What did you do in the shack today?

[ToddDubya]

I got out with the Venus SW-3B and mag loop for a little riverside fun this afternoon. I had a little trouble on 20m where the reverse beacon network was spotting me at a very different frequency than I was transmitting at, like 600 Hz. So everyone was coming back way off. Eventually I got QRM'd to death by what sounded like SSTV, which shouldn't have been in the CW portion of the band, but that's what it sounded like. I moved to 30m and it treated me well.

At some point I'll have to check it and see if it's transmitting off frequency or it was just bad luck. It wasn't RIT or XIT; I did check that. 30m matched up just fine.

The mag loop is certainly no good for search and pounce type operating, but if you're going to sit on a frequency it's really handy. Setup is fast and it's relatively quiet. I just set it up on a cheap camera tripod I modified to fit it, and it sits right next to me. No stringing up wires or anything like that.

Edit: I checked today into a dummy load and it showed up dead nuts on my waterfall. I'm not sure what the deal was yesterday.

 

[FisherTech]

Yesterday I installed 50 repeater frequencies on my new FTM510 DR using the RT systems software. So, now the 510 is in my truck and the FTM200 is in the Faraday can.

 

[Evtide]

So, now the 510 is in my truck and the FTM200 is in the Faraday can.

I have a FTM500 currently installed in the mobile, and plan to swap it out for the Kenwood TM-D 750 when they come out later this summer or fall. Thinking about mounting the FTM500 in an ammo can with Anderson PowerPole connectors and an bulkhead mount SO-239 antenna port for semi-portable use.

 

[ToddDubya]

My BuddiHex is out for delivery today. It's pretty windy here (and cold) so I'm not sure I'll be able to set it up and try it out after work. I may just do the tripod and work out the process for setting that up and guying it. I've wanted this thing for a long time, so I'm psyched to be getting it. I'll need to find excuses to bring it out.

Edit: It's here. Just two skinny bags. I wouldn't carry them up a mountain, but they don't weigh much.

 

[ToddDubya]

This afternoon I hiked half an hour into the woods to a shelter on the Appalachian Trail for some much needed CW therapy. There was someone there, so I gave a quick "hello" as I walked up. She (or a low-T he) pulled the sleeping bag over her head and ignored me. Well, the picnic table is out. So I found a log with a decent nearby branch and spent the next hour trying to get my newly acquired tape measure dipole to tune. Nope. Packed it all back up.

I traded for this dipole, but I used it once before and it was perfect. I'm not sure what is wrong with it, but the absolute best I could get on it was 2:1 SWR. I guess I'll try it with some wires next and make sure it's not the center. It uses a 1:1 balun for the center and it has continuity where it should, and doesn't where it shouldn't.

 

[CatSnoutSoup]

Today in the shack I decided to fill a hole in my radio capabilities, but naturally in the most skinflint manner possible.

You see I currently do not own a DMR capable radio, even though I live a relatively short distance from a DMR repeater.

Well, after seeing the following video on the new Baofeng DM-32UV I decided to get one. But of course they are not being stocked anywhere in the USA as of yet, so that meant ordering from China. (See below after the video)




I ended up ordering from Banggood, shipping out of China. I have never ordered from them before, but had read a number of discussions about them. They are a stocking vendor not an eCommerce site for third party sellers, and they have PayPal as a payment option so there is at least that level of security and purchase guarantee.

The radio was $68.27 shipped (which I expect will take a month).

[US$68.99] Baofeng DM-32UV Walkie Talkie DMR Digital Analog Two Way Radio 8W Power GPS APRS 4000 Channels Dual Mode Communication Walkie Talkies from Security & Protection on banggood.com

Baofeng DM-32UV Walkie Talkie DMR Digital Analog Two Way Radio 8W Power GPS APRS 4000 Channels Dual Mode Communication

usa-m.banggood.com

I should note there is a third party seller on Amazon asking $118 with a delivery date out as far as May 15th., so even if it takes two months I am ahead of the game for a radio that I probably don't really need anyway.

It will be funny if by the time I get mine from China, Amazon has then gotten stock and is shipping them next day for less.