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Yeah--I am trying to use my swimming pool fence as a support so I can manually aim and rotate. It gets a bit busy trying to manually steer in three directions AND try to make contacts. Even with the XYL logging (she has a Tech ticket) it gets crazy. I'm new to FM satellites, but not to ham...

If it is 10+ during the day time but drops off at night to substantially less it doesn't sound like the transformer causing the noise. Transformers tend to radiate consistently when they have poor connections--24/7 with only monor changes. Just a bit of non-linearity can cause a lot of...

I have a couple of pennies worth to throw into this one, if you don't mind. My experience is that most of the noise in vehicles is not actually RFI--it is power noise. Yes, there is some RF, but it is the exception. Although tracking down and filtering the noise source is best--it isn't...

Actually, it often is easier to build from scratch than convert from another band. What do you plan to do with this antenna? Repeaters and simplex FM, or DX? Most DX activity on 6 is either CW or SSB--and both are normally done with Horizontal polarization. A 3 or 4 element beam is...

I have two mobile CB radios; both out-of-the-box stock condition. I only use them when four-wheeling with friends or clubs, so the stock freqs and power are more than adequate for keeping in touch over a several mile radius. I also have two hand-held CBs for contingency/loaner/hiking up a...

It seems really strange to me that comments supporting the petitions are not welcome. I hate one-sided discussions (even though I do oppose these particular petitions). Morse code for national security? MARS stations stopped using CW as a core communication mode a while ago. None of the...

As W5LZ said, electrically there is no real difference between a square and a diamond--since in reality they are the same shape with the feedpoint rotated 45°, and the element rotated to give vertical or horizontal polarization. The advantage I have seen to the "diamond" is that the feedpoint...

Please do not try this at home! :shock: HUH? :roll: Wow! I can't believe no one else ever figured this out! 8) Actually, I can't believe much of the crap on that site! I do drive a Saturn, and occasionally engage the warp drive on SoCal freeways, but I have yet to achieve a high...

According to an antenna analyzer. In a pinch, accordng to an SWR meter. Dave_W6DPS

Well, there is no real advantage to a full-wave antenna. In fact, you will notice that there are no full-wave antenna designs around. Without getting into a lot of math, full-wave antennas don't work well. In theory "quarter-wave" antennas actually act like a half-wave. A half wave works...

I ran across my old packet TNC (Kantronics KPC-3) and the ancient Icom HT I used with it. I briefly set it up, but couldn't find any activity. About 10 years ago there were a number of nodes and several BBSs in my area. I listened over night on 145.03 and 145.07, where things used to be...

My wife and I also use VX-5Rs, and have been very happy with them. In hindsight however, I would have bought a radio with 2m/220/440, rather than 6m/2m/440. 6 meters is not very useful in a handheld. On the other hand, here in SoCal there are a number of 220 repeaters. I am in a club that...

I have been thinking about the same thing. I currently use a mag-mount on top, but it si definately not tree friendly! I have been considering pulling the AM/FM antenna off the front fender and replacing it with the HF antenna. Back to the OP--the mount looks great; have you had a chance...

I'm assuming he actually means loading coils to shorten the antenna. A 40 foot shortened dipole can be a lot easier to site than a full 66 feet. Of course you lose efficiency with the coils. As for G5RV "Jr." versus dipole, I don't know that there is much advantage if you are only...

I have one for 2 meters, and it performs very well. I used it for t-hunting, and found the deep null off the back helps a lot. It is about 30 inches high, a bit over 10 inches front to back, and made from 12 gauge solid copper wire. I have a 6 foot PVC "mast" that I use as a walking stick...

The lat/long in the QRZ.com database is the approximate center of your zip code--the same with the maidenhead grid square listing. They do not calculate zip code by address. To get the coordinates for an address, try: http://world.maporama.com/idl/maporama/ It rounds to the nearest...

Congratulations! I hope things work out when you give it a try! (W5LZ, I tend to approximate, round numbers off, and use "rules of thumb". An approach that works very well in antenna construction, at least for me. My recommendations come from that perspective. I didn't mean to imply...

Actually, the only point some of us really care about is whether you were able to put together a workable antenna. Have you tried it on the air yet? If so, does it do what you need? Dave_W6DPS

Well, I didn't expect the vitriol over this. A new guy asked a practical question, I tried to answer clearly and simply, from a practical experience perspective. Obviously the theoretical minutia are more important to some than the practical applications. Please ammend the first paragraph...

Not a popular band, because hams outside the US don't have it and there is little equipment for it. It does work great if you are in an area that has repeaters. Many areas have linked 220 repeaters, since there is much less usage than 2 meters and you can get the coordination. I have an...