Packet Radio APRS
Well I built a TNC with an old Arduino I had and the parts from that Bearcat 4 I built the OP25 radio. So far as I'm understanding it's for location tracking and messaging. Beyond that I have no idea. I see all kinds of videos on how to make it work, but nothing really on what it is and what can it do for me. The packet radio thing intrigues me, as long as it's broadcast and not over the internet. I don't want to offend anyone as this is just my opinion. To do the communications over tcpip is akin to cheating. If I want to do the that I'll jump into Ventrilo, Teamspeak or Skype. In the road warrior days will that still work, I don't think so. Through radio relay don't see a problem. Anyhow still pretty kewl that it works and I built it from reclamated parts. That's a fancy word for junk.
Revisted the 6m Dipole
Well the Hexbeam was kind of a bust. I couldn't tune it to save my life. I think an analyzer is needed for this antenna. So I came back to my 6m dipole. I dropped one pair to get it tuned up proper, and tuned up I did get it. It swinging right at 1.6:1, which makes me very happy. I will add my other pair at the same measurements and see if I can hold the same readings.
Midland Low-Z Microphone Adapter
I built another adapter to use my EC9P on my TH-9800. I've currently have it going through my Scarlet for the phantom power and the pre-amp, but later I could use one of my better tube pre-amps and a compressor. That would be after I get moved out to the garage.
And yep the image is wrong. Swap 1 and 4 also swap 2 and 3. I soldered it that way too. I do it every time since the 80's and I don't know why. I have them all in my head from Cobra to Royce and for what ever reason Midland is flipped in my head. I get Cobra right and it's just flipped from top to bottom. Go figure.
Yep, that allot of adapters. I couldn't find a 1/4 jack to use. So (male RCA) to (female RCA gender changer) to (male RCA female 1/4 adapter) to patch cord.
The key is a foot switch from one of my keyboards.
First Attempt at a Hexbeam Antenna (Part 2)
Part 1 here. I pulled it down and redid all the paracord and used ferrules to hold everything.
UPDATE:
I disconnected the 10 meters element and just did the 6 meter. I re-measured and adjusted my driven elements only to get 5:1 on the SWR. My open-stub j-pole does 3:1 on 6 meter. So I'm doing something wrong, but don't know what.
First Attempt at a Hexbeam Antenna
Everything that could go wrong pretty much did. I ran out of wire then I could only find green rope. So it looks rather trashy.
I made it out of polycarbonate(golf car windshield), 1/2 conduit and conduit holders. Also used 14g insulated strained wire.
I have it on my test mast and can already see wind is going to be a problem. I'll play around with it this week, but it will be coming down Sunday.
