KD3Y

Got my first QSO from Italy this morning. 😁 The 40 meter band was wide open. So cool to get a 55 and 56 from Italy with only 100 watts and a homemade dipole in the pine trees.

I'm not understanding the correlation between digital modes and racism. Didn't we have racist hams back when analog was the only mode of radio? One net I frequent on 40, the OMIK net, was formed in in the 50's so that black hams could find places of lodging and places to eat while they were traveling. At that time black hams weren't welcome in white ham radio nets, and they couldn't eat or lodge in most "white only" establishements in the south. Me thinks racism in ham radio happened way before the advent of digital modes, Brother. If fact, I stumbled on some "gentlemen" on 40 meters (analog) the other day from Georgia who were doing the same thing you described. They used every slur but the "N" word in their conversation. I didn't call them on it either because I didnt want my call sign associated with such a group. I'm glad at least most of us moved on from that embarassing time in American history. ~KD3Y

I finally found it on some obscure website. It means he has a portugese license but is operating from the US as a visitor under treaty.

Welcome to the Ham Community, Vance. Greetings from Coastal North Carolina, USA. ~KD3Y

Welcome to the Ham Community, Adam. Greetings from Coastal North Carolina, USA. ~KD3Y

I followed Elmer Toms advice. To my surprise the ground rods were actually not a problem. Went right in with a sledge. I suppose since it has rained off and on the last month it helped soften the ground. I was expecting to get them about half way in and have to go bum and borrow a rod driver from an electrician. I didn't want to bring them so far from the house but there is a concrete foundation footing that comes out about 1 foot from the house that I had to avoid. Think I'll put a piece of PVC pipe over them so I won't forget and run over them with the lawnmower or something. Thanks for the great advice, Tom.

This is a must have for your boofang and orange vest. Sorry. I couldn't help it 😁

Hello Walter. Welcome to Ham Community, Old Man. 73 de Anthony, KD3Y OM #14497

Army Third Armored Division "SPEARHEAD" (Germany) 88-91 First Cav "THE FIRST TEAM" (Ft Hood) 91-92 http://www.kd3y.com/storm.html

I was surprised when I looked at the member map and saw so many "old men" pinned close by me. About a dozen in a 20 mile radius. Must be a pretty popular group. of course they're too close to talk to me. Propagation is a strange thing. Amazing how some days I can get to Washington state but can barely hear a station in NY or FL, half the distance away. Then some days its the opposite.

If you're even on forty meters, check into the Old Mans International Sideband Society and holla atcha boy. Old Man #14497

They're empty. When the hurricane is forecast I go buy the gasoline. I don't like to store it in the garage. Might be grinding some metal or something and the sparks go that way. Or the fumes. Never can be too safe. I've seen a flame follow a non-ethanol gasoline vapor trail for 25~30 feet before. It was like lightning moving across the ground. My cousin used some gasoline to start a bunch of cut tree limbs on fire one time, like he's not supposed to. He poured some gasoline on the pile, put the cap back on the gas can, walked the can about 30 feet away and set it on the ground, then walked by over to the pile of wood. He took a wad of brown paper and lit it on fire and threw it on the pile. The pile exploded in flame and the flame followed the vapor trail all the way back to the gas can and luckily it was nearly empty but it exploded like a watermelon in a microwave. He just stood there in amazement with his mouth open, eyes wide open, tobacco juice running down his chin. The flash flame singed the grass the whole trail back to the gas can.

Thanks Tom, I will do that. 73 de Anthony, KD3Y

Rains all the time here. I was going to caulk the bulkhead but I realized I could drill the hole a tad small and just "screw the bulkhead" through the PVC. The bulkhead just sort of cuts it's own threads as it goes so no sealant was needed. The only sealing I did was the bottom of the PVC board where it sits on the sill and on top of the PVC board where the window sash closes on it so it forms a good seal. As far as showing you up, I reckon you're just gonna have to move up to your A-game. 🙂

Done. I'll show you mine if you show me yours. LOL (pun intended)

Maybe the gray line is, are you present as a "good samaritan", or are you present as a CERT representative? I'll give you a couple of real world examples, During Florence the Newport river flooded. 70 Hwy was blocked to our east by the Newport River and it was blocked to our west by the Neuse River which also flooded. 70 Hwy was under 10 feet of rushing water. Ambulances couldn't take anyone in my area to Caarteret General to our east becuase the bridge was under water and they couldn't take anyone to Carolina East Hospital in New Bern because the brideg was under water. We were literally cut off from the rest of the world. Even the EOC couldn't get fuel for their generators as the tankers could't get here to deliver. Then came the bad weather and the USGC choppers and life flight choppers were grounded. A temporary "medical center" was set up at the Newport VFD but resources were few. The old guy up the street requires oxygen. He was out. He couldn't get his tank refilled because the roads were all flooded. And even if they weren't nowhere was open in the middle of a Cat 4 hurricane to fill them. Newport Rescue needed their O2 for their firemen emergencies so they didn't have it to spare. However, I had two tanks of 60% oxygen in the garage in the form of two 100 cubic foot steel SCUBA cylinders. I called my boy who is an EMT on the county bus and asked him why couldn't the old man breathe off my SCUBA regulators? He said, "Absolutely. It's all we have. 60% oxygen isn't ideal, but it's better than 20% oxygen. If his O2 meter alarms and displays "low 02" there's nothing that can be done currently. He may die." When I walked into his living room the old man asked, "Did you bring the cavalry?" I said "No Sir. The cavalry can't get here. I'm it." and I rigged up his 02 tube to work off the SCUBA regulator hose with some duct tape. He was able to breathe off those two cylinders for two days until the choppers were no longer grounded and could fly in proper medical oxygen cylinders. See, I was there as a "good Samaritan" and I wasn't representing the County or CERT or EMS. I was just there with a solution to a potentially lethal problem. The other situation was the people who try to drive thru the water. We had a lady who attempted to drive across the flooded bridge on 70 Hwy. I was there with all my scuba gear in the truck as a "spectator". The Fire Dept was there trying to stop people from crossing the bridge. She either ignored the firemen who were trying to wave her not to try to cross, or maybe she thought they were signaling her to cross, who knows. Her car stalled out once the water got up to her windshield then she was stuck. I told the captain I was a certified Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver, had all my gear in the truck, and if they could drive the fire truck out as far as they could, tie me to a rope, I could swim to get her. Then once I had he they could "reel me in" with the winch on the front bumper. He was reluctant and declined my offer due to floating debris in the water being dangerous. But I suited up anyway. He changed his mind and we did the rescue. Lucky, because the vehicle soon was nearly all underwater when a Interstate Battery truck came up and decided to cross the bridge. He didn't see her car as it was nearly underwater and he rear-ended it and finished pushing it into the river. Lucky for him the big old truck didn't even slow down when he plowed into her Toyota and he was able to back out the way he came once he realized the error of his decision. Again, in that situation, I was "Joe Blow Volunteer", resident of the little podunk town of Newport, and not representing CERT or any other entity. We also had some of them good old redneck boys motoring around in their jon boats and some of the "Cajun Navy" volunteers rescuing people and delivering them to the makeshift aide station at the VFD. They were simply good samaritans as well, not representative of any agency. The Coast Guard had a crew here with a fast boat but they were stretched thin and usually on another call as you can imagine. The jist of it all was there was simply no one to call, even if your cell phone worked. No one could get to you. The Sheriffs Dept only had one deep water vehicle and it was constantly on another call as well. Officers no longer responded in patrol cars because it was just wasn't feasable with roads under 3 to 10 feet of water. Choppers were grounded. Sometimes the old adage applies, "You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you'd like to have." ~KD3Y

Here's mine

I was lucky in that the ground rod for the electric service is located outside the window about 10 feet away so I didn't have to drive a ground rod. I used white PVC board for a window pass-thru so it matches the vinyl siding on the house and copper pipe facia strap for the common connection. I was happy to find the strap at sLowes with the holes already drilled in it for dressing copper water pipe that passes through foundation plates, so it saved me some labor and time. At least I have spots available if I wanted to run some more bulkheads thru the PVC board to add different antenna.

Ian wasn't more than a strong winds for us, luckily. And I'm glad. I'm still paying off the FEMA loan we had to get when Florence flooded our house. The county made some new regulations a few yeras ago. Here in Carteret county if you build a new house and it's located within the hurricane flood zone it has to be elevated up on the pilings. Here's what my crowd did for Ian. HurricaneIan202209230.pdf

My CERT team says if you SD you'll be dismissed on the spot. "ICS prohibits self-deployment due to the dangers observed when volunteers freelance or respond individually." Since I'm considered "communications support" I don't see me needing to SD since I'd have nothing to support without the team present.

Roger Roger. Ethanol is a vegetable base unlike "real" gasoline which is mineral based. It turns to acedic acid if it sits very long. When that happens the acid eats up the fuel lines and gaskets. Newer vehicles with gaskets made from newer plastics are resistant. But smaller engines like home generators and lawnmowers are bult cheaply and and still usse traditional gaskets and rubbers, and older vehicles use traditional lines and gaskets, and the acid dissolves them. Had a guy a few years ago at the marina where I kept my boat. Told him over and over about using the ethanol junk in his outboard. But he knew it all, non ethanol was "too expensive". Then one day he was coming across the sound there was a big boom, the cowel blew off his outboard and there was a ball of fire. He jumped into the water and watched his boat burn down. Investigator said the lines got eaten up and turned brittle from the ethanol in the fuel. The fuel line cracked from the engine vibration then sprayed fuel all over the hot manifold, which ignited. He didn't have insurance on his boat so the tuition cost was more than the "too expensive" non ethanol fuel cost would've been.

I chose "almost need a few more things" because while I'm good running my radio from my solar panel and deep cycle battery, my home generator depends emtirely on how much fuel I have on hand. Usually the locals go apey when the weatherman says "hurricane" and the lines are long at the gas stations and gas cans can't be found. So far I've hoarded about four 5-gallon cans and a few smaller of the red plastic ones. I had considered a large storage tank but the poor quality of the ethanol junk they sell today turns to acedic acid so quickly it wouldn't be usable sitting in a tank for 10 months.

Hello fellas, I worked a station this evening in Massachusetts and he appended /W1 to his call sign. What does that mean? I see his QRZ profile shows him in Portugal (CU5AL) so I'm guessing that means he's a licensed Portugese ham that's using his Portugese ham license in USA in some reciprocal agreement? I googled "/W1" but just got a lot of irrelevant stuff and a gazillion ham call signs containing "W1". Thanks, KD3Y