Subj : I finally got my license To : DaiTengu From : Daryl Stout Date : Wed Oct 07 2020 09:16:00 Da> Speaking of which, we had to put the dog to sleep 2 weeks ago, he had Da> bone cancer and the pain meds just weren't doing it anymore, so it was Da> the humane thing to do. We made the appointment, and took him in. They Da> weren't allowing anyone inside the vet's office, so the vet and the vet Da> tech came outside and it was handled in the back of our vehicle (which Da> was fine). Turns out the vet tech didn't feel real well the next day, Da> took a test and was positive for covid. We were all wearing masks and Da> washed our hands/sanitized, etc. THe wife and I quarrantined for two Da> weeks, but we haven't had any symptoms, so according to the WHO and CDC Da> we're in the clear. I guess we dodged a bullet there, as both of us Da> are "high risk" Glad you dodged the COVID-19 bullet. Been there, done that, with putting down a pet. Our dachshund became diabetic, resistant to the insulin, then went blind from glaucoma and cataracts...but he had a working nose, a full set of teeth, and an attitude, until he died. I cried like a baby for 15 minutes in the car afterwards. Da> Well, since i posted that I went and spent the $2000. I got an Da> IC-7300 (like the rest of the world, apparently), and an End-fed Da> Halfwave antenna that has been a giant pain in the ass (it's about Da> 130ft long). It would be if you stuck it up your backside , but that's what most HF propagation has been like lately, from what I've heard. Da> It's been years since I've put connectors on coax, but I honestly don't Da> remember it being this hard. I have the proper tools, soldering iron, Da> coax stripper, right size crimper, etc, and they either short out on Da> me, or pop off with a simple tug. I liked the graphic that noted "I work with strippers", and you see the wire strippers. Da> Anyway, I tested all the connectors, got the antenna up to the top of Da> the tree with ropes and a really long pole to push the transformer box Da> over branches, and everything was quite ducky. Fine business. Da> Until I was on the radio about 7pm last night, and suddenly my band Da> went dead, then came back, then went dead, then came back ... my SWR Da> would go from 1:1 to off the scale. I went outside and adjusted the Da> coax coming off the antenna, and that fixed things for a little while, Da> but it got windy and it started again. We're all at the mercy of the weather...never mind sunspots. Da> I'm going to have to pull the whole thing down and re-do the connector Da> on the antenna. which is probably the one connector that I haven't Da> re-done on that cable. We can't keep Murphy out of the shack. :P Da> It's great when it works though! I'm having a blast doing FT8! I've Da> worked almost all 50 states, I'm just missing Alaska. Which I worked Da> once, but it's sitting unconfirmed. One can do so much more with digital than phone. Da> Man, I don't think I'd be able to hack it. I need to keep my mind Da> occupied with .. something. You'rea stronger man than I am! I do know if I get fatigued, I better get a power nap, than try to work with the BBS, or run a traffic net. Daryl, WX4QZ .... H.A.M. Radio Operator: H)ave A)nother M)eal. --- MultiMail/Win v0.52 þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net .