Jim
@k4sgp.bsky.social
EE, amateur radio, roller skating, backpacking, social dancing, and other random interests.
I went to my first hamfest since before the pandemic this weekend in PA. It was my first time vendor too, as Radio Lab C.
I was able to part with some of the EFHW transformers I made up. I hope it works well for those who decided to buy them! It taught me a lot and I can't wait for the next one.
I was able to part with some of the EFHW transformers I made up. I hope it works well for those who decided to buy them! It taught me a lot and I can't wait for the next one.
March 11, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I went to my first hamfest since before the pandemic this weekend in PA. It was my first time vendor too, as Radio Lab C.
I was able to part with some of the EFHW transformers I made up. I hope it works well for those who decided to buy them! It taught me a lot and I can't wait for the next one.
I was able to part with some of the EFHW transformers I made up. I hope it works well for those who decided to buy them! It taught me a lot and I can't wait for the next one.
The antenna came down yesterday in some wind, this time on the near end. Exactly two weeks ago I repaired the far end.
I went and joined the rope at the break, sent another line in the tree, and pulled it back up all in 30min.
I should be set for another year before it wears through again.
I went and joined the rope at the break, sent another line in the tree, and pulled it back up all in 30min.
I should be set for another year before it wears through again.
February 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The antenna came down yesterday in some wind, this time on the near end. Exactly two weeks ago I repaired the far end.
I went and joined the rope at the break, sent another line in the tree, and pulled it back up all in 30min.
I should be set for another year before it wears through again.
I went and joined the rope at the break, sent another line in the tree, and pulled it back up all in 30min.
I should be set for another year before it wears through again.
My snow covered transmission line running to the doublet in the backyard. It's so pretty lol. Works just fine like this too.
If you've made a contact to my ham radio station when I'm at home, I was using this setup!
If you've made a contact to my ham radio station when I'm at home, I was using this setup!
February 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My snow covered transmission line running to the doublet in the backyard. It's so pretty lol. Works just fine like this too.
If you've made a contact to my ham radio station when I'm at home, I was using this setup!
If you've made a contact to my ham radio station when I'm at home, I was using this setup!
A friend, who knew I was into ham radio, gifted me some old equipment they had in storage under a house. It included two MFJ 949 tuners but one of them wouldn't really tune. The SWR meter never dipped below 3:1.
Opened it up and found a 33pF 1kV cap had blown.
Opened it up and found a 33pF 1kV cap had blown.
February 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A friend, who knew I was into ham radio, gifted me some old equipment they had in storage under a house. It included two MFJ 949 tuners but one of them wouldn't really tune. The SWR meter never dipped below 3:1.
Opened it up and found a 33pF 1kV cap had blown.
Opened it up and found a 33pF 1kV cap had blown.
Ellie is quite comfortable hanging out around my shoulders now.
February 12, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Ellie is quite comfortable hanging out around my shoulders now.
Got my home antenna back up in the trees today. I was happy to send the line nearly where I wanted it on the first throw. It was cold!
February 10, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Got my home antenna back up in the trees today. I was happy to send the line nearly where I wanted it on the first throw. It was cold!
I was playing around making a proof of concept loop antenna and made a CW contact to Georgia from Ohio.
It's made from some 16 AWG wire taped to dowels. It's fed using a ferrite transformer. Using a junk box air variable cap it resonates from 8 to about 25 MHz.
It's made from some 16 AWG wire taped to dowels. It's fed using a ferrite transformer. Using a junk box air variable cap it resonates from 8 to about 25 MHz.
February 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I was playing around making a proof of concept loop antenna and made a CW contact to Georgia from Ohio.
It's made from some 16 AWG wire taped to dowels. It's fed using a ferrite transformer. Using a junk box air variable cap it resonates from 8 to about 25 MHz.
It's made from some 16 AWG wire taped to dowels. It's fed using a ferrite transformer. Using a junk box air variable cap it resonates from 8 to about 25 MHz.
I've been training Ellie to be a shoulder cat recently. Usually she's around the back of my neck, but today she decided to be on one shoulder like a parrot.
January 29, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I've been training Ellie to be a shoulder cat recently. Usually she's around the back of my neck, but today she decided to be on one shoulder like a parrot.
Got out with a friend during the most recent snow storm to activate a park for Parks on The Air/POTA.
I'm often surprised at the contacts that even a low hung antenna can enable.
I'm often surprised at the contacts that even a low hung antenna can enable.
January 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Got out with a friend during the most recent snow storm to activate a park for Parks on The Air/POTA.
I'm often surprised at the contacts that even a low hung antenna can enable.
I'm often surprised at the contacts that even a low hung antenna can enable.