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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August 28, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Work continues getting my base VHF station up and running. I purchased a new rotor a few weeks back and now I’m working on fixing my 11 element 2 meter beam, which was damaged when I took it down last year before I moved. I’m confident I’ll be able to reattach the reflector, then all I need is a trip to the hardware store for some new fasteners and some rotor wire. I never thought I’d have so much trouble finding 3 conductor rotor wire. Seems that Lowe’s sells outside tv antennas and rotors but doesn’t bother to sell the rotor wire anymore (or mast pipes), Home depot sells even less. Although last Sunday I did end up in a Lowe’s in the middle of nowhere Ohio and they had 5 foot sections. Oh well I’m going to try the local independent hardware store and if that doesn’t do me any good I guess it’s off to moron shack … uhhh I mean radio shack to pay a premium price and receive blank stares, yuckers. Come to think about it I better have the part number with me if I expect to get what I want in a timely fashion.

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August 16, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Looks like my fix to the good ol’ Icom IC-2000H 2 meter mobile is holding up I had a QSO with Fred K8RRF this morning on the 146.94 repeater and all is well. He was shocked to hear about Yaesu refusing to service FT-100’s anymore. It’s been so long since I spoke with him he forgot my name, go figure…

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August 15, 2007 by kb8sfc.

It’s been a while since I damaged my FT-100 with a botched packet cable and finally it’s off to get repaired, but not off to Yaesu off but to a dealer. After talking to some “big wig” that oversees repairs at Yaesu at Dayton Hamvention , turns out Yaesu won’t work on them since Motorola discontinued the finals. Makes me really question whether I’ll buy another Yaesu.

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July 28, 2007 by kb8sfc.

This weekend I attended our usual saturday dinner with a new twist. I would almost call it a membership drive for the Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association. Alot of ideas were tossed out and the club got some new members including myself. Although the person who spearheaded the event didn’t join…

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July 8, 2007 by kb8sfc.

Well I made the trek to Pittsburgh and the North Hills Hamfest today, and just as I expected it was a dissapointment. Nothing sold for over $5, no wonder why most of my friends won’t go to this fest anymore. I said last year I wasn’t coming back and after this year I won’t . I really think the biggest cheapskates attend this fest and I’m done with it. It’s a real shame how fests like this are still around but decent ones like Butler and Wheeling are gone.

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July 8, 2007 by kb8sfc.

is this thing on?

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