
  • From Andy Ball@1:124/5009 to Daryl Stout on Wednesday, August 30, 2000 08:25:06
    (Written 2000-08-24, delayed due to technical problem)

    Hello Daryl!

    DS> On 2 meters, my local Ham Radio club has a weekly traffic and
    > information net, concerning upcoming area Ham Radio events, VE
    > Test Sessions, the Amateur Radio Newsline, and for stations to
    > pass traffic, and to list Ham Radio gear they want to buy,
    > sell, or trade.

    Kind of makes me wish we had a Ham Radio club locally =o(

    DS> "a talk-out net for the talk-in station who can't find his way
    > out of the parking lot". I doubt I'll EVER live that one down.
    > :)

    <grin>

    DS> ...covered all the HF bands except for 80 and 160 meters...but
    > it was 4 feet long, as I recall.

    About 1.2m, I could find room for that! =o)

    DS> I do great with the FCC rules...

    I've still got to learn them. =o/

    73,
    - Andy.

    * SLMR 2.1a *

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