Picked up my fourth Xiegu G 90 HF radio...160 through 10 meters.

[Tugaloo]

Got up a bit early this morning and decided to cut my grass before the rain from this tropical storm arrived.

In making circles with my riding lawnmower...I discovered why my long range HF loop antenna was giving me funny readings on my meter.

One section of it had fallen again. I will be using my boat pole and new fishing reel and a 3 ounce teardrop sinker to run a line over the trees to re hang the wire.

I have two more 12 gauge stranded wire rolls...from Lowes....500 feet length as spares ...for just such occasions and or happenings.


I tried to get on again with my friend out in Tennessee and got non normal readings on my meters telling me something was wrong.

Glad I found the problem.


Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

No lawn here; so, I use a walk behind string trimmer to "mow" the weeds alongside the driveway.

What frequency is your loop cut for? Single band or multiband? Is it homebrew or store bought? Do you use an antenna tuner?
In case you haven't noticed this statement applies to me quite well; “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."

Same as most Hams; perhaps all Hams, I have lots of wire, LOL!
I've used 550 paracord with a pulley and a weight to allow wire antennas to move with wind or ice.

We've been too busy prepping our old house for sale for me to put up an antenna. I'm going to try an EFHW or End Fed Half Wave. I've been purchasing all the needed components.
Here, we have a lot of lightning that destroyed the LED controls in the freezer. I could have replaced t except it would have taken weeks to receive the parts. We drove 54 miles to find a freezer in stock.
Everything electronic here has surge protectors except for the HVAC's thermostat which was "smoked" a couple of weeks ago.

For my shack and antennas, I will be using Alpha Delta surge protectors: https://www.alphadeltaradio.com.

Our products have been thoroughly tested and approved by Government, Industry and Military labs and agencies and have been issued NSN numbers by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Cage TT3G50 Code 389A5.

If lightning hits, the gas plug will need to be replaced.


Did you know the MacArthur Memorial is located in Norfolk near the Elizabeth River and a few blocks from St. Paul's Episcopal Church?

[orangetom1999]

I use a tuner and have worked 160 meters...through 6 meters on this 500 foot wire loop. I verily like it but at the same time recognize I need to better suspend it in the air.

Yes..I've been to the MacArthur Memorial down in Norfolk and also the Battleship Wisconsin parked near at Waterside.


When down there I also like to go to an olde time drive in called Doumars...for curb service and a double cheesburger, fries, and olde time fountain Rootbeer. And if there is any room left an olde time ice cream on a waffle cone.

Doumar's Barbecue – Norfolk, Virginia - Gastro Obscura (atlasobscura.com)


Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[Tugaloo]

I built a 160 meter loop once and this link pretty much follows what I built with 450 Ω ladder line and a 4:1 current balun.

https://marbut.com/Loop/

It was a rather odd shaped loop, but it worked. :D A decent antenna analyzer would have been a serious aid back then. No matter what a Ham's power out is, the key is their antenna radiates as much of it as possible.

I toured the USS North Carolina. It was one of the last of the dreadnoughts. The Wisconsin is an Iowa Class. When we toured the North Carolina, someone wondered if a dreadnought could defeat an Iowa Class.. A man said either could defeat the other by scoring the first solid hits.

Doumar's Barbecue appears to be an experience well worth partaking.

I smoked a Boston butt earlier this week; it was delicious. We finished the leftovers tonight.

[orangetom1999]

A boston butt....Wow..that sounds great....

Yes..I like to go to Doumars when down there in Norfolk...usually I am stoppig at Bobs gun shop for reloading supplies and stop at Doumars on the way home.

Agree with you on the battle ships...whoever gets in the first shot,...that is a big big...round...16 inches..having served on a 155MM artillery crew.

Some time this week I am going to get around to rebuiding and resetting my wire loop antenna. Weather looks good most of the week.

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[Tugaloo]

A boston butt....Wow..that sounds great....

Yes..I like to go to Doumars when down there in Norfolk...usually I am stoppig at Bobs gun shop for reloading supplies and stop at Doumars on the way home.

Agree with you on the battle ships...whoever gets in the first shot,...that is a big big...round...16 inches..having served on a 155MM artillery crew.

Some time this week I am going to get around to rebuiding and resetting my wire loop antenna. Weather looks good most of the week.

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

We enjoy smoking meat, Another treat is shrimp kabobs; a piece of red or yellow, a slice of lemon, a large shrimp and repeat. Buy the shrimp at Costco or Sam's for about $4 a pound instead of $13 a pound at our local Ingles.

Near Athens, there is a gun shop worth visiting.
Due to panic buying, today's prices have seriously curtailed my buying.

I bought a canoe at Academy. There was a guy in from of me who bought an AR and a Beretta pistol. The clerk who carried the firearms to the counter told him ammo comes in on Tuesday and Thursday. I can't believe someone bought a firearm without ammo!!! Heck, when they buy a new to them caliber buy a box of ammo to reload.
The wife saw a pistol she liked and the clerk would not remove the trigger lock so she could test the trigger pull. Fine, keep it.

First sold hit usually wins any serious encounter, As an ex-grunt the idea of weapons firing over the horizon is a major WOW!

A 155 is ~6.1", an 8" is 203,4 mm and 16" is 406.4 mm.. Talk about a bigger hammer!

Currently, we have too much on our plate for me to build the EFHW. Today, we went to Costco to refill the freezer. Tomorrow, it is to the old house to start filling a dumpster.

[orangetom1999]

Have restrung my long wire HF antenna today much higher into the tops of my trees on one long length and added into it a length of 12 gauge wire...soldering it in. I have most of it complete but have not hooked up one section ...the end...into the feed line. Ran out of daylight and will work on it tomorrow. I am hoping that by having more of it higher up in the trees it will help reception and transmission both.
Have been thinking about doing this for some time now....

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[Tugaloo]

OT, I had a Carolina 10 to 80 meters and added length to support 160.
I use coax seal on coax connectors and splices; it really works. I had a 10 to 160 meter Carolina Windom adapted to 160 up for 5 years using coax seal and no water made it into the splice. It is good stuff.

I see another of my posts was deleted. It appears our mods are afraid we will learn about how effective masks are filtrating COVID.
Gee whiz, as the truth will set one free; I wonder why? And, this is a survival forum?

[orangetom1999]

Tugaloo,

My antenna is not quite working correctly and I am going to also replace the ladder line feeding it...along with a more thorough cleaning of the feed point wherein the ladder line connects to the wire loop.,and using a type of conducting grease there at that connection.

Gee whiz, as the truth will set one free; I wonder why? And, this is a survival forum?

Verily agree...
...

Oh...and working in this shipyard and having been trained to use the Industrial Comfo II Respirator and also air fed type respirators ...I knew from the beginning how effective masks really are...

Amazon.com: MSA 808071 Comfo Classic Series Half-Mask Respirator - Size: Medium, Harness Style: SoftFeel Silicon, Twin-Port, Reusable Gas Mask, MSA Comfo Cartridge Compatible : Tools & Home Improvement

Also this model..

Amazon.com: MSA 471286 Hycar Rubber Ultra-Twin Full-Facepiece Respirator, Medium : Tools & Home Improvement


Let us see if this one is deleted...
Here this link...


[Vaccine Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (VAIDS): 'We should anticipate seeing this immune erosion more widely' | America's Frontline Doctors (americasfrontlinedoctors.org)/quote]


Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[orangetom1999]

Did not have enough ladder line to replace what I currently had to feed this long wire loop antenna. Hence I restripped and cleaned the line at the point where the ladder line connects to the 12 gauge stranded 500 foot line which makes up the antenna. I wire brushed the fasteners, nuts, and washers. Took steel wool to the ladder line and also the 12 gauge wire and re attached everything but also applied some conductive grease purchased from the Granger company.

This seemed to do the trick and made one contact on the Virginia Fone Net on 75 meters some 175 miles distant.

Hope to once again contact my friend out in Tennessed some 400 miles distance soon.,,and also on 75 meters.


Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[orangetom1999]

Tonight I made another call to my friend out in Tennessee some 400 miles on 75 meters with this repaired wire loop antenna fed with ladder line....and more of it high up in the trees on one leg...some 75 feet up in the very tops of the trees..much more of the antenna now higher up in the trees.

The copy was good and we spoke for some 30 minutes ...in The Extra Class portion of 75 meters.

We are thinking soon of trying the same on 160 meters...to see if it will work in the evenings.


Thinking that at some time this set up will become important in a world in which leadership ...everything they touch turns into a pile of dung...

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[Tugaloo]

Tonight I made another call to my friend out in Tennessee some 400 miles on 75 meters with this repaired wire loop antenna fed with ladder line....and more of it high up in the trees on one leg...some 75 feet up in the very tops of the trees..much more of the antenna now higher up in the trees.

The copy was good and we spoke for some 30 minutes ...in The Extra Class portion of 75 meters.

We are thinking soon of trying the same on 160 meters...to see if it will work in the evenings.


Thinking that at some time this set up will become important in a world in which leadership ...everything they touch turns into a pile of dung...

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

I had a general class ticket for many years. My Elmer, W3DXA said he put 17 amateurs on the air and never an Extra because none of them had the required code speed. So, I took my Advanced Class test. Two weeks later and miles away, I passed my Extra.

As I have a Ham 4 rotor and a 56' tower where I'll put up a 5 band quad. As the high bands have been dead. First, I'll put in one of the 43' multiband antennas.
For example: https://zerofive-antennas.com/produc...nna-with-unun/

To be honest, since the no code license, Ham Radio has changed and not for the better. I've heard carriers and foul language, the same as CB.

I'm not into politics; OTOH, matters such as inflation that does affect my wallet, I don't see as politics as they are dollars out of my wallet. Which is not political in any form or way.

[orangetom1999]

By Tugaloo,

I'm not into politics; OTOH, matters such as inflation that does affect my wallet, I don't see as politics as they are dollars out of my wallet. Which is not political in any form or way.

I have to respectfully disagree with you here Tugaloo..

I greatly dislike politics or more what politics has become.

Those of us who have put our lives and safety on the line for our monies...often at great risks/dangers....know real leadership....when we run into it. People to whom we will listen carefully before undertaking certain tasks/jobs.

This means we are choosy about the nature of leadership...people we will follow ....people whom will lead us.


Now here is something which will never be told to us by most of the news media nor public education about inflation....or the correct word is depreciation ...the loss in purchasing power of our monies...hence the same thing costs more monies next week....as prices rise.

Inflation is disguised taxation....hidden and or concealed taxation....and so says the Federal Reserve publications...such as Money in colonial America and other publications.

And Taxation is work we do for which we get no goods or services of our own choosing...our own decisions. I don't care what they teach us in school about taxation...taxation is work we do for which we get no goods or services by our own decisions/choices.

The point is ...people who understand this know that they are being taxed twice....when they earn their monies and again when they spend their monies.

You know that famous news media which has a no spin zone.....even they will not teach this truism. You are not supposed to be able to think this far on your own....

Trust the PHD people....the economic experts.....

I say BS on this one.


The American Housewife....or woman trying to manage a home and children knows more about inflation than any expert they parade around on the boob tube. For she has to make the purchases versus last week before prices went up ...again. She has to make the monies go the distance.

These women see it up front and in their face.....

Inflation is disguised Taxation.....we are being taxed twice.

Most people can never understand this concept.....that television and or movie education to which I am often making fun.

But it is true and our so called conservative Republicans will also not teach this to the public...meaning to me they are not conservative.

Olde Timers versed in history taught me and they were correct...we are being taxed twice.....no wonder people are angry..but are not sure exactly why.


This is why I am not in favor of either political party and often dubious about what passes for education and even leadership now days.


You make up your own mind....and for your own reasons...but this is what I learned from some elders in the church well versed in history.


In His name...

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[orangetom1999]

Oh....agree about the no code licenses.....it is become on certain places like the CB bands.

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

[Tugaloo]

By Tugaloo,



I have to respectfully disagree with you here Tugaloo..

I greatly dislike politics or more what politics has become.

Those of us who have put our lives and safety on the line for our monies...often at great risks/dangers....know real leadership....when we run into it. People to whom we will listen carefully before undertaking certain tasks/jobs.

This means we are choosy about the nature of leadership...people we will follow ....people whom will lead us.


Now here is something which will never be told to us by most of the news media nor public education about inflation....or the correct word is depreciation ...the loss in purchasing power of our monies...hence the same thing costs more monies next week....as prices rise.

Inflation is disguised taxation....hidden and or concealed taxation....and so says the Federal Reserve publications...such as Money in colonial America and other publications.

And Taxation is work we do for which we get no goods or services of our own choosing...our own decisions. I don't care what they teach us in school about taxation...taxation is work we do for which we get no goods or services by our own decisions/choices.

The point is ...people who understand this know that they are being taxed twice....when they earn their monies and again when they spend their monies.

You know that famous news media which has a no spin zone.....even they will not teach this truism. You are not supposed to be able to think this far on your own....

Trust the PHD people....the economic experts.....

I say BS on this one.


The American Housewife....or woman trying to manage a home and children knows more about inflation than any expert they parade around on the boob tube. For she has to make the purchases versus last week before prices went up ...again. She has to make the monies go the distance.

These women see it up front and in their face.....

Inflation is disguised Taxation.....we are being taxed twice.

Most people can never understand this concept.....that television and or movie education to which I am often making fun.

But it is true and our so called conservative Republicans will also not teach this to the public...meaning to me they are not conservative.

Olde Timers versed in history taught me and they were correct...we are being taxed twice.....no wonder people are angry..but are not sure exactly why.


This is why I am not in favor of either political party and often dubious about what passes for education and even leadership now days.


You make up your own mind....and for your own reasons...but this is what I learned from some elders in the church well versed in history.


In His name...

Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.

There is an old saying.
The check is in the mail.
The problem is fixed in the next software release.
The biggest lie?
I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

I've always disliked politics. As my father said politicians, we know they're lying when their lips are moving.

I've never put my life on the line for money. I did because I was Infantry same as so many others who did the same thing. It wasn't about anything except staying alive.

BTW, PHD means Piled High and Deep. If they paid any attention to the real economy, they'd shove their bull malarkey where the sun doesn't shine.

As this is the highest inflation in 40 years, it goes well passed the inflation we have experienced since. Today at the grocery stores, a can of Bush BBQ beans is from $1.58 to $2.19. The shelves that used to be filled with cans of cat food are almost empty.
Same as women, men see it up front and in their face. Or they close their eyes to miss gasoline costs at least a $1 more at the pumps.
100s of cargo ships are anchored or idling off the coast. Each one pollutes the air more than hundreds of cars.
We have tried to buy a 19 cu-ft bottom freezer black refrigerator since November 8th.

We've always been taxed twice. Our social security was taxed which has gone on since SS was created.

Isn't everyone happier now than in 2019?

[orangetom1999]

Wow Tugaloo....!!

You are correct about this one....

The shelves that used to be filled with cans of cat food are almost empty.

I have cats here which seem to constantly keep adopting me once they find the company and menu to their liking. But I too noticed that when going to the store to stock up..on both dried and canned cat food....that the cupboards are going empty of canned cat food. I don't like my stocks of anything to get low and try to keep track of it to a level maintained which I call...."Bank." And hence when I detect the Bank getting low I tend to stock up...and of course cat food canned was among those items and hence I too noticed this trend line...


I'v e not bought any auto parts of late so have not notice inflation in that arena but soon enough.....mostly riding my scooters about town.

Have some time off and have pretty much been staying close to my lazy boy and refrigerator....with a week off from this shipyard....oh...and my radio room/man cave!!



Thanks,
Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite.