And we're going into our Summer weather pattern. We only got some sprinkles today, but the areas to the East, out on the Plains, are getting pounded. Haven't seen any lightning yet this year, but I've heard some thunder, which is "Pull The Antennas!" to me. Time to get off my keister and get my new support posts planted, the ground rods driven and bonded together, the Surge Supressors installed, and the 20 Meter vertical antenna moved off it's "temporary" tripod. I also have a new 6 Meter, 5/8's wavelength, vertical to mount. And in a month or so, we're getting a pergola installed over the back patio/concrete area, which will allow me to get my Big Stick back up in the air, like I had in Long Beach.
It's a Shakespeare AT-1011(U) military antenna, and when properly installed, is a real flame thrower. Many people look down on vertical antennas as a "Radiates Equally Poorly In All Directions" device, but I can guarantee you that if they perform poorly, you have a faulty installation. I use it with an SGC AutoCoupler with four, elevated radials, and it works extremely well.
We had both Little Guys over yesterday for about 4 hours, and it's interesting to watch how the NLG is exploring things. His Big Brother adores him, and they had fun playing in TLG's "Avengers Room" (aka Bedroom #2), which is where all his Super Hero figures, Paw Patrol stuff, craft stuff, and wood building block sets are. It was pretty funny to watch how fixated he became on the drawers in craft storage rack. DOZENS of brightly colored toys are scattered around on the floor, and what does he want to do? Open the drawers and take all the stuff out! His Big Brother did the same thing, and I remember opening the kitchen cabinets and dragging out my Mom's pots and pans, so I guess it's a Guy Thing. And they'll be appearing here again Saturday morning for a few hours while their Momma has some things done, and then SLW is taking the daughter-in-law out for a birthday breakfast at a local French restaurant.
And besides doing yard work and attempting to get and keep the garage clean, I finally bought some new tables to replace the two-sawhorses-and-a-door workbench I've been using. Hollow core doors have a tendency to sag a bit when propped up by their ends and used as a work surface! These should give me a better surface to work on, and extra space under the table, as the sawhorses will go into storage.
Enjoy the weekend, rock on, and be safe out there!
Ditto! You all be safe and God bless, drjim!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. Every time the little ones are here I feel God's love and blessings.
DeleteSisty is off to the alpaca shearing tomorrow but I have assignments out on the plains with some deadlines.
ReplyDeleteSay Hi to Sisty!
DeleteI've always had good luck with loops and verticals throughout the years. I had a "perverted vee" that let me work around the world on 40 and 80. I had a loop mobile antenna on 2 meters and worked Hawaii and British Columbia from the mobile on the same day. Pacific duct for the KH6 and Sporadic E for the VE6 - Those were good times. 73 de W7GD
ReplyDeleteMy first HF antenna was a 40M inverted vee, with the apex at 40' on my Dad's TV tower. Played around some with wire loops on HF, but VHF/UHF has always been verticals and Yagis. First put the Big Stick up in Torrance, 35' above the street on the roof of my apartment building. Worked really well, as did in Long Beach. Was never able to get into the duct. Palos Verdes blocked my path, but I took a radio up there a couple of times just to hear a 2M signal from Hawaii.
DeleteYep, definitely Good Times!
Yep - we were also blocked from KH6 by the PV hill. I did work 'em once from the home QTH with an F9FT 18 element Yagi, but the mobile contact was up at the PV Estates City Hall near the end of Hawthorne Blvd. with a clear shot to the inversion duct.
DeleteI remember video of Gordon West, WB6NOA, standing in the surf at Huntington Beach with an HT, and talking to Paul, the guy who had all the beacons up on Mauna Loa or Mauna Kea, I forget which.
DeleteGlad the littles had fun! Tiring on the adults, but fun for them!!! And yes, a GOOD workbench is a necessity!!!
ReplyDeleteThe newest Little Guy spent a good hour climbing all over me. He also discovered my beard, and was fascinated by it. Yep, tiring, but worth it.
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