WonderMonkey

On 2/18/2023 at 2:49 AM, _Wilson_™ said:

Hm.....like the post .... But i see WM has altered his sig....i gotta ask .... @WonderMonkey.....I know a fellah named Alan ..... Would this sig change be a result of an argument ......(sigh) .....YET again which is better a foot / manual shift verses ES shift.....lol! 

I don't really recall what the topic was, but I do recall someone typed something in and forgot a comma and @bcsman jumped on it.  In a friend way, but I thought it was funny so I put it as my sig line.  THEN I promptly forgot that I put it as my sig line.

I stacked things on and against my ATV today.  We are redoing a room over our garage and had to take things out of it.  My atv sits in the middle of my garage so I can generate calls to the HOA riding it around on the streets when it snows.  For a few days I have boxes stacked on it and new doors leaning against it.

THAT'S what I did to my atv today.

9 hours ago, _Wilson_™ said:

@WonderMonkey I've come up on another site that might help in your searches, i myself have been searching for a Australia station  i shot skip with years ago, never got a chance to get a SQL card. 

 

https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/index.php?state_id=none

I use that on occasion, good site.  Whenever we get deployed I do a quick search using there and both print out and load the repeaters into my HT's.

The last time we had a tree strike they made signs and marched around the property.

WIRES-X is fun.  WINLINK is very useful so I'll keep going on that.

I'm playing with WIRES-X right now.  It's cool hearing other countries chat.  I've listened to Japan, Italy, Australia and of course, USA.

1 hour ago, WonderMonkey said:

Alright I've got APRS up and running.  I COULD use it so my wife knows where I am when in the deep woods, but I have a Garmin InReach for that.  I'm going to have to do a bit of study to see if and why I care about APRS.

I've determined that like the last time, I don't have a recognizable use for APRS.

Alright I've got APRS up and running.  I COULD use it so my wife knows where I am when in the deep woods, but I have a Garmin InReach for that.  I'm going to have to do a bit of study to see if and why I care about APRS.

I'm going to replace the battery in my Yaesu FT3D and see if that fixes the issue.  I don't think it will, but it's worth a try.  When the unit is powered on and I disconnect the power or the programming cable, it powers down.  What does both of those have to do with the battery?  Not sure, but it's worth a try.

Here in a bit (few day), I'm going to dive back into the digital capabilities of the radio.

6 hours ago, _Wilson_™ said:

Oh i dabbled it some over the years, but they hams around here started drinking ...... And playing more then i liked..... I happened up on MTEARS sky warn, so i just monitor now, they have better on screen weather reports then noaa..... Every once in a while the mature hams will talk, now i MIGHT ?? Get back into it, now that i have more time, that being said if i wanted advise, id hunt @Derf40 up.

I connected to MTEARS when I was in Western TN last week.  I just keyed the repeater to make sure that I could.  MTEARS is a great thing.

6 hours ago, jeepwm69 said:

I need to get into this.  For now all I have are cheap walkie talkies.  I do have a shortwave receiver, but nothing that I can transmit with.

 

I gather you need a license to hit the talk button, right?

 

That is correct.  You can listen all you want, but unless you are in an emergency, you can't transmit.

7 hours ago, Bighanded said:

I'm trying to remember.. I think Wilson here in our group is the radio expert.

I've got very little experience but interestingly, have made the same choices in the past years as you have.

 

My Yaesu is clearly a quality radio but being honest, my F8HP has seen 300% more action.  It's currently stuffed in my Get Home bag, but for a season there I would listen in to the locals morning chatter on my commute to work...we have two good repeaters in our area  that hang with me for the 30 minute commute.

The 8watts?  I dunno.. I think it comes down to antenna regardless.

The Baofeng has lived in the car, blistering south carolina summer heat, freezing cold winters, tossed around on the floor board etc.  If I put it on a meter, I'd likely see that it drifts plenty, but bottom line, it is still working after several years of abuse.

I've got spare and extended batteries for both radios and that car power adapters, mag mount antennas and whip upgrades in handheld mode.

 

I don't spend time listening cross country etc  on them, so going digital really isn't in my plans.

 

I just wanted to get an idea of who we had in our area, how active they were, what my range was like, etc.

The "Buy Two-way Radios"  internet sales folks are actually 4 miles from my house. I drive past them on my daily commute and have stopped in to spend some money with them a couple times.  They tested my Baofeng for me, called locals for radio check etc and the little radio appears to do the job.

 

I was all studied up and ready for my General a couple years ago...and then Covid... I need to brush up and catch up with the area club.. I think they typically get together in October and I can get the test done then.

 

In the meantime, no, I don't press TALK.  and honestly 99% of the chatter is what you'd hear sitting around the Bojangles for a morning cup of coffee with us bunch of old codgers.

 

but at least I know how to program my radios, have my repeater codes saved for other areas, etc.  These zombie movie prepper guys that see the actors just grab a radio and start talking  and think that's how HAM is going to work...yeah...have fun with that. (grin)

I know @_Wilson_™ and I have spoken briefly about HAM.  Also when I was in Western Tn this past week I connected to MTEARS just to see if I could.  No speaking, just hitting the repeater in range.

I'm minimally competent in what I use my license for, but I under-utilize it.  The BF F8HP IS a good radio, but I felt my FT3D was better as far as durability.  It has other features which I would not expect the BF F8HP to have due to price point.  I have only dabbled in digital, and that was Yaesu's digital.

And you are right, most of the daily chatter is old man talk, which I'm approaching.

I'm looking to buy a new HAM handheld radio.  My current Yaesu, the reliable FT3D, is dying.  Dying to the point where I've pulled out my Baofeng F8HP, which is actually a reliable radio.  However, I'd rather investigate and get a new shiny radio as I can't stand not to.

In addition to working great, battery life is important to me as I'll take it backpacking to remote areas.  I'm OK with taking a spare battery, but I'd like the radio itself to do well in managing power.

Feel free to correct any of nonsense that I may spout below, as I've not fully embraced my Amateur Radio license (General) and explored its capabilities.

Digital - Has a winner emerged?  If I buy one brand will I have put myself in a room with a small number of people when I decided to use digital?

Hand Programmable - I know they all CAN be programmed by hand, but some fight you.  I use CHIRP for the Baofengs and RT Systems for the Yaesu and both are great, but suddenly needing to program a repeater while away from my computer are foreseeable.

5w or More Transmit - I know some have 8w, and many say there isn't much difference, so I'll stick with the 5w minimum.

What else?  What am I not asking about?

2 hours ago, Misterclean said:

I saw this fight when it hit You Tube and was pleased as well especially after the swing during the "touch the gloves" gesture.

 

I wish ever cheap ! like that the worst.  One of our low-level pros used to give a little jab off the hand tap just to make sure we were very aware of this.  I never had anybody try to get in that first shot but I was very conscious of it.

As far as the fight itself, the only way the small guy would win was to stay calm and engage.  Being afraid of a one-trick pony will cause you to get easily beat by that same pony.

Voted.  7-0 now.

12 minutes ago, jeepwm69 said:

I hurt my back watching that.  Gonna be laid up for a couple of weeks at the very least.

I'd file for short-term disability if I was you.

Starting 2.5 weeks ago, my whole workout/activity changed.  My boxing matches kept getting canceled or delayed, so I put that aside until I get more of a guarantee.  I don't want my right knee to have to endure the training for no fight.  Since I put that aside I was able to up my weight training.  I also started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  I like BJJ (no snickering!) because I can't just overwhelm someone with size and aggression, as that works greatly against me against someone that knows that they are doing.  I will have to increase my mobility and get good at technique.  I give some of the medium belts problems due to how I am, but if they are patient they take advantage of mistakes and submit me.  After 2.5 weeks I can say I really enjoy it.  Starting something at 54 that I suck at is actually a good feeling.  I get to learn new things.

As the weather lets up I'm also getting my bicycle out.  Due to new knee therapy, cortisone and gel injections, I'm able to ride.  I'll consistently build up some miles on that.  At first I just ride to get my body used to it, but soon I'll do training rides.  Intervals, increased pace, etc.  Just riding isn't my think unless it's with my wife.

As for my lifting, I focus on balancing my lower body, with my hamstrings, glutes and piriformis muscle being weaker in comparison, as is most of the world.  I've always gotten some lower body time in but the last 2.5 weeks I've been able to hit it harder.  Today was a max day and I was able to pull 400 lbs off the floor using a trap bar.  I'll use that max to redo my normal workout, which won't go over the mid 300's.

Here is the video my boxing coach took of today's lift.

10 hours ago, jeepwm69 said:

I've been lazy as ! all winter.  Haven't gained any weight, actually lost about 5 lbs but that came off when I was sick, not from anything I did.

 

Covid stuck with me for a while as far as tiring easily, but now that spring has sprung and I'm working outside more I'm getting my energy back.

 

Digging out beaver dams every morning has been good exercise for the last few weeks.  I have intentions of getting back in the gym this week.  We'll see how that goes/ whether work will allow it.

Good to see you are getting your energy back.  I would think that clearing the dams would be plenty of exercise/work.

33 minutes ago, Fishfiles said:

 

I'm a big fan of doing dumb things, but GD people, wear a helmet!

So .... how is everybody doing on whatever it is they have for exercise, weight loss (bodyfat %), and/or general body moving activities such as hiking or walking?  Personally, I have some different things I'm doing but I would prefer to hear first what YOU have going on.

3 hours ago, LedFTed said:

i've done a lot of those stretches, not as many seconds as they say. maybe thats why this sciatica has dragged out so long.  all ways a different way to skin a cat.

Skinning cats will also get you a great set of mittens and eventually a nice coat.

It's what happens when you get an overly large lot-lizard in the back, and things get moving.

I am sorry to hear this, Wilson.  Not sure why I didn't see this until now.

What actually was the cause of mine was my hips were out of alignment.  A simple chiropractor visit would give me temporary relief, but would not take care of the root problem.  A PT with chiro abilities helped me to get a muscle in my lower back to relax and not continue to pull my hips out of alignment.  When that was solved, my sciatica went away.  On occasion, I feel a beginning of the issue and launch into some some the piriformis (the actual usual culprit) stretches and all is good.  There are many causes and reliefs to sciatica, but that's what worked/works for me.

Today I used part of retirement and filled up the fuel tank on my atv to prepare for my weekend camping trip.