I've been a busy camper lately

[pkveazey]

Wow, I missed the net tonight. I've been really busy lately. My friend tore down my old rotten back deck and built me a brand new bigger and better one. All I had to do was pay for the materials. Since he wouldn't allow me to pay him, and I know he's a shooter, I gave him some ammo because he can't find any. He built that deck so strong, I don't think my truck could tear it down. Then today, I drove 50 miles to buy a Zero Turn Lawn Mower. Yep 50 miles each way. The local store didn't have the one I wanted. Warning: If you've never driven a Zero Turn Mower, take it easy because the controls are a bit touchy until you get used to them. I told the wife that the mower was like riding a Kangaroo bareback.
Yea, I did other stuff today also but I only covered the main things.

Well, I mounted my 40 meter Hamstick to a standoff and its laying on the ground next to my tower. I've got to run the Coax up through the ceiling and across the attic and out to the tower and then mount the standoff to the tower. My 160 meter dipole works OK on 40 meters but I believe I can do better with the vertical 40 meter Hamstick.

[grizz]

Sounds like you had a good day

 

[Nemo]

Warning: If you've never driven a Zero Turn Mower, take it easy because the controls are a bit touchy until you get used to them.

Yeah, thats why the last zero turn I bought actually came with a steering wheel on it rather than 2 steering sticks.  Same maneuverability and everything.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

PKv,
I can't wait to see how well the ham stick does on 40-meters. Stay safe and away from ponds on the zero turn till you get the hand of it. 

[pkveazey]

20 years ago, that antenna would be up and operating but not today. Last night I ran the coax up through the ceiling and across the attic to the place where I will feed it outside. After crawling around up there for about 10 minutes, I was puffing and blowing and said, "Screw this, I'll finish it tomorrow ...... or maybe next week".

[pkveazey]

Oh, no...... I went up in the attic and pushed the coax outside and did a temporary installation on the side of the tower so I could check out the 40 meter Hamstick. Crap!!! I got nothing. I think I know what the problem is. I used a brand new piece of LMR400 for half of the run and some old coax for the rest. I think that old piece was connected to an antenna that got hit by lightning many years ago. I'll eventually get around to removing the old coax and replace it and give it another try in the antennas temporary location. Once I get what I want, I'll move it higher up the tower.

[pkveazey]

Hmmmmm..... I swapped out the old long piece of coax and still got nothing. Hmmmm.... I'll just ohm out the coax while its connected to the antenna. It should show an open circuit since the antenna isn't a shunt fed antenna. Oh, Hell no. I read a dead short. Now I have to unscrew the coax inside the house and go outside and unscrew the coax at the antenna and see if I have a Shield whisker touching the center conductor. If that isn't it then I'll have to make sure the Antenna mount isn't shorting against the antenna. Why oh why me, why can't things just work the way they are supposed to?

[JohnyMac]

PKv.

I have often done what you have done. Sorry however, it it is the cost of being human.

[pkveazey]

Well, I'm completely worn out. I checked the PL259 at the antenna switch and it showed a short. Then I went out and unscrewed the PL259 off of the antenna and it showed a short. Then I went up in the attic and separated the PL259's from the barrel connector and checked them both. The one going down to the antenna switch showed open but the other one showed a short. Crap!!! Then I had to drag tools and a soldering iron up in the attic to repair the Short. It took a couple of tries to get it to read as open. Then I hooked everything back up and tried out 40 meters. It sounded like crap. It's temporarily about 8 feet off the ground but I'm betting that it won't be any better when I move it up to 20 feet. What a waste of time.