September 23, 2007 by kb8sfc.

It took me most of the day but I got 2 meter and 440 yagi up. The 2 meter side works wonderful but I will have to wait on the 70cm antenna until I put then end on the coax tommorow…

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September 17, 2007 by kb8sfc.

I didn’t hear anything from the ARRL/VEC regarding the VE session last saturday the 10th, so I decided to follow up today. I sent a follow up email and within a few hours I had an apologetic response from Perry Green, WY1O the Assistant VEC Manager. I was told it had been forwarded to
their VEC Manager,who will be writing a letter to the VE Team reminding the VEs
of proper conduct at a test session. I won’t go into posting the entire email here or quoting much it, but I’m happy to see them taking action. But I will quote the last bit of the email here “Thank you for your reporting of this situation, and sorry that you had to experience it.”

I hope this takes care of the problem and no one else has the same experience.

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September 16, 2007 by kb8sfc.

I was really surprised to hear the Sunday night net on the 146.700 E. Liverpool, OH repeater tonight. At the very least it is a mere shadow of it’s former self. It’s been four years almost to the day since left the club. From what I can tell the people involved in why I left are no longer in the area or active in the club. So I decided to check in. Since my base antenna is not up yet I checked in from my mobile. I don’t know if I had a bad signal into the repeater or not but the net control seemed to keep dropping out of the repeater and he couldn’t get my call right even after I gave it to him 3 or 4 times phonetically. I’m glad to see at least an effort being made, but it made me long for the days of Paul W8WIF (ex N8LZV) running the net. I even filled in for him a few times over the years. I didn’t get as many check-ins as Paul but I did pretty well. Tonight I think there might have been 10 check-ins. From what I can tell it appears that this revival of the Sunday night T.A.R.C. net is fairly new, so who knows what my happen in the future….

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September 13, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Today was my first chance to attend a BVARA meeting since I joined. The meeting was packed I think partly because of the new members and the usual area used for the meetings was in use for preparation for a county wide disaster drill this weekend. It was interesting but I did have to turn down a nomination from N3HOJ for treasurer due to the distance and the fact that I’ve just arrived into the club and half these people don’t know me. This club has potential but sometimes it reminds me why I haven’t belonged to a ham radio club in four years…

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September 12, 2007 by kb8sfc.

My replacement cross needle meter for my MFJ-864 arrived in record time. I ordered it Monday around 1:30 pm and it was waiting for me when I got home today. So it made it here via UPS Ground in only two days! I installed the new meter with ease and I’m ready to go. This speed bump in my base station install appears to be overcome.

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September 11, 2007 by kb8sfc.

I sent and email to the dealer’s service department today and was advised “You are number three on the list. It should be on the bench Wednesday or Thursday.”

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September 10, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Let me just say the VE session I attended over the weekend was by far the worst conducted I’ve ever been to. The VE’s were more concerned about BS’ing among themselves then conducting the session. It was noisy and very distracting. They let everyone else that turned in their test after me know their results but I’m still sitting there waiting. Finally I just had to go ask for the results of my test. It was like pulling teeth but they told me I failed and they had “forgotten” to tell me. I was told I could take it again if I wanted to fork out another $14. Needless to say I said “screw that” and left. Also my Gorden West book is probably no more. First it was going in the trash then I was going to burn it , but I ended up giving it to Rich for shitz and grins and I told him I didn’t care what he did with it. Will I try again? Probably not any time soon. I’m pretty well disgusted with it and these VE’s right now. I know when I’m ready again I won’t be going to that club’s sessions again. So it was a total waste of time and gas I ended up driving well over 50 miles, well over an hour in city traffic (each way) just for those loud mouth VE’s to yap it up the entire time and to basically aggravate me. Oh and I did send and email to the person who runs the ARRL/VEC about this in more detail. Who knows if anything will come of it, but I did consult a VE I know and was told that the session shouldn’t have been conducted in that fashion. I’ll just have to see if I get a worth while response…

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September 6, 2007 by kb8sfc.

I’m continuing to cram for the general test and I finished painting the mast pipe.
Unfortunately I’m using a Gorden West book from 2 question pools ago, an autographed one at that. I ran into him in the main arena at Dayton a few years back and I told him I had just bought his book and he insisted on signing it. Real nice guy though, sounds just like he does on the code tapes. I’m done cramming for the night off to bed and then an all evening cram session tomorrow. I better get my rest the test is at noon on Saturday so I’ll need to be on the road no later than 11 am.

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September 5, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Today after work I enlisted the help of a friend from work and possible future ham, to haul the 2 meter yagi and telescopic mast pipe in his truck. So now begins the sanding and rustolium painting of the mast pipe. I want to get it painted and dry before the rainy weekend gets here.

Well I opened my mouth this past Saturday about taking the General test on the 8th , so I guess it’s time to put up or shut up. So I’ve been busy cramming and taking the practice tests on eham . I want to make sure I’ll pass, I really don’t want to drive 50 miles and fork over $14 just to fail the test. Besides Shawn says he going to take the test that day also.

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September 4, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Repair of the 2 meter Yagi is coming along quite nicely in part to the help of Mark N8UVQ with his trusty dremel and unique vice. Unfortunately when I was cutting the rusted u bolts off the driven element fell off also. The machine screw was just about rusted all the way through. Oh well better that happen now than when its up in the air.

Also I found my rotor wire at the local True Value hardware for about $10 less than Radio Shack. While I was there I purchased some new u bolts and other hardware.
It’s not a bad little hardware store , although sometimes they are a bit too helpful, when I’m just trying to browse. I guess it’s just something I’m just not used to these days, compared to Lowe’s and Home Depot .

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